About a fifth of the Greenway is now in place as an off-road route on traffic-free trail segments. A complete travel route composed of carefully chosen and field-checked on-road linkages among completed trails has been defined and mapped, allowing experienced cyclists to use the route today. Several maps and cue sheets for the entire route are available with more in production, and trail markers have been posted to help with wayfinding. Users of all abilities can experience the Greenway today on the more than 100 completed trail sections located in each of the 16 states along the Greenway corridor.

Tracking Progress

The ECGA’s Benchmark Assessments provide current status reports on each of the hundreds of local trails that make up the ECG and descriptions of the on-road gaps that join them. Even a relatively small state such as Maryland currently has 24 individually identifiable segments. Over time, some segments may be combined as on-road links are replaced with off-road trails, while others may be subdivided as new local trail projects are initiated.

Each Benchmark Assessment endeavors to assemble standard data about that segment. The information includes the location and length of the segment; its current condition, ownership and management; local contacts; and construction status, where applicable. These Benchmarks provide a useful resource for travelers on the Greenway by providing a limited snapshot of current conditions as well as contacts for more detailed information. Benchmark Assessments are updated on an ongoing basis as more information becomes available to ECGA Trail Program staff.

Benchmark Assessments:

ECG Blueprints for Action are snapshots of ECG status by state, including goals for progress. By breaking down each state's ECG into its individual segments and determining how to best make progress on that segment, the ECG and its partners are better positioned to evaluate past progress and approach future work.

 

Blueprints for Action

 

Route Stats and Information

The following chart presents our current progress by state.

Designated Trail List

 

Informational kiosks such as this one in Brunswick, Maine, display information about the ECG and state Mile Sponsor inscriptions.

There are over 100 trails designated as East Coast Greenway, many of which have been signed with ECG trail markers. View a list of the designated trails and signed trails.

 

View the ECG spinechart that lists East Coast Greenway progress in each state.

ECG Informational Kiosks

ECG Kiosks are located in the following states. Eventually kiosks will provide maps and information in each state along the Greenway. The kiosks display the inscriptions of the state’s Mile Sponsors. Click here to learn more about the Mile Sponsor program!.

  • ME – South Portland Greenbelt, South Portland
  • ME – Androscoggin River Bicycle Path, Brunswick
  • ME – Eastern Trail, Scarborough
  • RI – Coventry Bike Path, Coventry
  • NJ – D&R Canal Towpath, Millstone
  • MD – B&A Trail, Severna Park
  • NC – American Tobacco Trail, Durham

Water Crossings

One of the greatest challenges to completing the East Coast Greenway is crossing water. While there are bridges to cross all waterways along the ECG route, not all of these bridges have bicycle/pedestrian access. In these cases, it is critical for the ECGA and other advocates to work with states to include bike/ped paths in bridge reconstruction plans.

Here's a short list of bridges that have special accommodations for bikes and/or pedestrians:

  • Sikorsky Bridge (CT: Housatonic River)
  • Casco Bay Bridge (ME: Casco Bay)
  • Calhoun St Bridge (NJ/PA: Delaware River)
  • Arlington Memorial Bridge (DC/VA: Potomac River)
  • Numerous bridges on the FL Keys
  • Ravenel Bridge (SC: Cooper River)

State of the Trail Reports

The Alliance has published two State of the Trail Reports in booklet format and, since 2006, has published a condensed version each spring. These reports track progress on the development of the Greenway.

2008 State of the Trail Report
2007 State of the Trail Report
2006 State of the Trail Report

Close the Gaps Campaign

A 2010 Strategic Committee, consisting of ten members from ECGA Board and Advisory Board members and heads of other trail-related organizations, met during 2004 to shape a strategic plan to guide Alliance work through 2010. This was motivated by a concern about progress in getting trail on the ground. The Committee identified impediments to progress, created realistic goals for 2010, and recommended capacity measures to increase our effectiveness, including staffing increases, changes to our Board of Trustees, and the forming of a Trail Council. Read more about the Close the Gaps Campaign.

Recognition

The ECG was designated one of 16 National Millennium Trails in 1999, along with the Pacific Crest, Appalachian, and other noted trails. This was a significant honor for the fledgling trail project it was at that time. The Millennium Trail program was initiated by the Department of Transportation as a Millennium year project to recognize the growing importance of trails to our nation.

In 1999, the ECGA was the recipient of the Kodak American Greenways Award given nationally to greenway projects of special merit.