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Aptly Named, “The Circuit” to Connect Regional Communities
Publication Date
June 8th 2012
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 Enthusiasts for the Greater Philadelphia area’s bike/ped trail network recently gathered on the Schuylkill Banks to announce the “Connect the Circuit” campaign. A collaborative effort among more than 20 partners, including the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), the campaign seeks to complete 750 miles of interconnected recreational trails over the next 25 years.

 

The formerly unnamed network is called the “The Circuit,” as a result of the winning entry by Urban Engineers’ David D’Alba in a 2011 Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) contest. With this contest, DVRPC wanted to identify a common name that could “unify the vast network’s identity, enhance the visibility of the region’s trails, and reinforce the connectivity of its neighborhoods, businesses, jobs and recreation opportunities across the region without relying on a car.”

 

D’Alba, a videographer at Urban Engineers, is a life-long cyclist who loves the region’s network of trails. “As a child, I used to ride these trails for fun. Today, I commute daily on these trails to work. I am thrilled that the region is expanding the system for future generations to enjoy.” For D’Alba, the name “Circuit” just seemed to make sense. “Circuit represents the vast network of trails that are connected, or will be connected in the future. A circuit also has strong ties to exercise (circuit training) and energy. Lastly, it can be used as a marketing tool to achieve the trails ultimate goal, to become a ‘complete circuit.’”

 

“It really is a name that fits because it speaks to the connections among our communities,” said Philadelphia’s Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “Every time a new segment of trail is completed, the lights of economic and civic activity shine a little brighter in this city and this region.”