VTrans2025 Multimodal Impact Statement (MMIS)
Urban Bicycle Networks Throughout Virginia
I. Introduction
A. Overview of the multimodal system
This multimodal investment network is the incorporation of four urban bicycle studies and plans that support
the long-term goal of creating an integrated and complete network of bicycle routes and paths throughout
Virginia.
Northern Virginia Bikeway and Trail Network Study
The locations of the proposed network facilities are shown on
the existing and proposed regional bikeway network maps
provided in the full report. The system of facilities includes
both on-road bike lanes and paved shoulders, as well as offroad shared use paths.
Richmond Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Program
The purpose of this project is to develop a regional bicycle and
pedestrian transportation plan for the Richmond area. The
resulting document shall be a planning document that is
available for use by local and regional agencies as a guide in
developing and promoting safe and convenient facilities and
services oriented toward bicycling and walking. Public
information meetings will be held in different parts of the
region at key intervals throughout the study. A project
schedule is posted on the project website noted below.
Virginia Capital Trail
The Virginia Capital Trail will be
a multi-purpose facility along
Route 5 serving bicyclists and pedestrians. The trail will link the many historic,
cultural, and scenic sites along Route 5 and provide essential non-motorized
transportation accommodation for communities between Richmond and
Williamsburg.
East Coast Greenway- Through Virginia
A potential route for the Greenway through Virginia has been mapped. Segments include the Mount Vernon
Trail south from D.C., part of the Potomac Heritage Trail; a Route 5 bike route being planned from
Richmond to Williamsburg; and a direct route from Richmond to the Raleigh area.
B. Lead agency, participating agencies, and non-public participation
Virginia Department of Transportation
Virginia Trails
East Coast Greenway
Richmond Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Program
C. Points of contact, address, e-mail
Barbara Nelson
Virginia Trails
P.O. Box 1132
Ashland, VA 23005
(804) 798-4160
Virginia Department of Transportation
Northern Virginia Office
Transportation Planning Section
1234 Road Street
There, VA 12345
703-383-1234
VDOT Project Manager
Susan Simmers
Transportation Planning Division
1401 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 371-4869
vabiking@VirginiaDOT.org
VDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Program
1-800-835-1203
vabiking@VirginiaDOT.org
D. Date prepared and dates that comments are due [if applicable]
"[Click here to describe date prepared]"
"[Click here to describe date comments are due]"
E. List of preparers
"[Click here to include preparer]"
F. Distribution list of agencies, organizations, others from whom comment is solicited
"[Click here to include solicited organization]"
G. References, web sites, etc.
www.greenway.org
Northern Virginia Bikeway and Trail Network Study Final Draft Report: 9/25/03
Richmond Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Program: http://www.letsgobikeandwalk.com
Virginia Capital Trail: http://www.virginiadot.org/infoservice/bk-vacapt.asp
II. Need and purpose of the multimodal system
A. Provide summary of the need and purpose, including assessment of intermodal connectivity
Northern Virginia Bikeway and Trail Network Study
This project comes at an important time for the future of bicycling, and transportation in general, in
this region. With increasingly challenging requirements for better air quality in the region and traffic delays
growing worse each year, there is a great deal of interest in new approaches to land use and transportation in
Northern Virginia. In fact, bicycling is already becoming a more accepted alternative for Washington area
commuters. The W&OD, Custis and Mount Vernon trails experience a morning rush hour, and the
neighborhoods that lie along these trails have higher bike commute levels than other parts of the region.
Northern Virginians are looking for alternatives to single-occupant vehicle trips.
In Northern Virginia, many bicyclists find roadway conditions to be challenging for long distance bicycle
commuting. Particularly on the primary routes that lead to important destinations, bicyclists face heavy
volumes of high-speed traffic on roads that lack dedicated bicycle facilities. This study continues VDOT’s
efforts to improve bicycling conditions in Northern Virginia and provide first-class facilities for all users of
the transportation system.
Richmond Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
The purpose of this project is to develop a regional bicycle and pedestrian transportation plan for the
Richmond area. The resulting document shall be a planning document that is available for use by local and
regional agencies as a guide in developing and promoting safe and convenient facilities and services oriented
toward bicycling and walking.
Virginia Capital Trails
The trail will be an alternate transportation facility for area residents as it connects education centers,
neighborhoods, and local recreation facilities, providing separation between motorized and non-motorized
traffic and increased safety for all users within the Route 5 and Greensprings Road corridors. The Virginia
Capital Trail will preserve open space and create opportunities for enjoyment of the natural setting, outdoor
recreation, and the promotion of good health through physical activity. In addition, the trail would offer
educational opportunities for the high school and training facilities for its athletic teams. The trail would be
formally managed to address concerns of access, trespassing, and maintenance.
East Coast Greenway- Through Virginia
The East Coast Greenway is a major spine trail with the allure of a long-distance route but the
pragmatic value of a local facility. It will contribute, both actually and symbolically, to advancing a number
of agendas: increasing transportation options, improving air quality, reducing roadway congestion,
encouraging ecotourism and adventure travel, local economic development, improving mental and physical
health via recreation and exercise, helping to connect people and communities, and helping to create new
public space.
B. Identify relevant goals, objectives, performance measures, stakeholders
Northern Virginia Bikeway and Trail Network Study Goals:
 Establish a regional network of on-road bike lanes, paved shoulders and shared use paths within and
between activity clusters in Northern Virginia.

Eliminate critical gaps in the existing bikeway network.

Upgrade regionally-significant trails to industry standards.

Establish a system of high quality commuter corridors that connect outlying areas directly to core
urban areas.

Establish a route signage system that is easily and quickly understood by bicyclists.

Improve the mass transit system to offer seamless connections for bicycle commuters.

Provide bicycle access across major barriers.
 Coordinate maintenance activities for bikeways to ensure a high quality, safe experience for every
user of the facilities.
Richmond Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Goals:









Increase the overall number of people who regularly bicycle and/or walk in the Richmond region.
Increase public awareness of bicycling and walking as viable modes of transportation.
Promote rights and responsibilities of pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists in a shared transportation
network. Improve safety and enforcement.
Ensure that bicycle and pedestrian accommodations are considered in a balanced approach to
planning and funding transportation improvements.
Create additional physical activity opportunities in our community, increasing physical and mental
wellness and improving air quality for all.
Provide improved opportunity and access for walking and bicycling to all residents.
Encourage the design, finance, and construction of transportation facilities which provide safe,
secure, and efficient linkages for bicyclists and pedestrians throughout the Richmond region.
Stimulate local economies by providing safe and efficient bicycle and pedestrian connectivity
between businesses, tourism, and recreation destinations.
Encourage safe riding and walking practices on roads, byways, and trails in the Richmond region.

Promote the development of seamless transitions for all bicycle and pedestrian facilities which cross
over jurisdictional boundaries (i.e. city, county, or town).
Virginia Capital Trails Goals:
 Serve as a shared use facility that would serve and attract a variety of users including pedestrians,
hikers and bicyclists.
 Provide a connection from Richmond to Williamsburg, and providing convenient access to key
attractions and destinations along the way.
 Serve local needs as well as regional needs
 Maintain and preserve the scenic aspects of the corridor and minimizing harm to the environment
East Coast Greenway- Through Virginia Goals:
 Create the nation's first long-distance, city-to-city, multi-modal transportation corridor for cyclists,
hikers, and other non-motorized users.
 Connect existing and planned trails that are locally owned and managed to form a continuous, safe,
green route -- easily identified by the public through signage, maps, users guides, and common
services.
 Enable residents to travel short distances from their homes to local points of interest, and tourists to
travel for a few days or even weeks to visit the rich store of history and culture within the east coast
region.
 Link with a host of other greenways and trails being developed within the region, forming a true
greenway network functioning much like the interstate highway system.
C. Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (including socio-demographic trends)
Northern Virginia Bikeway and Trail Network Study
This project comes at an important time for the future of bicycling, and transportation in general, in
this region. With increasingly challenging requirements for better air quality in the region and traffic delays
growing worse each year, there is a great deal of interest in new approaches to land use and transportation in
Northern Virginia. In fact, bicycling is already becoming a more accepted alternative for Washington area
commuters. The W&OD, Custis and Mount Vernon trails experience a morning rush hour, and the
neighborhoods that lie along these trails have higher bike commute levels than other parts of the region.
Northern Virginians are looking for alternatives to single-occupant vehicle trips.
In Northern Virginia, many bicyclists find roadway conditions to be challenging for long distance bicycle
commuting. Particularly on the primary routes that lead to important destinations, bicyclists face heavy
volumes of high-speed traffic on roads that lack dedicated bicycle facilities. This study continues VDOT’s
efforts to improve bicycling conditions in Northern Virginia and provide first-class facilities for all users of
the transportation system.
Richmond Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
TBD
Virginia Capital Trails
There are conflicting interests along the corridor. For example, to some people, any development
along Route 5 was perceived as potentially damaging to the scenic integrity of the byway. To others,
development was viewed as an economic benefit to the community. From a recreational perspective,
pedestrian users sometimes had different views than bicyclists, and advanced bicyclists had different
preferences than basic adult, teenage, and child bicyclists. While many considered the tree canopy to be the
essence of the roadway's aesthetic appeal, others viewed it as a potential safety hazard for motorists. It was
recognized from the outset that for there to be a multi-use facility along Route 5, compromises would be
necessary on the part of interested parties along the corridor, the potential users of the facility, and public
agencies. Furthermore, the design concepts would need to be flexible.
East Coast Greenway- Through Virginia
The East Coast Greenway is a grass-roots trail development project. Because it is made up of locally owned
and managed trails, decision making flows from the bottom up. The route will not be imposed by the
Alliance but rather defined by people in each state, working through state committees which are coordinating
route selection and moving the agenda ahead within each state. A great deal of the proposed route is already
in public ownership, so that costly and complicated acquisition is not needed. Because it will grow through
the stitching together of locally owned and managed trail segments, implementation will be incremental and
costs spread out to the many state and municipal agencies responsible for building their segments.
D. Identify precedents and lessons learned
"[Click here to identify precedent and lessons learned]"
III. Rationale for the selected alternative
A. Provide summary rationale for the selected alternative, e.g., benefit-cost evaluation
Northern Virginia Bikeway and Trail Network Study
 Establish a regional network of on-road bike lanes, paved shoulders and shared use paths within and
between activity clusters in Northern Virginia
o It will be important to avoid the piecemeal effect that could occur as bicycle accommodations
are incorporated into short stretches of roadway under reconstruction. This study provides a
framework for creating a more coordinated system. It recommends a network of regional
bikeways that extends
o between and through all of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government
(MWCOG)’s activity clusters in Northern Virginia, as well as connecting to activity clusters
in Maryland and the District of Columbia. The recommended regional bikeway network
stresses the importance of providing bicycle facilities to major employment centers such as
Tyson’s Corner, George Mason University, Reston, Springfield, Fairfax City, Leesburg,
Ashburn, Arlington, downtown Washington, the Route 1 Corridor, and government
complexes such as the Pentagon.
 Eliminate critical gaps in the existing bikeway network.
o Over the past 20 years, a number of long distance trails have been developed that pass through
the heart of Northern Virginia activity clusters. The success of these trail facilities as
transportation routes can be further enhanced by providing connections between short gaps
between trails or gaps between trails and nearby destinations. Such relatively small public
investments can have large benefits for bicycling in Northern Virginia and therefore should be
among the highest priority improvements.
 Upgrade regionally-significant trails to industry standards.
o W&OD Trail: Widen narrow sections of the W&OD Trail to 10-foot wide minimum, 12-foot
wide in areas with heavier volumes. The trail is currently less than eight feet wide in several
sections, such as near Dry Mill Road. In addition, intersection safety improvements are
needed at Sterling Boulevard, Church Street in Sterling, Hunter Mill Road, West Street in
Falls Church, and Route 29 in Arlington.
o Mt. Vernon Trail: Widen narrow sections of the Mt. Vernon Trail to 10-foot wide minimum,
12-foot wide in areas with heavier volumes. Improve the trail alignment along the Roosevelt
Island parking lot; widen pinch points, such as the sidewalk over the inlet to the Boundary




Channel. Provide connections from the trail to the Washington D.C. bridges, especially the
connection across the George Washington Parkway to Arlington Memorial Bridge.
o Accotink Trail: Widen narrow sections of the Accotink Trail to 10-foot wide minimum. The
trail is 6’ six feet to eight feet wide near King Arthur Road.
o Trails along arterials: Widen narrow (defined as less than eight feet wide) shared-use paths
along arterials such as Wiehle Avenue, Telegraph Road, and Lee Highway (Route 29), and
others.
Establish a system of high quality commuter corridors that connect outlying areas directly to core
urban areas.
o It is recommended that VDOT and local jurisdictions initially focus attention and funding on
a number of key routes in the regional bikeway network that should be carefully designed
with longer distance commuter bike trips in mind. These bikeways should be designed to
provide high quality, direct, and safe connections for bicycle users – in effect, serving as trunk
routes for bicycle travel.
o Improvements along these corridors should provide a coherent and clear path of travel for
bicyclists, with as little interference from motor vehicle traffic as possible.
o Two trunk routes are already in place: the W&OD Trail/Custis Trail connection and the Mt.
Vernon Trail from the south. The other two bicycle trunk routes that need to be developed are
Route 50 (Arlington Boulevard) and Braddock Road.
Establish a route signage system that is easily and quickly understood by bicyclists.
o Standard green bike route signs are used currently to designate facilities for bicycling. These
signs should be enhanced to show the bikeway route number or name.
o Additional signage should also be installed to show a pictorial of the bikeway.
o It may be possible to design these additional signs like the Metrorail system signs, showing
the trail end point, and all the destinations in the direction of that terminus. Other pertinent
information such as park and ride lots and transit stations should be displayed in the
background.
o Bicyclists should be aware that they are riding on a route that is part of a continuous system of
bikeways throughout Northern Virginia.
Improve the mass transit system to offer seamless connections for bicycle commuters.
o Add bike racks to all buses that serve Northern Virginia (CUE, DASH, Fairfax Connector,
Loudoun Commuter Bus, Omniride, TAGS).
o Provide high quality, secure bike parking at all Metrorail and VRE stations, and Park-andRide lots, per the recommendations in VDOT’s NOVA District Bicycle Locker Program
Assessment (2002).
o Conduct a transit access study, focusing on improving connections for bicycles and
pedestrians within a 1.5-mile radius of existing transit stations and large park-and-ride lots.
o Make bike and pedestrian access a major component in the design of all future transit stations
and park-and-ride lots.
o The recommended route network provides regional bike routes to all Metrorail stations and
nearly all transit centers and park-and-ride lots.
Provide bicycle access across major barriers.
o All new river bridges, highway bridges and interchanges should be designed from the outset
to accommodate bicycle travel and prevent these facilities from creating barriers to bicyclists.
o In the case of interchange design where it is necessary to cross free-flowing on and off-ramps,
the suitability of at-grade crossings should be carefully weighed based on projected traffic
volumes and speeds. In many cases, it will be necessary to cross ramps with grade-separated
structures.
o All new bridges should provide for bicycle access per the AASHTO Guide for the
Development of Bicycle Facilities (1999). If special circumstances exist that effectively
prevent the inclusion of bicycle accommodation in new bridges or highway interchanges,

VDOT and the local jurisdictions should work together to identify clear alternative routes for
bicyclists that minimize travel distances.
o VDOT and the locals should also continue to work together to provide alternative routes to
overcoming existing barriers.
Coordinate maintenance activities for bikeways to ensure a high quality, safe experience for every
user of the facilities.
o Comprehensive list of all bikeways in NOVA and jurisdiction/agency responsible for
maintenance. This can be included as a field in the regional GIS database that has been
developed as part of this study.
o Advertisement and encouraged use of a central phone number/contact within VDOT for all
remedial bikeway maintenance requests. If the reported facility is not a VDOT facility, the
request can be routed to the appropriate agency, based on the information provided in the
database described above
o Training for local and state agency personnel regarding proper maintenance of on-road and
off-road bicycle facilities.
o Another option, in addition to this joint effort by VDOT and the local governments, is to
establish an Adopt-a-Trail program. This program would be modeled after the Adopt-aHighway program. It would include both in-kind contributions by adopters who would help
with litter clean up and simple trail maintenance as well as monetary contributions that would
help pay for repaving, plowing, and other maintenance duties performed by local jurisdictions
and other agencies.
Richmond Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
TBD
Virginia Capital Trails
 Greensprings Trail
A preferred alternative between Route 5 and Jamestown along the Greensprings Road corridor (Route
614) has been identified. Based on input from local residents, several options along or in the vicinity
of Greensprings Road were evaluated. The option that best meets the needs of the project and
protects the scenic quality of the Greensprings Road Virginia Byway is the Greensprings Trail
segment of the Virginia Capital Trail that would begin adjacent Jamestown High School and extend
south through Mainland Farm to Jamestown Road (Route 31). The trail will then cross Jamestown
Road and link with a shared use path to the Colonial Parkway that will be constructed as part of the
Route 359 realignment project. From Jamestown, trail users will follow the Colonial Parkway to
enter the City of Williamsburg. Design is currently underway, and community involvement has
begun.
 Route 5 segment
The design of the preferred alternative between the Chickahominy Riverfront Park and the
Greensprings Trail, would incorporate the shoulder bikeway design from the Richmond city limits to
Long Bridge Road in Henrico County and the shared use path design through the remaining project
length. Based on safety concerns, a unique aspect of this alternative is a minor widening of Route 5
from Long Bridge Road to the Chickahominy River. The minor roadway widening would require
only minor changes to the open drainage system along the road.
East Coast Greenway- Through Virginia
TBD
B. Identify alternatives, including the no-action alternative
Virginia Capital Trails
Route 5 segment:
 Alternative 1 (Shoulder Bikeway): This alternative is strictly an "on-road" concept the entire length
of the project. From the Richmond City limits to its intersection with the new Alternate Route 5 in
James City County, Route 5 would be widened to include 12-foot travel lanes and 6-foot paved
shoulders on both sides. It would then continue on Alternate Route 5 into Williamsburg utilizing the
shoulder bikeways already included in that roadway's design. In much of the corridor, this design
would require the relocation of existing grassed slopes and drainage ditches.
 Alternative 2 (Shared Use Path): This "off-road" concept would consist of a separate 10-foot path
adjacent to Route 5 from the Richmond city limits to the Greensprings Road corridor in James City
County. From that point, the shared use path would proceed to Jamestown, although a specific
location is not currently proposed within the Greensprings Road corridor. From Jamestown, the
Colonial Parkway would be used (without improvements) to access Williamsburg. For this concept,
the path would be located on only one side of the road, offset approximately 10 to 25 feet from the
edge of pavement. Streams and wetland areas would primarily be crossed on new structures. In some
areas, the path width would be reduced to 8 feet to minimize impacts to wetlands or other constraints.
 Alternative 3 (Combination): This alternative is a combination of Alternatives 1 and 2. It would
incorporate the shoulder bikeway design from the Richmond city limits to Long Bridge Road in
Henrico County and the shared use path design as described above through the remaining project
length. Based on safety concerns expressed by the public, a unique aspect of this alternative is a
minor widening of Route 5 from Long Bridge Road to the Chickahominy River. The minor roadway
widening would require only minor changes to the open drainage system along the road.
C. Identify alternatives not explored below and explain why
"[Click here to identify unexplored alternative]"
D. Contrast alternatives with respect to goals, objectives, selected measures
"[Click here to contrast alternatives in no more than two paragraphs]"
E. Contrast alternatives by cost
"[Click here to contrast alternatives by cost]"
IV. System integration and implementation plan
A. Provide summary of the integration and implementation plans
B. Identify constituent projects of the multimodal system
"[Click here to identify a constituent project]"
C. Describe government, private, stakeholder coordination and source(s) of funding and resources
"[Click here to describe a source of funding/resources]"
D. Describe milestones, schedule, expenditures/resources, and project interdependencies
Northern Virginia Bikeway and Trail Network Study
1. Field Analysis An analysis of conditions on existing trails and roadways was conducted in the field. It
included a trail facility inventory, roadway lane width measurements, and assessment of pavement
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
conditions. Other issues such as connections to transit facilities were also examined and extensive
background research and field measurements were taken to develop solutions at each of the 14
demonstration project study locations.
Public Input Public input on the study was received through a public meeting held in centrallylocated Fairfax County in July 2002 and through the project website. Electronic newsletters and
regular updates to the project web page were also used to keep interested individuals and groups
aware of the project progress. More than 200 emails with suggestions and comments were received
from the public. In addition, several representatives of bicycle coalitions and other groups
participated in the working group meetings.
Jurisdiction Input/Coordination Input was received from a working group of local representatives
from the counties, cities, and towns in Northern Virginia. This input was particularly important since
the study is based upon local adopted plans and planning efforts.
Latent Bicycle Travel Demand The study included measuring latent bicycle travel demand, which
provided information on routes that serve a high number of potential bicycling origin and destination
points.
Demonstration Projects Local jurisdictions recommended locations for more in-depth field analysis to
demonstrate the range of various types of bikeway improvements that may be possible for different
roadway corridors. Demonstration project studies were completed in 14 locations throughout
Northern Virginia.
Final Network Map and Recommendations The final regional bikeway network map and study
recommendations in this report were based on all of the input and analysis described in the steps
above utilizing the locally adopted bicycle plans as guides.
Richmond Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
Virginia Capital Trails
For development purposes, the project has been divided into two segments separated at the Chickahominy
River. The focus of the project is now on the eastern section of the Virginia Capital Trail in James City
County. This eastern section will be constructed in two phases. The first phase will be the Greensprings
Trail between Jamestown High School and Jamestown Settlement. The second phase will run along Route 5
from the Greensprings Trail to the Chickahominy Riverfront Park. The alignment of the second phase was
the result of an extensive feasibility study, supported by substantial public involvement, that was completed
in 1999. VDOT's goal is to have the eastern segment of the Virginia Capital Trail built by the 400th
anniversary of Virginia in 2007.
East Coast Greenway- Through Virginia
TBD
E. Describe interim assessment and evaluation plans
"[Click here to describe interim assessment and evaluation plans]"