Eastern Shore

of Virginia

Stay on Track
with the
Eastern Shore Rail Trail
Newsletter!
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  • Herbicide spraying along the corridor will begin during the first week of June.
  • Salvage work along the ESVA corridor has been completed! All crossings have been repaved.
  • The Eastern Shore Rail Trail Foundation has established their role as the official trail sponsor, an effort that has been ongoing over the last year.
  • Posting of signs along the corridor is underway.
  • Construction is still taking place along portions of the rail corridor by the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) and is expected to continue for some time.


RE MINDER: For your safety, please continue to KEEP OFF the corridor!
We are all very excited for the proposed Eastern Shore Rail Trail, but until the corridor is safe and any and all construction in the area has been completed, the Eastern Shore Rail Trail Foundation asks that the public remain cautious by staying clear of the rail corridor until further notice.
Thank you.
Here's what else we've been up to...

  • We are still anxiously waiting for the final outcome on four SMART SCALE applications submitted by the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission (A-NPDC). One application was included in the staff-recommended funding scenario. The final projects selected for funding will be announced in June.

  • Also in June, we anticipate hearing news regarding the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) application submitted by the A-NPDC.

  • The A-NPDC applied for a Congressionally Directed Spending Request to Senator Kaine and Senator Warner's office for a 1.5-mile segment through the Town of Parksley. This request was submitted to the Senate Appropriations Committee to be considered for funding.
  • The pre-application period for the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program opens May 15th and closes June 30th. The A-NPDC will be submitting an application for a 2-mile segment through Parksley.

  • With the warm-weather season quickly approaching, the Eastern Shore Rail Trail Work Group will be attending local events in order to reach out to the public with information on the project. Come look for us!

  • VDOT is currently completing scoping documents for the Cape Charles segment of the ESRT. Once these documents are completed, VDOT can move forward with design.
Eastern Shore
of Virginia
First Phase of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Rail Trail Funded

The first segment of the Eastern Shore Rail Trail (ESRT) was one of three community projects selected to receive federal funding on the Eastern Shore. Congresswoman Elaine Luria presented a check to the Accomack Northampton Transportation District Commission (ANTDC) for $2.5 million in order to fund a segment of the future Eastern Shore Rail Trail in Cape Charles. The project includes engineering, survey, and design in addition to the construction of approximately 2.3 miles of a 10' wide multi-use trail. Traffic signal modification and three intersection improvements are also included in the project. The start date for construction of this segment is to be determined.
As part of the State Trails Office initial Statewide outreach efforts, a short survey has been created. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey below and share with others!!!
Thank you to everyone who was able to come out to VDOT's Public Hearing held on March 13th!
According to VDOT:
124 showed up to the hearing
864 took the MetroQuest online survey
AND
88% of individuals had a positive view of the proposed Eastern Shore Rail Trail!

The project was unanimously voted into the Six-Year Improvement Plan (SYIP) at the April Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) Meeting. As a result, $4 million of State Trails Funds can be used to complete design of the Eastern Shore Rail Trail!


With excitement and anticipation growing, the Eastern Shore Rail Trail Work Group & Foundation would like to remind everyone that the corridor is not open to the public and is actually an active construction zone, which will remain so over the next several months. Construction activities along the corridor include the Hampton Roads Sanitation District's (HRSD) installation of a sewer line from Nassawadox to Onancock as well as culvert repair and replacement.
May 2023 is now officially recognized by the Office of the Governor as Bike Month for the Commonwealth of Virginia! More info here!


Help keep Virginia litter-free!