With approximately one million users annually, the Mount Vernon Trail provides recreation and transportation connections to nationally and regionally significant destinations.

The 18-mile paved trail stretches from George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate to Theodore Roosevelt Island. The trail links Fairfax County, the City of Alexandria, and Arlington County with the District of Columbia. It is the only trail connection to the three major Potomac bridge crossings and provides a critical link to regional trails, including the Potomac Heritage, Custis, Rock Creek, Four Mile Run, and Woodrow Wilson Bridge trails.

Volpe provided technical support to the National Capital Region in developing the Mount Vernon Trail Corridor Study, including identifying opportunities to improve the Mount Vernon Trail based on an analysis of trail conditions, safety concerns, users’ needs, and resource management considerations.

This is the first comprehensive analysis of those data and will help to inform park operations and maintenance needs and to identify long term capital investments to improve visitor experience.

The technical findings are intended to help the park develop projects and identify priorities, inform future National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) compliance processes, and pursue partnership opportunities with local jurisdictions.

George Washington Memorial Parkway: Mount Vernon Trail Corridor Study (PDF)