The Route 1 corridor’s Rhode Island Trolley Trail  will get a key extension through Hyattsville in the next few years.

The Maryland State Highway Administration is planning to extend the popular bike path from its current endpoint near Franklins brewery south to the Melrose Skate Park.

That would be helpful because it would allow bicyclists to more easily connect to the Northwest Branch Trail.

From there, a motivated cyclist could follow the seven-mile trail along the Anacostia River through West Hyattsville, north to Home Depot and on to Langley Park, ending just south of Interstate 495.

Of course, it’s already possible to do this, but it requires crossing a heavily trafficked road and biking along busy sidewalks. That can discourage more casual cyclists and families biking with younger children.

The extension would also pass right by some of the more promising areas of Route 1’s reinvention, including Streetcar 82 Brewing Co., Pizzeria Paradiso, Art Works Now and Shortcake Bakery. That would also make it part of an “ale trail” under discussion too.

The city held a public meeting on the extension Tuesday in City Hall.

At the meeting, representatives of the State Highway Administration said it will be accepting comments on a 30% design of the extension through November, according to Assistant City Administrator Jim Chandler. If the state can finish the design and related land acquisition by next spring, the extension will possibly be included in the fiscal year 2020 budget. Otherwise, it would be in the 2021 budget.