The WWW study area has experienced meaningful progress in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure through a series of local and regional planning initiatives in Wood and Washington Counties. Over the past decade, community-based advisory committees, municipal efforts, and regional partnerships have helped advance trail development, improve connectivity, and identify priority corridors for investment.
In Parkersburg, local stakeholders advanced Complete Streets policies and bicycle-related ordinances and promoted the Blueprint for a Bicycle Friendly America framework. These efforts contributed to facility planning, public education initiatives, and the expansion of the local bicycle network.
In Marietta and surrounding areas, alternative transportation planning identified key trail connections, including the River Trail system and proposed extensions toward Devola and regional destinations. Similarly, planning and feasibility studies have supported the development of the Devola Multi-Use Trail and its connection to the broader regional network.
Regional collaboration has also linked the area to the broader Industrial Heartland Trails initiative, positioning Parkersburg as a key anchor within a multi-state trail system.
In Wood County and Belpre, planning studies and stakeholder-driven master plans documented existing facilities, identified priority improvements, and supported long-term bicycle and pedestrian connectivity throughout the region.
While some advisory groups are no longer meeting regularly, the planning work completed through these efforts continues to guide active transportation improvements and project development across the WWW region.
