The CCCT Annual Membership Meeting was held at Elm Street Park in Bethesda on Monday evening, June 14. The event was more picnic than meeting, in keeping with the tradition of past membership meetings. Free food and drink was provided, and approximately 50 members and supporters enjoyed the evening in the park.

CCCT used the event to thank several individuals for their contributions to the Trail. CCCT Chair Ernie Brooks presented plaques as a token of CCCT’s appreciation to these trail supporters:

• Mr. Al Genetti for his consistent support while Director of DPWT for trail maintenance, projects to provide better trail access, the Rock Creek Trestle project, and for insisting during negotiations of a proposal to dig under the Dalecarlia Tunnel to install a large water pipe that the interests of trail users must be protected.
• Ms. Merle Steiner for her guidance and support for the Trail as legislative assistant to former Mont. Co. Councilmember Ike Leggett and to Councilmember Nancy Floreen. Merle’s understanding of the Council and the legislative process was especially helpful when the CCCT was advocating for the very politically sensitive Rock Creek Trestle. Ike Leggett was in attendance to help honor Merle, and he remarked on her effectiveness in bringing the concerns of trail supporters to the attention of the County Council.
• Mr. Larry Schuette for his leadership in the Defenders of the Potomac River Parkland to fight to protect the Trail from the severe impact the proposed Georgetown University Boathouse will have on the Georgetown trailhead.
• Mr. Dave Putnam, retiring CCCT Board Member, for his service as a board member for many years, and in particular for creating the CCCT website and for maintaining it for six years. This website averages 170 visitors daily. Many first find their way to the Trail by this website, and then go on to become trail supporters. Dave’s gift of the website is a significant contribution to the Trail.

The new Board was affirmed for the next 2004-2005 Board Year. Returning to the Board are: Pat Baptiste, Ernie Brooks, John Campanile, John Dugger, Jenny-Sue Dunner, Isaac Hantman, Jennifer Longsworth, Andy O’Hare, Wayne Phyillaier, and Charlie Wellander. Peter Gray was welcomed to the Board as a new member this year.

Among the most important achievements for the Coalition was the opening of the trestle over Rock Creek Park in May 2003. The Coalition had contributed $75,000 to this project to help provide a widening of the center section of the trestle, providing an "observation deck" in that area. I am happy to report that the deck widening has proved to be very successful, and the Coalition has gotten high praise for its involvement in getting that feature implemented.

The opening of the trestle over Rock Creek has resulted in a brighter light being shone on the section of the trail to the east of Rock Creek. Issues on that section include trail degeneration due to erosion problems, and an unsafe on-street route from the end of the interim trail at Stewart Ave. into downtown Silver Spring. Representatives of the Coalition have met and corresponded with County officials responsible for that section of the trail on several occasions in 2003, and I can report that that effort is beginning to pay off. Recently the County has done a major regrading of the deteriorated sections, and has indicated that they are willing to look at measures to provide more permanent solutions to the underlying problems. In addition, the County has begun the process needed to provide a safer on-street route. That project is slated for completion this summer, and will be a major accomplishment in getting the trail onto a better alignment into Silver Spring.

As always, access to the trail is a continuing concern, and in 2003 a new access at Bradley Boulevard was completed. The Coalition had lobbied the County for this, and other, additional access points over the past several years, and it is good to finally see these concerns addressed.

In 2003 the Coalition became aware of the serious negative impact that a proposed Georgetown University Boathouse (GUB) would have on the gateway to the trail in Georgetown. Accordingly the Coalition joined the Defenders of Potomac River Parkland in opposing construction of this enormous structure along the trail. Our main effort in this regard has been to question the legitimacy of the land swap between the National Park Service and Georgetown University that will be needed to facilitate this project. We have also questioned the need for a building of the size in the current GUB design, if they are allowed to build adjacent to the trail. Our efforts in trying to protect the trail from this intrusion are continuing.

The Coalition has testified at numerous County hearings for increased budgets for both Capital improvements and additional maintenance funds during 2003.

Our ongoing program of promoting safety on the Trail has continued in 2003, through use of our Newsletter, Website, and Trail Bulletin Boards to spread the dual message of courtesy and safety. We held several events on the Trail where Board members gave away whistles, and installed free bells on bicycles of Trail users.

The Coalition continues to remain in good fiscal shape due to the generosity of our nearly 2000 members. In 2003 we grew our net assets from $58K at the start of the year, to $91K by years end. This will allow us to help support the measures that we advocate for with the County and NPS.

Respectfully submitted,
Ernie Brooks
CCCT Chair

Photo by Dave Winer Photo shows location of the proposed boathouse. The balloon at top center represents the peak of boathouse's center section roof. The balloon is 3-feet in diameter, and its position indicates how tall the structure is relative to the CCT.

Webmaster's note: The Update that appeared in the printed Summer Crescent has been replaced here by the most recent update from our Chair.

Based on email & phone questions, it appears that our members have a keen interest in this ongoing project, so we wanted to pass along the latest information. As a prelude to that, it appears that there is some confusion over the CCCT's position regarding the proposed boathouse, and this seemed like a good place to clear that up. While we agree that the general idea of creating more boathouse space along the Georgetown Waterfront is a good one, we do not believe that the public at large is best served by the proposed location for the GU boathouse - along the CCT, just upstream from the Washington Canoe Club. However, given how deeply GU & the NPS have dug their heels in for this site, we are not fighting the location. What we are adamantly opposed to is the enormous size of the proposed boathouse.

On site drawings developed in the late 80's, that were still being shown to the public as recently as 2000, the boathouse site under consideration was shown as having a structure with a 4,000 sq. ft. footprint. The size of this boathouse was increased to a 15,000 sq. ft. footprint and a maximum height of 40' in an agreement entered into by the NPS in 1998 (even though the Waterfront Plan was still showing the smaller structure, and the Superintendent of the C&O Canal Park had indicated that the building should be no taller than the adjacent WCC - approximately 26'). At the end of last year the DC Zoning Commission approved a waterfront zoning for the site, and had no problem with the proposed new size, a 22,700 sq. ft. footprint by their calculations, and a height of 54'. Such a structure will crowd the CCT up against the Towpath's embankment, and would amount to putting a football field length building, varying in height from a 3 to 5 story office building, a few feet off the edge of the CCT. As proposed it will block all views of the river from the C&O Canal Towpath in that area. All that, and the proposed height and square footage are absolutely unnecessary for GU's programmatic needs.

The most recent development came at the July 16th meeting of the C&O Canal Commission, a federally appointed commission to oversee what is happening along the 184.5-mile long park. A number of commissioners had become disturbed by conflicting reports they'd been getting, and it was decided that a site visit, as well as a Commission meeting was needed to resolve the size issues. Realizing that this was our best opportunity to make sure the size was properly appreciated by Commission members and various NPS officials who would be in attendance, representatives of the CCCT and the WCC placed six 3' diameter balloons at key points along the proposed rooflines. A NPS official verified the heights of the balloons. When the balloons were viewed from the Towpath by the commissioners and NPS representatives not already familiar with the proposal, audible sighs and gasps were heard, and looks of incredulity were seen on most of their faces. At this gathering, NPS officials also acknowledged that they now agreed with numbers provided by the CCCT regarding relative heights of the Towpath & CCT, which differed by some 5 ½ feet from what GU had been putting forth. This height difference could be crucial in determining the final height of anything built on the site.

At the meeting that followed, NPS officials who had endorsed everything that GU had requested were called to task by several commissioners. In the course of their presentation, NPS acknowledged several key points that we had been trying to make for the past year and a half, indicating that we have finally gotten through the wall of misinformation we've been up against since we first became aware of this project 7 years ago. NPS stated that a group of interested parties (including the CCCT, Canal Commission, WCC, and boating groups) would be put together to work out a compromise on the size. We look forward to representing the interest of CCT users in that process.

Summertime - - and the living is easy. . .

Unless you happen to be a parent with small children, a walker or jogger, elderly, or even hearing-impaired.

These are among the trail users we hear from that tell us stories of bicyclists and rollerbladers who pass without giving any audible warning. Besides being required by law in Montgomery County and D.C., audible warning is important for safety and is the courteous thing to do, appreciated by those being overtaken.

The Capital Crescent Trail has been an enormous success and can be very crowded with users of all sorts and manner of transportation. Toddlers and children present a whole new set of concerns, as their actions can be unpredictable.

For almost as long as the trail has been in existence, the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail has led efforts to create this wonderful greenway and to achieve the best possible amenities to make the Trail safe and attractive.

Please take a moment to review the following common-sense guidelines when you’re on this or any other trail:

TRAIL SAFETY AND COURTESY MEANS:

ALL USERS should stay to the right side of the trail except when passing.
Passing other trail users to their left, allowing at least two feet clearance.
Always look ahead and behind before passing.
Give an audible voice or bell warning at least two seconds before passing.
Travel at reasonable speed in a consistent and predictable manner.
Keep all pets on a short leash (required by law).
Move off the trail when stopped to allow others to pass.
Yield to others when entering or crossing the trail.
Use lights and reflectors after dusk or before dawn.

5 YEARS AGO...
The Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission begins a trail alignment study for the Capital Crescent Trail and the Metropolitan Branch Trail through Silver Spring.

10 YEARS AGO ...
Montgomery County CounciI establishes a nine member Interim Trail Task Force to consider implementation of interim hiker-biker trail between Bethesda and Silver Spring. CCCT Board member Henri Bartholomot is named as Chair. The task force is given 60 days to prepare report.

15 YEARS AGO ...
The Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission publishes its final draft Georgetown Branch Master Plan Amendment which lays out proposed transit way and trail alignment options.

This May the Montgomery County Council passed a new budget that has some good news for the Trail.

The Council inserted 50K$ into the FY05 Capital Budget to build the connecting path between Stewart Avenue and Kansas Avenue, at the east end of the Interim CCT. This “Rosemary Hills Connector” will allow the Georgetown Branch onroad bike path to be taken off busy Brookville Road, to make the connection to downtown Silver Spring much safer and more direct. DPWT also has Capital funds to construct connecting paths between the CCT and the north side Bradley Blvd. sidewalk in Bethesda next year.

The Council added 50K$ to the FY05 Operating Budget for DPWT trails maintenance, which includes maintenance of the Interim CCT. The Council also increased funding to the Parks Dept. above the County Executive’s request, to reduce the negative impact of proposed budget cuts on the maintenance of countywide parks and trails, including the CCT.

We had identified some serious problems with the proposed budget in our Spring Crescent. The County Council is to be commended for making such a strong effort to address these issues in this very difficult budget year.

We can't do it without you! So be the Coalition’s eyes and ears the next time you’re out on the Trail - Call the CCCT Information Line at 202-234-4874 and press box “8." Leave a message on trail conditions you’ve encountered, or on any issue which might impact the Trail. The hotline message also provides trail users with regular updates on trail conditions and Coalition events.
If you're new to the Capital Crescent Trail, leave your name and address to receive a membership brochure and our latest newsletter. After consideration, we hope you’ll support the CCT and become a member of the Coalition.

CCCT INFORMATION LINE, 202-234-4874
Use your touch-tone phone to access one of our mailboxes:
1: Background of the CCT
2: Coalition meeting dates
3: Membership information
4: Obtain a CCT map
5: Volunteer activites
6: Other messages
7: [Inactive]
8: Trail hotline & events