VDOT: Design-Build 2 for Fall Line Trail faces $10.2 million shortfall; notice of intent to award issued

VDOT project staff told the Central Virginia Transportation Authority Technical Advisory Committee on May 12 that bids for Design-Build 2 of the Fall Line Trail came in close to one another but left the program about $10,200,000 short of available allocations.

The presentation recommended pursuing an award despite the shortfall because the apparent low bidder included technical enhancements that VDOT staff said would improve safety and the trail experience from day one. VDOT has issued a notice of intent to award the contract but said the award is contingent on locating additional funds; if funding is secured, the agency seeks formal award approval at the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) meeting in June. VDOT staff said construction could begin late this calendar year, pending environmental permitting, with an estimated completion around October 2028.

Why it matters: Design-Build 2 covers roughly 10 miles of the Fall Line Trail and includes eight major structures and multiple safety-focused enhancements at roadway crossings. The project’s funding combines federal and state competitive grants and local matches, and the shortfall raises the prospect of additional contributions from the Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA) and the CTB to preserve the current bid package and the enhancements it contains.

VDOT staff said three qualified teams submitted bids and that the close bid amounts indicate market-driven pricing. The agency noted some funding sources on the project include regional CMAQ funds, Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds, CTB Priority Transportation Fund (PTF) dollars, a Highway Infrastructure Program (HIP) community grant, CVTA regional funds, and local TAP match contributions. On a high-level comparison of PTF and CVTA funds, VDOT staff said the split is currently about 60/40.

Local representatives at the meeting said local TAP match contributions were relatively small (often on the order of a few hundred thousand dollars per local project) and that some localities are already committing scarce local funds to other projects they administer. One county representative said their locality could not contribute the full shortfall and does not have $10 million in discretionary local funds to add. VDOT staff said the agency and its infrastructure investment division are looking for additional regional trails funds where available but that the regional pot is insufficient to cover the full deficit.

VDOT and CVTA staff asked the Technical Advisory Committee to consider whether CVTA could increase its commitment and to convey any willingness to the finance committee; the goal is to combine potential CVTA and CTB funding so VDOT could proceed with award at the June CTB meeting. VDOT emphasized that re-advertising the procurement risks higher costs and may forfeit the technical enhancements in the current recommended bid.

Discussion-only items included questions about the source and definition of “PTF” (Priority Transportation Fund), the size of local TAP contributions, how many miles of the 10-mile segment fall within specific localities, and whether discretionary CVTA dollars from prior board members could be reallocated. No formal vote on funding was taken during the TAC meeting.

Next steps noted in the meeting: finance and CVTA committees will consider potential additional CVTA contributions; VDOT will pursue available regional and CTB funding; and VDOT may proceed with award at the June CTB meeting if the funding gap can be closed in time.