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Washington, D.C., May 4, 2010 – Bikers, rejoice! Four miles of the Metropolitan Branch Trail is open, running from Catholic University to Union Station.

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Gabe Klein celebrated the completion of a crucial 1.5-mile section of the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT). The newly completed section of the trail runs 1.5 miles from New York Avenue to Franklin Street, NE. It allows users to bypass Florida, New York and Rhode Island Avenues, a combined 18 lanes of busy roadway. District residents can now bike, walk and jog on four miles of continuous trail stretching from Catholic University to Union Station.

“Biking is already an excellent way to get around NoMa, and many of our staff members bike to work regularly,” said NoMa BID President Liz Price. “We are thrilled to have this wonderful amenity running through our neighborhood for walkers, joggers, strollers and cyclists. Many of our office tenants have discovered the trail as an opportunity for fitness over their lunch break.” NoMa residents can access the trail at L, M or N Streets, NE.

The new section includes solar LED lighting, a new park at S Street, and connects to NoMa at New York Avenue. Eventually, the eight-mile trail will connect the National Mall to Silver Spring, Maryland. The entire eight miles is bikable, but much of the trail north of Catholic University is on road, with MBT signs. The NoMa BID includes portions of the trail in its walking tours, and the Rails to Trails Conservancy plans to hold commuter convoys on the trail throughout the summer and fall.

For additional information on the Metropolitan Branch Trail visit www.metbranchtrail.com. To see BID Staffer (and cyclist) Jamie Brätt talk about biking amenities in NoMa, including the Bikestation at Union Station, view this Streetfilm.

About NoMa
NoMa is a mixed-use neighborhood north of Massachusetts Avenue and the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Between 2007-2009, private developers have invested more than $1.5 billion in the 35-block area covered by the NoMa BID, and have plans to develop more than 20 million square feet of office, residential, hotel, and retail space over the next 15 years.

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