The purpose of this study is to help local government improve the existing active transportation (pedestrian and bicycle) network in Hampton Roads in a cost-effective way, by locating inactive rail right-of-ways and analyzing the costs and benefits of converting them to multi-use trails. Based on original research of existing rail-trails in the U.S. (including Hampton Roads), staff has prepared both quantitative and qualitative measures of candidate rail-trails.

First, staff located inactive rail lines in Hampton Roads, shown below.

Inactive Rail Right-Of-Ways in Hampton Roads

Secondly, staff developed three (3) quantitative measures for these 14 candidate trails:

1. Estimating impact on usage of active transportation
2. Estimating rail-trail impact on real estate values
3. Estimating cost of candidate rail-trails (excluding right-of-way and bridges)

Estimating impact on usage of active transportation:

Estimating rail-trail impact on real estate values:

In addition, staff prepared two maps for each of the 14 candidate rail-trails:

1. Public Facilities in the trail vicinity
2. Demographics and Networks in the trail vicinity

An example of a Public Facilities map is shown below for the “Churchland” candidate trail.:

As next steps, HRTPO staff plans to:

• Propose that the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) form an ad-hoc committee to examine extending the Capital Trail down the Peninsula from Williamsburg.
• Lead the region in FY17 in developing an Active Transportation Plan for Hampton Roads.