Final Leg Of Iconic Montgomery County Trail Now Completed

LOWER MORELAND, PA — The final leg of an iconic Montgomery County trail has been completed.

The last section of the Pennypack Trail, a 0.7 mile stretch in Lower Moreland, was completed this week. The trail now runs for 6.2 miles throughout the Pennypack Creek valley, from Rockledge Park to the border with Bucks County on County Line Road.

“I am thrilled the trail is finished, and I can’t wait to get out and ride my bike on the new section of the Pennypack,” Montgomery County Commissioner Ken Lawrence said.

The trail generally follows a 12-foot wide gravel path over the former Fox Chase-Newtown SEPTA line, a rehabilitated rail trail in the vein of the Cynwyd Trail in Manayunk and Lower Merion.

This final stretch of construction included a signalized pedestrian crossing at Byberry Road, as well as a canopy section under a Norfolk Southern rail bridge.

Officials noted that Pennypack Trail is among the county's most popular, with about 375,000 visits a year. It abuts to Fox Chase Farm in Philadelphia, where it connects to Philadelphia's 10.2 mile long Pennypack Trail. That trail terminates at the Delaware River. Ultimately, Philadelphia will complete a connection to the Fox Chase SEPTA station, enabling a smooth trail to train commuter option.

There are also plans to connect the Newtown Rail Trail to Pennypack in 2021.