The following was written by Rebecca Miller, Executive Director, DC Preservation League and member of the Coalition to Save the Trestle!
Washington, DC, has an unparalleled opportunity to hit the Trifecta — save an iconic structure from demolition, create a badly-needed walking and bicycling connection on the west side of Georgetown, and provide a much needed alternative to one of the most dangerous and unpleasant sidewalks in the city.
This opportunity is the rehabilitation of the Foundry Branch Trolley Trestle, a vestige from the days when trolleys transported Washingtonians across the city, and on this particular line, through the Palisades to the famous amusement park in Glen Echo, Maryland. The trolley no longer runs, but the Trestle is hanging on—by a political thread. This is the moment to save it.
You’ve almost certainly seen the Trestle, but not noticed it. Hiding in the overgrowth west of the Georgetown University campus, it is briefly visible to the thousands of motorists speeding on Canal Road across the intersection of Foxhall Road. It is also visible to the occasional forlorn pedestrian on that narrow Canal Road sidewalk—if that walker has the courage to briefly look up in wonder from the dangerous stream of fast traffic only inches away.
The Trestle’s predicament is classic Washington. Owned by WMATA, its abutments are located on National Park Service (NPS) land, it spans historic Glover-Archbold Park (and Foundry Branch Creek), and its approaches go through land controlled by Georgetown University (on one side) and the DC Department of Transportation (on the other). WMATA is actively working to simply tear it down, but NPS has to sign off first.
Everyone agrees the Trestle is in bad shape. Preservation experts assert it can be saved, while others contend it should be torn down and a new bridge could be built sometime in the future. But the latter is next to impossible. The Trestle is a contributing structure to the historic significance of the park; therefore, a new intervention spanning the park would cause an adverse effect on its natural landscape and would require extensive government approvals.
Fortunately, the tide has turned for saving the Trestle. Listed as one of Washington, DC’s Most Endangered Places, the Trestle has been discovered by Georgetown’s students who are enchanted with the opportunity of a safe way to walk or bike to and from the Foxhall and MacArthur Boulevard communities. Both affected ANCs and Councilmember Matt Frumin have shown ardent support for saving and rehabilitating the Trestle. Moreover, many people see the advantage of creating a non-motorized linkage from Georgetown and beyond providing access to the new MacArther High School.
But we have to move fast. WMATA needs only one more agency signature – the Park Service – to tear down the Trestle. Last year, the DC Council authorized funding to study acquiring the Trestle, but DDOT shows no interest in carrying out the study and wants to transfer that money to a different trail project. The Park Service is under pressure to make the park under the Trestle safe.
Right now, while the Mayor and the Council are negotiating the 2025 budget, we need an outpouring of public support to save the Trestle. Add your name to the 1500 others who have already signed our petition and tell Mayor Bowser and Council Chairman Phil Mendelson that people from all over the city (as well as the larger region) care deeply about the benefits that this rails-to-trail conversion would provide. Tell them to “Save the Foundry Branch Trolley Trestle!”
Rebecca Miller, Executive Director, DC Preservation League and member of the Coalition to Save the Trestle!
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