Virginia Bch, Richmond, Fairfax Receive Millions For Trails, Road Safety Improvements

- WTOP, Dec. 16, 2023. Ed. Article was reprinted with permission from Virginia Mercury.

The U.S. Dept. of Transportation awarded the city of Virginia Beach a $14.9 million federal grant on Wednesday, marking the single largest grant to a Virginia’s locality from the Safe Streets & Roads for All program established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The funding will support the Va Beach Trail, a 12-mile long east-west corridor for walkers and bikers that will stretch the length of the city from its western edge to the Oceanfront.

Currently, pedestrians and cyclists traveling along the corridor must walk or ride in heavily trafficked roadways or on narrow sidewalks.

The trail project will instead provide a paved, shared-use path for safer non-car transit. The trail is also the final segment of a regional trail system that will connect Richmond to the Va Beach Oceanfront. The city appreciates the support for public safety improvements in our community and acknowledges the significance of the Virginia Beach Trail project,” said city spokeswoman Tiffany Russell.

Va Beach has already constructed 1.5 miles of the trail. The federal funding will help pay for construction of 3 miles of pedestrian and bicycle trails completely separated from vehicles, including an elevated bridge over Independence Blvd., which is expected to cost $19.5 mill. More than a dozen localities across Va have received grants from the Safe Streets program totaling $36.4 mill.

The program, which is scheduled to end in 2026, has awarded $1.7 billion nationwide since its creation.

It’s critical that our transportation networks have the infrastructure needed to keep Virginians safe while they walk, bike, and drive,” said U.S. Sens. Mark Warner & Tim Kaine in a joint statement. “We’re glad this funding made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law we passed will be used to make safety improvements along the Va Beach Trail & help prevent serious injuries and deaths at intersections in Richmond.” The cities of Richmond & Fairfax will also receive $10.7 and $1.6 mill grants... https://wtop.com/virginia/2023/12/virginia-beach-richmond-fairfax-receive-millions-for-trails-and-road-safety-improvements/