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Panel hears HB 14‑02 to prioritize Potomac Heritage Trail on state trails plan; bill tabled
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Summary
Delegate Franklin’s bill would add the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail to Virginia’s state trails plan to help leverage federal funds; local officials, trail groups and VDOT supported the effort. The subcommittee laid the bill on the table pending release of VDOT’s statewide trails plan.
Del. Franklin introduced HB 14‑02 to add the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail to the state trails plan as an assembly‑prioritized trail, saying the corridor spans roughly 800 miles regionally with about 137 miles in Northern Virginia and localities such as Prince William County having invested about $20 million.
Supporters included the Greater Prince William Trails Coalition, Prince William County planners and supervisors, and the Potomac Heritage Trail Association, who emphasized economic and health benefits and urged the legislature to use state designation to leverage federal funding. "Please support HB 14‑02," said a speaker from the Potomac Heritage Trail Association in online testimony summarizing the group’s written comments.
VDOT staff said the department has developed a statewide trails plan that has not yet been released publicly and indicated about eight segments (approximately 37 miles) would be included in the plan. Committee members expressed concern that legislative designation could affect prioritization and funding distribution and moved to gently lay the bill on the table until VDOT’s plan is released and can be reviewed; the bill was tabled for further consideration.
