As of 2026, this 0.62-mile segment of the future Cresheim Rail Trail is in design, in partnership with the City of Philadelphia and engineering consultants from NV5.
In March 2024, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation helped FOCT open a “rough draft” of the rail trail, mowing and trimming this corridor for use between Germantown and Stenton Avenues. While that work transpired, volunteers from FOCT created Ed’s Loop as a quarter-mile-long, single-track continuation of the trail.
When complete, the Cresheim Rail Trail will be part of The Circuit Trails network — separated from traffic, accessible, and with a 10-foot crushed gravel surface. (All remaining segments of the Cresheim Trail to be built will be part of The Circuit as well.)
On the northern end, the trail will continue into Montgomery County via a future tunnel under Stenton Avenue. On the southern end, the trail will have a primary trailhead at Germantown Avenue, and will continue across the former rail trestle over the Avenue when it is rehabilitated. Roughly halfway between the two ends, the trail passes through the tunnel of the iconic Reading Railroad bridge now used by the SEPTA Chestnut Hill East Line.
In addition to the trailhead at Germantown Avenue next to the former Trolley Car Diner, this section makes connections to the Wissahickon East Park trails, as well as to the Crittenden Connector, which leads to a future crossing of Cresheim Valley Drive.
