VHB gathered with community leaders, residents, and project partners in Virginia this week to celebrate the historic opening of the first completed section of the Eastern Shore Rail Trail in the Town of Cape Charles—a major step in transforming the former Bay Coast Railroad corridor into a safer, more connected shared-use path. VHB has been a proud partner from the path’s inception.
The ribbon-cutting milestone reflects our early, close collaboration with project team members and the community to move the broader trail vision forward. VHB was involved from the beginning, leading the feasibility study and master planning for the full 49-mile corridor starting in 2020 and helping shape a structured, buildable approach for advancing the trail while preserving the railbanked corridor for potential future rail use. For the Cape Charles segment, VHB worked under an ATCS contract, delivering design on an accelerated schedule through close weekly coordination with Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
Delivered as a VDOT design project, this 2.17-mile, 10-foot-wide first trail segment begins at the intersection of Fig Street and Mason Avenue in Cape Charles and extends to the shopping center near Route 13 and Country Place. The segment also includes a new trailhead parking lot, creating an inviting access point for pedestrians, bicyclists, and more. Together, the Cape Charles and a Cheriton segment represent 3.57 miles of new shared-use path and the first built pieces of a planned 49-mile corridor connecting communities from Cape Charles to Hallwood.
“The Cape Charles segment shows what’s possible when a strong local vision, committed public and private partners, and thoughtful planning come together,” said Ricky Wiatt, PLA, VHB I-64 State & Local Government Market Leader.
“We’re proud to have helped VDOT and the Eastern Shore community move such an important project from early feasibility and funding support quickly through design, creating a trail that improves safety and access while connecting more people to work, school, recreation, and local businesses,” said Chris Daily, PE, Transportation Manager.
That initial work included robust public engagement, drawing more than 3,000 online responses and reinforcing strong support for a new trail. VHB prepared multiple SMART SCALE funding applications, one of the state’s primary transportation infrastructure investment programs, and project support that helped secure a U.S. Congressional grant for design and construction of the Cape Charles segment. VHB also provided preliminary engineering exercises to position more trail segments for future funding.
Brandon McAdams, VHB Project Manager – Highway Design, is collaborating with trail partners and VHB’s integrated team to advance additional trail extensions, including the design of the Melfa-to-Onley section and the next northern segment between Cheriton and Birdsnest.
Beyond recreation, substantial trail systems play an important role in connecting more members of the community to essential community services via active transportation, which is important for historically impoverished communities. Substantial trail systems like the one in Cape Charles also generate recreational opportunities, support local businesses and tourism, and contribute to the Eastern Shore community’s overall economic vitality. The Cape Charles segment expands transportation choices while strengthening connections among neighborhoods and local destinations.
Learn more about how VHB delivers active transportation projects that create lasting community benefit.
