Sixteen impactful East Coast Greenway infrastructure projects

mystic river crossing
Massachusetts' Mystic River Bridge, a proposed bicycle and pedestrian bridge, would be a transformative structure, connecting key multi-use pathways in the Boston area.

By Jessica Reid / Contributor

President Joe Biden has proposed a $2 trillion climate plan, and investment in sustainable modes of transportation - including greenways and trails - is a significant way to mitigate climate change. 

Funding for greenways and trails for equitable, active transportation could complete large infrastructure projects along the East Coast Greenway route in 15 states, plus Washington, D.C. A sampling of impactful infrastructure projects is below with each project’s estimated cost placed on a scale:  

  • $: Less than $12 million
  • $$: $12-30 million 
  • $$$: Greater than $30 million

The total estimated cost of these projects is $812 million. Recent studies along the 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway show a more than ten-fold return on investment.

Maine: An extension of the Eastern Trail ($) from its current terminus at Kennebunk Elementary School all the way through the Town of Wells would achieve 30 miles of completed Greenway in Southern Maine. It would also create a nearly continuous off-road trail corridor from Wells to South Portland. The extension would make biking, walking, running and other activities safe, attractive and accessible for people who live in or are visiting Southern Maine’s lovely coastal region. 

New Hampshire: Phase 2 of the New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway ($) is a 4.7-mile trail segment that would complete the 14-mile New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway corridor from Portsmouth on the Maine border to Seabrook on the Massachusetts border. It would require removing an old train trestle and constructing an elevated bridge to accommodate rising sea levels. This phase is a continuation of strong Greenway growth in New Hampshire. 

Massachusetts: The Mystic River Bridge ($$) is a proposed bicycle and pedestrian crossing over the Mystic River between Everett (an environmental justice community) and Somerville, just north of the City of Boston. It will be a transformative structure for the Boston area, connecting key multi-use pathways between these cities as well as connecting the Lower Broadway District in Everett, which includes the Encore Boston Harbor resort and DCR Gateway Park, to the DCR Draw Seven Park, MBTA’s Orange Line Assembly Station and Assembly Square in Somerville.

Rhode Island: The Trestle Trail ($) would upgrade and pave a 4.7-mile section to multi-use trail standards and to be ADA compliant, as well as connect directly with the Moosup Valley State Park Trail that CTDOT just finished at the Rhode Island border. This upgraded trail would close a major gap between the Moosup Valley State Park Trail in Connecticut and the 18-mile existing Washington Secondary Trail in Rhode Island.

Connecticut: From the New York state line to just short of New Haven, Connecticut, the 36-mile Merritt Parkway Trail ($$$) is envisioned to connect New York to Fairfield County and beyond in a protected corridor.

New York: The Bronx River Greenway ($$) is a 25-mile-long ribbon of green with a multi-use path that will extend along the full length of the river in Westchester County and the Bronx.

New Jersey: The Essex-Hudson Greenway ($$$) is a 9-mile connector from Jersey City to Newark along the abandoned Boonton Line of the Norfolk Southern. 

completing the gaps essex hudson greenway
The Essex-Hudson Greenway will create nine miles of car-free pathways for cyclists, runners and walkers and connect eight communities from Montclair to Jersey City, New Jersey.

Pennsylvania: The Spring Garden Street Greenway ($$$) is a transformative 2.2-mile project that will connect the Schuylkill Banks to the Delaware River Trail across the heart of Philadelphia, creating a safe, all-ages biking and walking connection for the growing residential and commercial corridor.

Delaware: The North Claymont Greenway ($) is integral to the revitalization of a former steel site in Claymont with regional rail connections and regional access to Philadelphia and Wilmington.

Maryland: The Susquehanna Crossing ($$$) is a walking and biking path over the Susquehanna River that connects Havre de Grace to Perryville. It would complete one of the most challenging gaps in the region and the entire East Coast Greenway. The cost estimate depends on whether this trail would be a standalone bridge for biking and walking (or set of bridges) or if it would be a path added onto an existing or new bridge. 

Washington, D.C.: The Prince George's County Connector Trail ($) would link together two well-traveled and beloved trails, Washington, D.C.'s Met Branch Trail and Maryland’s NW Branch of the Anacostia Tributary Trail System. It would follow the green corridor of National Park Service land along Gallatin Street NE as a sidepath into Prince George's County. 

Virginia: Once completed, the Fall Line Trail ($$$) will span 43 miles of the Richmond metro area, running north-south from Ashland to Petersburg (see map).

North Carolina: The proposed NC-211 route of the East Coast Greenway (cost TBD) could add 17 miles of the ECG along the NC-211 corridor in Brunswick County, NC. A feasibility study is currently underway to determine the potential and costs of this addition. 

South Carolina: A proposed connection between Georgetown and Hobcaw Barony ($) would include a 2.5-mile ferry and 8-mile sidepath linking downtown Georgetown to Waccamaw Neck Bikeway.

Georgia: A proposed connection between Darien and Brunswick ($) would be a 16-mile sidepath linking historic Darien's Highlander Trail to the Liberty Ships Trail in Brunswick.

Florida: Investing in safe walking and biking infrastructure, such as the 50-mile Core to Coast Loop ($$$), and encouraging the public to walk and bike provides a long-term, cost-effective solution to the climate crisis, public health and safety, and health equity in Florida. The state is experiencing increasingly severe storms and poor air quality from fossil fuel emissions, which affect the most vulnerable populations.

Eastern Trail (Maine)

Eastern Trail (Maine)

New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway

New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway

Mystic River Bridge (Massachusetts)

Mystic River Bridge (Massachusetts)

The Trestle Trail (Rhode Island)

The Trestle Trail (Rhode Island)

Merritt Parkway (Connecticut)

Merritt Parkway (Connecticut)

Bronx River Greenway (New York)

Bronx River Greenway (New York)

Essex-Hudson Greenway (New Jersey)

Essex-Hudson Greenway (New Jersey)

Spring Garden Street Greenway (Pennsylvania)

Spring Garden Street Greenway (Pennsylvania)

North Claymont Greenway (Delaware)

North Claymont Greenway (Delaware)

Susquehanna River (Maryland)

Susquehanna River (Maryland)

Current and planned trails in Washington, DC; the Prince George's County Connector Trail will connect DC's Met Branch Trail and Maryland's NW Branch of the Anacostia Tributary Trail System

Current and planned trails in Washington, DC; the Prince George's County Connector Trail will connect DC's Met Branch Trail and Maryland's NW Branch of the Anacostia Tributary Trail System

The Fall Line Trail will be a 43-mile north-south regional trail spine in Central Virginia that will connect seven localities between Ashland and Petersburg.

The Fall Line Trail will be a 43-mile north-south regional trail spine in Central Virginia that will connect seven localities between Ashland and Petersburg.

Plans for North Carolina's possible NC-211 Greenway route

Plans for North Carolina's possible NC-211 Greenway route

The Greenway in Georgetown, South Carolina, near the future Georgetown to Hobcaw Barony addition.

The Greenway in Georgetown, South Carolina, near the future Georgetown to Hobcaw Barony addition.

The Brunswick Trail, near the future Darien to Brunswick addition in Georgia.

The Brunswick Trail, near the future Darien to Brunswick addition in Georgia.

The Greenway in Florida, future home of the 50-mile Core to Coast route in Jacksonville.

The Greenway in Florida, future home of the 50-mile Core to Coast route in Jacksonville.

Together, let's grow the Greenway

Recent record-setting funding for design and construction goes directly to building the East Coast Greenway - as it should. The East Coast Greenway Alliance needs your support to continue our advocacy work that is fueling completion of the Greenway. The Alliance has a sustained track record of turning every dollar donated to our nonprofit into $100 in public infrastructure investment. Invest today and support the growth of the East Coast Greenway from Maine to Florida.