East Coast Greenway welcomes nearly 14 miles of new trails across five states and D.C.

Thus far in 2025, the East Coast Greenway Alliance has approved 13.8 miles of traffic-free trail segments as official additions to the developing Maine-to-Florida bicycle and pedestrian route.

Highlights of the latest East Coast Greenway additions include the first segment of the New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway, as well as impactful connections to existing trails in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New Haven, Connecticut. Two additions to the Waccamaw Neck Bikeway in Georgetown County, South Carolina, round out the latest designations.

Currently, the East Coast Greenway features more than 1,100 traffic-free miles connected by the interim route on roadways. Whenever possible, the interim route is located on low-traffic roadways; however, high-stress segments do exist. More than 65% of the Maine-to-Florida route is complete or in an advanced stage of development.  

The newest East Coast Greenway segments (from north to south) include:

New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway - Phase 1A (Portsmouth to North Hampton, New Hampshire), 8 miles: The newest segment of the New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway, connecting Portsmouth to Hampton, officially opened in September 2024, establishing a critical connection to Maine and marking significant progress for the Greenway in New England. With this addition, New Hampshire has completed more than 50% of its East Coast Greenway route. The full New Hampshire section is expected to be completed within the next decade. When complete the New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway will include 14.5 miles of rail-trail, plus the combination of on- and off-road connection route through Portsmouth, meeting Maine’s Eastern Trail at Memorial Bridge

Farmington Canal Heritage Trail - Phase IV (New Haven, Connecticut), 1.6 miles: The completion of New Haven’s newest 1.6-mile leg of the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail (Phase IV) realizes a decades-long dream of reconnecting the southernmost section of the trail from its current end at Temple Street back to the canal’s historic origin at the Canal Dock Boathouse. A portion of the new segment traverses underneath Whitney Avenue through a tunnel and then rises again back to street level at the intersection of Grove and Orange Streets. The section also includes interpretive displays and illumination, as well as ramps and stairs for convenient pedestrian and cyclist access. Stretching 82 miles from New Haven to Northampton, Massachusetts, the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail is more than 80% complete, with full completion expected by 2030.

Schuylkill Banks - Christian to Crescent Trail Connector (Philadelphia), 0.5 miles: The Christian to Crescent Trail Connector is an impressive half-mile of new boardwalk, paved trail and a 650-foot cable-stayed pedestrian bridge that links the Schuylkill Banks portion of the Schuylkill River Trail with the Grays Ferry Crescent Trail, creating 3.7 miles of continuous East Coast Greenway through Center City Philadelphia. Its completion marks a major step forward for both the regional Circuit Trails network and the East Coast Greenway through Philadelphia, linking neighborhoods with safe, accessible routes for walking and biking.

Metropolitan Branch Trail - Brookland to Fort Totten (Washington, D.C.), 1.6 miles: The newest segment of the popular Metropolitan Branch Trail to be designated as part of the East Coast Greenway features a 0.5-mile stretch connecting Fort Totten to Bates Road. The 1.6-mile designation, which will be added to the Greenway’s complementary route, also includes a 0.8-mile existing segment connecting to the Brookland Arts Walk and a 0.3-mile section of the MBT that was repaved and restriped. When completed, the Metropolitan Branch Trail will be an 8-mile trail that runs from Union Station in D.C. to Silver Spring, Maryland. Following the Metropolitan Branch Line of the B&O Railroad, the trail passes through numerous vibrant and historic neighborhoods, as well as connecting to the National Mall.

Waverly Road School Safety Connector (Georgetown County, South Carolina), 1.4 miles: Completed in 2025, Waverly Road School Safety Connector is a 1.4-mile paved pathway creating a safe off-road connection to Waccamaw Elementary School and the recently opened Waverly Park in Pawleys Island. The segment is part of the Waccamaw Neck Bikeway system, which was established in 1994 by longtime advocate Linda Ketron and others as a 27-mile bicycle and pedestrian route in Horry and Georgetown counties. To date, 18.6 miles of trail have been constructed with this designation closing one of the last remaining gaps in the current route. 

North Litchfield Safety Connector (Georgetown County, South Carolina), 0.7 miles: Completed in 2021, the North Litchfield Safety Connector is a 0.7-mile paved pathway linking Boyle Drive and Trace Drive in Litchfield, South Carolina. The segment is part of the Waccamaw Neck Bikeway system, which was established in 1994 by longtime advocate Linda Ketron and others as a 27-mile bicycle and pedestrian route in Horry and Georgetown counties. To date, 18.6 miles of trail have been constructed with this designation closing one of the last remaining gaps in the current route.

With your investment, the East Coast Greenway Alliance can advocate for the completion of even more safe, traffic-free Greenways from Maine to Florida. If you aren't already a supporter, please consider joining our team and helping grow the Greenway.