Gloucester County staff seeks TAP pre-application for walkway from Tyndall's Point Park to Gloucester Point Beach

Brian Lewis, county staff, asked the Gloucester County Board of Supervisors to support a pre-application to the Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) for a pedestrian-and-bicycle connector from Tyndall's Point Park to Gloucester Point Beach. "The project wills will begin at Tyndall's Point Park, continuing down the bluff adjacent to Coleman Bridge. Then it will turn underneath the Coleman Bridge to the parking lot at Great Road across from Gloucester Point Beach, which just as an FYI, I'm sure you all know is the only public beach in the county," Lewis said.

The proposed trail is roughly 1,900 feet long and 8 feet wide, with an observation deck. Lewis told the board the project is included in the county's five-year capital improvement plan for fiscal year 2028 and that the TAP grant would "cover 80% of the project cost up to a million up to a maximum of $2,500,000 with the county providing a minimum match of 20%." Pre-applications are due May 30, 2025; if a pre-application is deemed viable VDOT may invite a full application by Sept. 15, 2025.

Board members pressed staff on cost and priorities. The project estimate discussed at the meeting centers on a $3,000,000 total project cost; 20% of $3 million is $600,000, a figure staff confirmed may be met with cash and allowable in-kind contributions. Supervisor Bazzani called the proposal "nothing but a bridge to nowhere," and argued the county should prioritize utility infrastructure. Several supervisors echoed fiscal concerns, noting uncertainty in federal grant availability and competing local needs. Supporters said the walkway would improve pedestrian safety by offering an alternative to crossing Route 17, could complement future upgrades to Gloucester Point Beach and promote walkability near the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) site.

Lewis said the pre-application is preliminary and that no county commitment would be required until a later stage: "It would come back another time for the September application, and with that would be the resolution that would actually have the dollar figures." County staff also said they are exploring lower-maintenance materials and in-kind contributions to reduce county cash obligations.

Board members discussed related constraints: construction staging may need VIMS property access, and portions of the route are within VDOT right of way. Supervisor Hudson asked whether VIMS could contribute to the local match; Lewis said VIMS has offered property access for staging but has not committed to funding the match. The Department of Wildlife Resources was identified as responsible for the nearby boat landing beneath the pier; a separate county-owned landing was discussed as well.

After discussion the board did not adopt a resolution or authorize submission; staff said if the board is "completely dead set against it, then we don't wanna spend our staff time on it." No formal vote on the TAP pre-application was taken at the meeting.

The board's discussion also noted related planning items: the project would tie into the Great Road pedestrian improvements (Lafayette Heights Drive), and earlier or future grants for beach shoreline work or a master plan could complement the connector if pursued.

Ending: The board did not take action on the TAP pre-application at this meeting. Staff will not submit a full application unless the board signals support at a later meeting when precise dollar figures and a resolution would be presented for formal approval.