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CO-govCapTrail July 5, 2005 |
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR: Governor Warner Breaks Ground on Virginia Capital Trail
— First phase of 54-mile trail linking Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Richmond —
WILLIAMSBURG -- Governor Mark R. Warner today broke ground on the first phase of the Virginia Capital Trail, a 54-mile cycling and pedestrian trail connecting Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Richmond along the scenic Route 5 corridor. This is the first major project to come to construction under the Governor’s policy to promote walking and bicycling facilities across the Commonwealth, and the completed trail will provide access to scenic, natural, and cultural landscapes, historic buildings, archaeological sites, and recreational areas along Route 5.
The $3.3 million Greensprings Phase of the trail, linking Jamestown and the Colonial Parkway with Route 5 and Jamestown High School, is funded through $600,000 in local investment from James City County, and a combination of state and federal funding sources. As part of the Greensprings Phase, the Williamsburg Land Conservancy donated 40 acres of wooded wetlands to the Commonwealth. After construction is completed, this property will be transferred to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for perpetual preservation as an urban wildlife habitat.
“After many years of talking about this in concept, today we actually start building the first three-mile leg of the project, with plans to have the eastern portion of the trail completed in time for the 400th anniversary of Jamestown in 2007,” Governor Warner said. “The Virginia Capital Trail will be a unique cultural and historic asset for generations of Virginians, with the potential to have a tremendous impact in terms of tourism, economic development, and overall quality of life.”
The trail will be 10-feet wide, paved to accommodate walkers, runners, cyclists, roller-bladers, and other users of all ages and abilities, and designed to minimize negative impacts to the road’s scenic character. To ensure a safe and pleasant experience, the trail will be physically separated from Route 5. Local history will be highlighted through a series of interpretive panels located along the trail.
“The trail will be another amenity for James City County,” said James City County Board of Supervisors Chairman Michael Brown. “It will connect our neighborhoods and provide families with a terrific way to enjoy the outdoors.”
“This is an historic day,” said James (Jay) Paul, III, Chairman of the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, a non-profit organization working with the Commonwealth in a public-private partnership to build the trail. “This momentum must be sustained to ensure the completion of the entire trail in the next five years.”
Construction is scheduled to be underway on three phases of the trail covering 15 miles in James City and Charles City counties by January, 2006.
The $3.3 million Greensprings Phase of the trail, linking Jamestown and the Colonial Parkway with Route 5 and Jamestown High School, is funded through $600,000 in local investment from James City County, and a combination of state and federal funding sources. As part of the Greensprings Phase, the Williamsburg Land Conservancy donated 40 acres of wooded wetlands to the Commonwealth. After construction is completed, this property will be transferred to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for perpetual preservation as an urban wildlife habitat.
“After many years of talking about this in concept, today we actually start building the first three-mile leg of the project, with plans to have the eastern portion of the trail completed in time for the 400th anniversary of Jamestown in 2007,” Governor Warner said. “The Virginia Capital Trail will be a unique cultural and historic asset for generations of Virginians, with the potential to have a tremendous impact in terms of tourism, economic development, and overall quality of life.”
The trail will be 10-feet wide, paved to accommodate walkers, runners, cyclists, roller-bladers, and other users of all ages and abilities, and designed to minimize negative impacts to the road’s scenic character. To ensure a safe and pleasant experience, the trail will be physically separated from Route 5. Local history will be highlighted through a series of interpretive panels located along the trail.
“The trail will be another amenity for James City County,” said James City County Board of Supervisors Chairman Michael Brown. “It will connect our neighborhoods and provide families with a terrific way to enjoy the outdoors.”
“This is an historic day,” said James (Jay) Paul, III, Chairman of the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, a non-profit organization working with the Commonwealth in a public-private partnership to build the trail. “This momentum must be sustained to ensure the completion of the entire trail in the next five years.”
Construction is scheduled to be underway on three phases of the trail covering 15 miles in James City and Charles City counties by January, 2006.
For more information about the Virginia Capital Trail program, visit VDOT's Capital Trail Web pages.
Page last modified: July 20, 2005
