Federal, county, city governments come together to celebrate Anacostia River Trail

Video courtesy of MORE member Jim Bole. 

Despite the rancor in Congress over funding for bicycling and walking projects, bicycling trails and on-road facilities are exceedingly popular. If you want to see evidence of the popularity of bicycling projects, just attend a ribbon cutting.

It was great to see the turn-out on Friday when representatives from federal agencies, Maryland and the District of Columbia came together to celebrate the opening of a new section of the Anacostia River Trail at Bladensburg Waterfront Park, part of the Obama Administration’s America’s Great Outdoors program.

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley praises the new Anacostia River Trail as DC Mayor Vincent Gray, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Maryland's US Senator Ben Cardin look on.

Officials in attendance included:

Ken Salazar, Secretary of Interior

Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation

John D. Porcari, Deputy Secretary of Transportation

Bob Perciasepe, Deputy Administrator, EPA

Martin O’Malley, Governor of Maryland

Ben Cardin, United States Senator for Maryland

Rushern L. Baker, III, Prince George’s County Executive

Vincent Gray, Mayor of Washington, D.C.

Jon Jarvis, Director, National Park Service

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar (green jacket) and Senator Ben Cardin (brown jacket) ride the new trail.