Today, President Joseph Biden signed the September 11th National Memorial Trail bill to enable the Department of the Interior to assist in developing the trail route, signage, interpretative guides and educational materials for a 1,300-mile multi-use route that links the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the Flight 93 Memorial. The Senate recently passed legislation by unanimous consent to support the development of this trail. It passed the House unanimously on July 29, 2021. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined President Biden for the bill signing.
“It’s been 20 years since the horrific 9-11 terrorist attacks, and for many of us, the memories and heartbreak remain fresh. The September 11th National Memorial Trail will quite literally weave us closer together, honoring our lost loved ones, colleagues, and Americans from all walks of life, through beautiful greenways and monuments where we can hopefully find healing. I am grateful to President Biden for signing the bipartisan September 11th National Memorial Trail bill into law, and for my House colleagues Representatives Fitzpatrick, Connolly, and Beyer for their meaningful work,” said Senator Gillibrand.
Starting at the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, the Trail will extend northwest to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County, PA. It will then continue east to New York City’s National September 11 Memorial and Museum. The Trail then heads south following the East Coast Greenway connecting to the 9-11 Memorial Garden of Reflection. From there, the trail connects to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and ultimately returns to the Pentagon Memorial. Currently, the 9-11 Memorial Trail is a patchwork of about 55% off-road trails and 45% existing roads that connect the three 9-11 memorial sites in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.