Virginia Capital Trail

Virginia Capital Trail

Virginia Capital Trail is a bicycle and pedestrian trail between Williamsburg, Jamestown and Richmond in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. It is 55 miles (89 km) in length and largely parallels a highway, Virginia Route 5, a Virginia Scenic Byway.

Part of the East Coast Greenway runs along the trail.

The trail ranges in width between eight and ten feet (2.4 to 3.0 m), and will be paved throughout its entire length to accommodate all modes of non-motorized land transportation. Trail users will share the new $33.6 million Judith Stewart Dresser Bridge over the Chickahominy River with Route 5 motorists, but will use a specially designed area physically separated from motor vehicles. Portions of the Virginia Capital Trail opened beginning in 2006 and the full trail is scheduled for completion by 2015.

Amenities along the Trail include bike rentals, fix-it stations, snack areas, restrooms, geocaching, rain shelters, and a playground at Chickahominy Riverfront Park.

A unique trail

The name derives from the fact that the trail links the three capitals of the British Colony of Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia after independence, for a total of over 400 years.As the Trail moves westward, it passes through the former homes of presidents John Tyler, William Henry Harrison, and Benjamin Harrison as well as the habitats of unique wildlife, including one of the largest concentrations of bald eagles in the United States.

Unlike many rail trail projects which utilize former railroad rights-of-way, no railroad was ever built along this corridor. Instead, the Virginia Capital Trail essentially parallels the north shore of the James River and Virginia Route 5 approximately 55 miles (89 km) between the two cities, from the Capitol in Colonial Williamsburg through portions of James City County, Charles City County, and Henrico County to the current Virginia State Capitol in Richmond. [1]

Sponsoring agencies

Virginia Capital Trail Foundation (VCTF) is a public-private partnership whose mission is to enhance, promote, manage, and advocate for the continued development of the Virginia Capital Trail. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), a state agency, describes their relationship as "working partners on this unique project."[2]

Sections and schedule for completion

As of October 2015, the Virginia Capital Trail is complete.[3]

Noteworthy places on trail or nearby

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 8/30/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.