Scope
A major component developed in the AWI Framework Plan is a comprehensive trail system, including bicycle and pedestrian trails along the Anacostia River. This system of trails, if built, would total approximately 48 miles in length. Among the first of the AWI Framework Plan’s revitalization efforts to be funded is a portion of the Riverwalk. This project, named the Anacostia Riverwalk (ARW), does not include the entire Riverwalk length as defined in the AWI, but would be a fundamental building block of the larger trail system.

Purpose
The purpose of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail (ARW) is to provide a safe and convenient means for park visitors to access the Anacostia waterfront and enjoy Anacostia Park. In order to do so, the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the National Park Service (NPS) plan to construct a trail system that would provide bicyclists and pedestrians with:

• Nearly continuous access to the east side of the river from South Capitol Street to the Bladensburg Trail in Maryland;
  
• Continuous access to the west side of the river from 11th Street to Benning Road; and
  
• Safe and convenient access points to enter the Park from the surrounding neighborhoods.

The ARW would also provide interconnectivity between the Bladensburg Trail in Maryland, the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Anacostia Park on the east side of the river, Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium (RFK) and the Washington Naval Yard on the west side, and several neighborhoods, intersecting bridges, and main roads.

Environmental Review
The National Park Service (NPS) and the District Department Transportation have prepared and Environmental Assessment that analyzes potential impacts of the proposed alternatives on the human environment in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The Environmental Assessment documents the evaluation of the potential effects resulting from implementation of this trail plan, identified as the ARW, and the proposed mitigation for unavoidable impacts.

The environmental document is posted for public review on the DDOT (http//:ddot.dc.gov/) and NPS (www.nps.gov/anac) Web sites. The document is also posted on the official project Web site www.arwstudy.com. The project Web site has the capacity to accept public comments. The comments will be summarized and reviewed by the study team for consideration in preparation for the final environmental document. Comments will be posted on the project Web site. Comments must be received by January 20, 2005.

Public Hearing
A Public Hearing to elicit public comment on the Environmental Assessment is scheduled for January 6, 2005. The public hearing will be held from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Marshall Heights Community Development Corporation (MHCDC) offices at 3939 Benning Road NE in Washington, DC. MHCDC is located on the east side of the Anacostia River near the geographic center of the study area. The public hearing will be preceded by an open house.

Note To Reviewers And Respondents
If you wish to comment on the Environmental Assessment, you may mail comments to the name and address below by January 20, 2005. Public comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, will be available for public review during regular business hours. Individual respondents may request that we withhold their home address from the record, which we will honor to the extent allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. We will make all submissions from organizations or businesses and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives of organizations or businesses available for public inspection in their entirety.

Please address all comments to:

Stephen W. Syphax
Chief - Resource Management Division
National Capital Parks – East
1900 Anacostia Drive S. E.
Washington D.C. 20020-6722

Or on the project Web site www.arwstudy.com.

Please click the following link to review the document. The table of contents is linked to each chapter, figure and appendices. www.nps.gov/nace/riverwalk/*

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