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Board approves VDOT TAP agreement for Smith Station shared‑use path; supervisors question $3M cost
Summary
Spotsylvania supervisors approved the county’s VDOT agreement to accept TAP funding for the Smith Station shared‑use path (approx. 1,800 feet). Staff said the TAP award covers $2.5M so far and the county may need a 20% local match; several supervisors criticized the roughly $3.1M estimate and urged procurement/legislative fixes.
The Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors approved a VDOT Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) agreement Sept. 24 to fund construction of a roughly 1,800‑foot Smith Station shared‑use path that will close a gap between Cortland Park and the existing Smith Station path.
Paul (county transportation staff) told the board the VDOT detailed cost estimate was about $2.8 million, with escalation and contingencies pushing a planning‑level figure to about $3.185 million. He said the project received a $2.5 million TAP award in the last funding round; additional TAP or other regional funds might be sought to reduce the county share. Under TAP rules, the program generally requires a 20% local match; based on a $3.125 million target, the county’s share would be roughly $625,000. Staff also noted an existing $50,000 cash proffer from an approved rezoning that could be applied to lower the local match.
Supervisors raised concerns about the high per‑foot cost. Several called the $3 million figure for an 1,800‑foot bike/ped project “outrageous,” questioned a VDOT system estimate projecting about $789,000 for right‑of‑way and utility relocation, and urged procurement reform or additional analysis to ensure taxpayer money is spent efficiently. Staff and the applicant said the estimate will be refined with survey and preliminary engineering and that the TAP award is at risk if the county declines; if unused the funds could be reallocated to another locality.
After discussion the board moved to approve the VDOT agreement (consent agenda item 9); the motion passed 7–0.
What’s next: Staff will proceed with the VDOT agreement and continue to seek additional funding sources and refine engineering and right‑of‑way estimates. Procurement and legislative concerns raised by supervisors were referred to the county’s legislative priorities discussion.
