The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program funds projects in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two territories. $23 million of that fund is coming to the Shore to help build out the Rails to Trails bike trail–a 16-mile stretch from Nassawadox to Onley.
Many are scratching their heads at the decision to fund this section of the bike trail.
Given the massive influx of tourist traffic in and around Cape Charles and Sun Outdoors (Cherrystone) campground, finishing the line from Cape Center all the way into Cape Charles makes more sense. The new trail might actually get used.
The phase 1 stem from Magothy Bay to Cape Center is barely used because it’s a pain to get to. You have to somehow get your bike to the starting points. However, if the trail ran from downtown Cape Charles to Magothy Bay, the bike traffic would increase exponentially.
What exactly is adding this disjointed section of trail supposed to accomplish? There will certainly be a few that will ride on it, but it’s doubtful it would see the amount of traffic a completed phase into Cape Charles would generate.
A more complete and linear approach would be using the $23 million to complete phase 2 and taking the trail into Cape Charles. Providing an accessible bike trail for visitors, many of whom bring bikes with them, would provide much more bang for the buck. Note: our locals ride a lot too.
Obviously, Accomac wanted it more and went after it. Cape Charles and Northampton didn’t even bother to make a case and lobby for the funds. They probably weren’t even aware the trail funds were available.
Asleep at the wheel again.
The ultimate goal is to be able to bike from the CBBT to Chincoteague. Given the competence of our elected officials, and the lack of a coherent funding, planning, design, and development process, it’s doubtful we will see anything resembling that any time soon.
One can always hope.
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If Cape Charles had been really wanting development, they would have made their harbor so that containers could have been offloaded onto the railroad and shipped north…not to mention shipping out grain, etc. Killing the railroad will kill Cape Charles in the end.
Interesting comments about “the bypass” of CC and generally unknown purpose of the enormous amount of out tax dollars spent on this project that has not so far demonstrated a significant benefit to those that actually live on the ES. If an extension into CC is really important to CC one would think that the citizens of CC would be communicating with their elected officials about their desire or possibly lack thereof regarding a dedicated bike only path into town. I may have missed it, but to date have not seen any serious consideration to support this. Is there a connection to the bike trail into CC and the STR (short term rental) business? With no clear and continuous public support by the CC government, ‘Asleep at the wheel again” may be an inaccurate conclusion.
Editor’s Note: Agreed, the project will not benefit locals as much as visitors. The CBES Between the Waters bike event is a great example of how so many things fly under the radar. The thing is, bikers bike, and don’t spend a lot of time ‘lobbying’. That said, visitors, like it or not, are becoming the majority– I talk to a lot of CC tourists, mainly at the beach, and when I tell them about the proposed bike path that will eventually let them ride safely away from traffic from CC to the CBBT, they light up.One of the ‘quieter’ tourism goals is to attact more folks that are here for ‘experience’ vacations. If officials only listen to locals, most of which are fairly long in the tooth, policy and priotites begin to reflect that. Really, what better way to experience the lower Shore than getting out of the car and cycling it (even for locals). The State and Federal funds are there, you just have to put in the work to go get them.
Scotiagirl is certainly pro bike and for that she needs destinations… BUT, she wonders where the hoped for HUGE influx of bikers who will use these trails will PARK the cars…
As a “come here” hopeful, I applaud the effort to get the southern section completed. I would use it as a transportation link between CC and Kiptopeake, as well as the tip. It definitely has real potential. I would be remiss if I did not say what I think is a more salient point for building it further up north instead of the preferred location: financial bang for the buck.
What I mean is, I think the setup where they selected has many less land mines. The right-of-way is already there and, unless I am not fully up to speed with the alignment, it will remain completely on the east side of Route 13. Many more lane-miles to construct with the funds. If I am not mistaken, Northampton has built the trail as far as they can with the right-of-way that they can easily obtain or re-purpose. The next phase heading north of the terminus requires land and/or easements. That takes time and usually money.
But to me, and this is even more critical, THE elephant in the room is Route 13. If there is a real issue with the Eastern Shore, it is the conditions on the really only true corridor for traffic. It is designed in the 50s (maybe 60s) with 21st century traffic, including distracted drivers. It is poor when cars and SUVs have to negotiate getting onto Route 13 and having tractor trailers cruising through at the highway speeds. It is a deal breaker to have cyclists negotiate crossing it at the “proper” locations. You may think that cyclists are a silly breed (and those in spandex do sort of fit the bill) but the real tourists are going to be the family travelers. There is NO WAY they are going to face a crossing of an intersection on their bikes and say “this works for us”. Try standing next to a busy road like Route 13 and watch the traffic up close. It is VERY disconcerting.
What is the solution? Simply, they need to have several grade-separated crossings along the corridor to safely and confidently use to get from one side to the other. I think the best solution is to locate the crossings where Route 13 can be raised to a small bridge with a tunnel for bikes to use underneath. Perhaps at a current road crossing to allow a kind of ramp access to Route 13 like a diamond interchange. And perhaps remove median openings to prevent left turn ingress and force motorists to turn right and the use the interchanges to double back onto Route 13. This may be more politically popular instead of merely accommodating the cyclists.
Anyways, it all goes back to my original premise: what is getting built is what is the low hanging fruit. I believe there are funds to complete the corridor from Route 13 to CC town center. If not, it still flies into the idea that, except for the mid-corridor businesses along Stone/Randolph, it ends at Route 13. You think a family is going to ride their bikes to the Food Lion to shop by crossing it at the light? I highly think not.
I would agree with Mr. Sherin, the low hanging fruit is first picked.
May be instead of a bike trails the two counties will purchase the old railroad property through Federal, State and Local grants to widen Rt.13 to make it safer for highway use. Then at a later time try to make a bike trail. As for me, I see the bike trails as a waste of taxpayer’s dollars.
As for Cape Charles missing out on the bike grant. They are looking for a bigger fish to fry.
The town want to annex the property along side of Stone road all the way to route 13 for two reasons. 1 to increase the tax base for the town to build a multi-million dollar golfcart trail from the town to Food lion. The Grocery Run trail will have multiple charging stations along the way (because everyone knows tourists forget to charge their golf carts before leaving home). The charging stations will accommodate all golf carts and electric vehicles.
Then there will be a state of art overpass for golf carts going over Rt. 13.
The overpass will be extra wide, so that the tourist can pullover and have lunch and watch the traffic go by.
The Food Lion parking lot will be redesign to accommodate golf cart parking and charging stations ( because let face it, we all believe we have enough juice to make it all the way).
As for the town of Cape Charles, I don’t believe they have the interest for doing the right thing for the people that live and work there year around. It’s all about the tourist dollars.
Certainly is all about the tourist dollars. Wish our local restaurants would give us a discount for meals we purchase in the off season.
You got to be kidden….?
You have missed the point..the powers that be never gave a rat’s behind about the trail…they just wanted the railroad right-of-way for the sewer project and to use the rails, etc to help pay for it…they never cared whether the trail got done or not and never will…to quote someone who was there when the railroad was turned over to the counties”It was a parasitic relationship from the beginning.”
The RR right-of-way was not turned over to the counties, it is still owned by a private company. Additionally, in no way was the RR corridor, ROW, rails, etc. used to pay for anything related to the HRSD sewer project – the counties aren’t even paying for it. The project is being financed via fees from HRSD customers.
https://www.hrsd.com/eastern-shore-sewer-infrastructure-improvements
I would think that prior to publishing such an article you would do your due diligence and research the facts instead of spreading misinformation. The portion of the Trail in Cape Charles out to US 13 was selected for funding in 2021 and construction is expected to start in 2024. The section from the Southern Tip Trail is an entirely separate effort and is not included in the portion that was railbanked (preserved for future potential railroad use). Additionally, the funds awarded are from pots of money reserved ONLY for these types of transportation projects. If the money wasn’t awarded to the ESVA, it would have gone to another trail in the country, as the RAISE program is a federal grant. Your tax dollars would be still be going to a trail, it just wouldn’t be here on the Shore.
There was already a trail/road along the R/R tracks. Only a fool would tear up the tracks, tell you all there was no scrap value in the steel rails and ‘build’ another trail/road, I mean real mental midgets.