THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 23, 1995 TAG: 9506230553
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT MCCASKEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
A proposal for a bicycle-pedestrian pathway on the Elizabeth River from downtown Norfolk to West Ghent is on indefinite hold.
On Thursday, the Commonwealth Transportation Board in Richmond chose not to include the Elizabeth River Trail in its six-year statewide transportation plan. Money for the project would have come from a federal grant program to enhance non-automobile modes of transportation.
The proposed mile-long stretch would run along abandoned Norfolk Southern rail lines, beginning near Nauticus and winding past Fort Norfolk and onto Orapax Street. Landscaping, lighting and sitting areas would be included.
Officials from Norfolk's planning department applied for $500,000 in grant funds in January. Planning manager James Gildea said he thought the project had a good chance of approval.
``It is a solid plan,'' Gildea said. ``We had the support of the West Ghent community and strong support from the Norfolk Southern Corp. Perhaps there was a larger strategy where urban areas were not considered or just happenstance that no local cities were funded.''
There were 173 requests statewide for slices of the $8.6 million in enhancement grants. Thirty-two were approved. Barrett's Landing historic site in Franklin is the only project in southeastern Virginia to make the cut.
Projects are selected by a board of officials from the Virginia Department of Transportation according to criteria ranging from local economic impact to community involvement, said Wade Chenault, a senior transportation engineer with the department.
The trail would have cost about $625,000 - $350,000 to pay Norfolk Southern for a right of way along the tracks and $275,000 for construction and landscaping. The city had hoped to cover the costs with $500,000 in grants and $125,000 from the railroad.
Gildea said the project is not dead yet.
``The fact the trail was not funded by VDOT doesn't mean it's not a good idea,'' Gildea said.
``We may have to wait until next year, or we may look at alternative funding sources.'' by CNB