Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 1, 1995 TAG: 9506020029
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Planners heard Wednesday that the project's environmental document needs only the Federal Highway Administration's endorsement for final approval. A decision is expected within the next four weeks, which should enable construction bids for trail construction to be advertised by midsummer.
The rails-to-trails conversion project will still move ahead in phases, despite the state's decision May 18 tentatively awarding enough money to complete the pathway's entire six-mile length.
"I think phasing it is still the proper way to go," said Bill Ellenbogen, president of Friends of the Huckleberry. "I think we need to expedite ... let's just go on with what we've got."
Phase one would build the multipurpose trail from its present terminus in Blacksburg to Merrimac Road. Plans are for construction to begin this fall.
The second phase would take the trail from Merrimac Road to the New River Valley Mall. However, some land needs to be acquired from along that section. Even though the land owners are willing to sell, "I think its going to take us a long time," to acquire title to the properties, said Joe Powers, Montgomery County's planning director.
Having already been stymied by delays and bureaucratic hurdles, members of the trail's Engineering Committee are eager for action. "I'd like to see it go to construction ASAP," said Adele Schirmir, Blacksburg's director of planning and engineering.
Ellenbogen said tangible progress is also important to promote fund raising for the trail. Project supporters have promised to raise $15,000 from private sources as a percentage share of the recently awarded $236,000 grant.
The Virginia Department of Transportation has given tentative approval for the trail to be built sectionally, and the grant gives the project the money it needs to build phase two.
The Huckleberry Trail got $453,000 from the same source nearly two years ago, which was originally considered to be enough money to finish the project. However, bureaucratic delays and higher costs mean that the construction of phase one will absorb those dollars.
by CNB