Cape Charles to Update Rail Trail Agreement, Solidifying Long-Term Maintenance Commitment

CAPE CHARLES, Va. — Cape Charles officials are set to formalize their ongoing commitment to maintaining a key section of the Eastern Shore Rail Trail, with Town Council expected to vote on a new agreement that updates the terms of a 2018 memorandum.

The new agreement covers the “Cape Charles Segment” of the 49.1-mile trail corridor managed by the Eastern Shore Rail Trail Foundation (ESRTF) and Canonie Atlantic Co., stretching from the east side of Old Cape Charles Road at Mason Avenue to the first pedestrian crossing on the west side of Route 13 at Lankford Highway and Country Place. The segment also includes a planned trailhead parking lot next to Rayfield’s Pharmacy, to be accessed via a new driveway at the intersection of Mason Avenue and Fig Street.

The ESRTF holds the lease to operate the trail, while Canonie Atlantic Co. retains fee-simple ownership of the rail right of way, which extends from the Cape Charles waterfront to Hallwood, Virginia. The trail, developed under the National Trails System Act, remains subject to possible future railroad reconstruction and reactivation if a viable economic or national need emerges and is approved by the Surface Transportation Board (STB).

Under the proposed updated agreement, the Town of Cape Charles will continue to be responsible for maintaining the Cape Charles Segment, a commitment that includes regular trash removal, mowing, spraying, and repairs, as well as ensuring public safety, law enforcement, and proper signage. These maintenance responsibilities will take effect once the trail segment is completed and released by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

Town Manager John Hozey, Canonie Atlantic Co. President H. Spencer Murray, and ESRTF Executive Director Ron Wolff are expected to sign the new agreement, which will replace the original 2018 memorandum. Council action to formally rescind the older agreement and adopt the updated terms is required to finalize the new commitment.