Fayette County Commission approves support letters for trail coalition, hears project update

Commissioners on the Fayette County Commission on March 1 approved issuing letters of support for the Fayette Trail Coalition’s grant applications and heard an update on the project’s expanded scope.

Region 4 Planning and Development Council staff member Cassie Boston briefed the commission on the project’s history, funding efforts and current status, saying the original Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) application from 2017 needed to be resubmitted after the project scope changed. Boston described how the West Virginia Department of Highways initially served as the basic agency for construction oversight, but that matching funds and agency roles shifted over time, and that the West Virginia Development Office had since been asked to serve as the basic agency for construction if cash match could be secured.

The commission heard that ARPA and congressional earmarks — managed through the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority on behalf of the National Park Service — helped expand the project. Boston said the county’s allocation is ARPA in nature and must be spent by the end of 2026. She added the project team plans to advertise for engineering services and hopes to move toward a construction schedule once an engineering firm is on board.

Brittany Shaffer, representing the Fayette Trail Coalition, described the coalition’s volunteer work at Fayette County Park and a locally led, beginner‑friendly 2.5–3 mile loop the group has started to build. Shaffer asked the commission to provide letters of support for two grant applications she named in the meeting: an AARP Community Challenge grant and a “CoHeritage” funding request. She said volunteers have run multiple trail days and that the coalition has coordinated with park staff on routing to avoid conflicts with disc‑golf facilities.

Commissioners and staff raised concerns about long‑term maintenance, particularly for bridges and other infrastructure that the county could not afford to maintain without partner commitments. Boston and coalition representatives said they were planning maintenance arrangements and noted volunteer support but emphasized that bridges require specific plans and funding.

The commission voted to approve issuing letters of support and authorized county staff to provide the requested letters so the applicants would not have to return to the commission for each request.

The project team remains under an outstanding ARC application (resubmitted in December), and Boston said a decision is pending; she noted a Region 4 representative will attend an ARC conference and hoped to follow up there.