Council advances Trail 757 funding and authorizes VDOT agreements as city outlines connectivity to Newport News Park

Newport News City Council on Sept. 9 moved forward on funding and administration for Trail 757—also called the Birthplace of America Trail—by authorizing grant submissions, directing execution of a project-administration agreement with VDOT and appropriating $1,100,000 in Federal Lands Access Program funds to build a multiuse path segment that will link to Newport News Park.

City Manager Manning described the regional effort and timeline during council discussion after staff recommended approval of a project-administration agreement and grant applications. Manning said the Trail 757 work has been pursued “over the last several years” by Peninsula localities and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission to tie local trail segments together and connect Williamsburg and other jurisdictions to the Capital Trail.

“Each jurisdiction is taking on the work as funding—mostly through grant resources—become available,” Manning said. He explained the segment before council focuses on a corridor that will come into the city along Route 60/Warwick Boulevard, tie to the InView site down Fort Eustis Boulevard, and provide access and connectivity to Newport News Park. Manning added the segment currently under action is the portion from Newport News Park south to the Pocahontas Parkway, which connects to James City County and Williamsburg.

Council approved four related actions that together enable grant pursuit and project delivery: authorization for the city manager to submit three VDOT Transportation Alternatives set-aside grant applications (Trail 757/Boat Trail, Warwick Boulevard pedestrian improvements, and Marshall Avenue pedestrian improvements); endorsement of the city’s VDOT revenue-sharing applications seeking $10 million in state funds with a $10 million local match; authorization for the city manager to execute a standard project administration agreement with VDOT for Federal Lands Access Program funding; and appropriation of $1,100,000 in federal funds for the Trail 757 segment. Each measure passed 7-0.

Councilman Long asked for timing and when construction will reach Newport News Park; Manning said timelines depend on how grant resources mature and emphasized there is no single, blanket funding for the entire Peninsula link. Manning said the projects before council represented “federal grant projects that have matured and allowed for the city to participate and apply for funding that helps us construct the segments that cross the city of Newport News.”

Manning noted that other Peninsula localities are advancing adjacent segments and that the city is coordinating its portions with regional partners and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission. The council record shows the city will proceed with application submission, execution of grant and administration agreements, and appropriation of federal funds to allow project procurement and construction to begin once required agreements and approvals are in hand.

What this means: the actions allow the city to seek and accept federal and state grant funds and commit local match where required; they also authorize the mayor/city manager to execute necessary documents to move the Trail 757 segment from planning into procurement and construction as grant agreements are finalized.

Next steps: staff will submit grant applications and execute project-administration and grant documents; the city manager’s office and Public Works will coordinate schedules and procurement once grants are awarded and agreements executed.

Direct quote: “Each jurisdiction is taking on the work as funding—mostly through grant resources—become available,” Manning said during the council exchange.

Votes related to Trail 757 and pedestrian projects were recorded as 7-0 in favor of the staff recommendations.