Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 19, 1995 TAG: 9505190077
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAN CASEY AND TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The trail was one of five Western Virginia projects - three of them greenways in the Roanoke and New River valleys - that received initial approval Thursday by the Commonwealth Transportation Board for a total of almost $1.5 million in federal funding.
The city of Roanoke, Montgomery County, and the towns of Rocky Mount and Pulaski also were earmarked for special grants under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, which targets creative transportation projects.
The Battlefield Trail would receive $549,300 for biking and walking paths, landmark preservation and storm-water control. The project's estimated cost is $848,783.
Almost five miles long, the trail will link Salem with the Hanging Rock Civil War battle site in Roanoke County. Both jurisdictions are participating in its construction.
The board's vote was applauded by Lucy Ellett, who heads a Roanoke Valley greenways steering committee organized by the Fifth Planning District Commission.
"I'm delighted," Ellett said. "That cooperative effort between Salem and Roanoke County will be the first link in what we hope will be many links in a greenways network in this valley."
The first stretch of a greenways system often is the most difficult to build, she noted.
But "once the public sees and understands from personal experience what we mean by a greenway, I think there will be even more public support," Ellett said.
Other area projects that have received preliminary approval for federal money include:
nRoanoke: $300,000 for the city's railside linear park, an elevated walkway along downtown railroad tracks for pedestrians from the City Market to the Virginia Museum of Transportation. The estimated total cost of the park project is $2.5 million. The city already has set aside funds for its first phase.
nRocky Mount: $201,600 toward converting the town's old railway station on Main Street into a welcome center. The total cost of the project is $252,000.
The award is the second piece of good news to hit the Franklin County town this month. Earlier, the state designated Rocky Mount a Main Street community, which makes it eligible for state revitalization assistance.
"It's absolutely the most wonderful kickoff we could have," said Hilde Hussa, director of the town's recently formed revitalization partnership. "We have everything in the palm of our hands now. Now all we have to do is work."
The grant would be the second the town has received for the train station project, said Chris Whitlow, town planner. A total of $54,000 was awarded in 1993 for the facility's design.
Montgomery County: $235,585 in supplemental funding for the Huckleberry Trail bikeway, a hiker-biker path from Blacksburg to Christiansburg. The money would complete the rails-to-trails project, which first received funding in 1993. The total cost of the trail is $294,481.
Pulaski: $200,000 to extend the New River Trail from Virginia 99 into the downtown area. The estimated cost of the extension is $950,000.
The five Western Virginia projects were among 32 across the state set to receive $8.6 million in federal grants. The Commonwealth Transportation Board, which administers the program in Virginia, received 173 applications, which totaled $53.7 million.
A final allocation hearing for Western Virginia will be held June 12 at 9 a.m. at the Virginia Department of Transportation district office in Salem.
The board will meet later in June to approve the grants. After that, the projects must receive approval from the Federal Highway Administration.
by CNB