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Council debates Safe Routes feasibility, leans toward exploring alternate Chesapeake Village connection
Summary
Councilists split over whether to pursue SHA’s Route 261 100% design for a sidewalk to connect Chesapeake Village. After extended debate about cost, topography and grant timing, council signaled support for exploring alternate alignments and grant strategies rather than immediately committing to the SHA 261 design.
Chesapeake Beach — Town staff and council spent a substantial portion of the March 19 meeting discussing the Safe Routes to School feasibility study and whether to pursue the State Highway Administration’s (SHA) Route 261 100% design.
The Town Administrator told council that the 30% design (feasibility study) for a sidewalk from Chesapeake Village to Beach Elementary along Route 261 is complete. The administrator warned that moving to 100% design carries additional cost and that construction funding is not guaranteed: “If you do not build within the 10 years from the date of award, you will owe the money back that SHA has spent,” the Town Administrator said during the presentation.
Council members expressed differing priorities. Several said they favor connecting Chesapeake Village to the town but are not convinced the SHA 261 alignment — described at the meeting as having awkward topography and marsh constraints — is the right long-term option. One council member said the 100% design estimate (discussed around $800,000 at the meeting) and uncertain construction funding make committing the town to the next design phase imprudent without clearer cost and grant outcomes. Others argued that losing the grant pipeline could delay connection for years and urged using SHA funding where possible.
Staff explained the normal SHA sequence: a 30% feasibility study (already completed), then a 100% design grant, and then re-application for construction funding; the town would need to start a new 30% study if it chose a wholly different alternate alignment. Staff said reworking the memorandum of understanding with SHA could take several months but suggested communicating the council’s intent to avoid wasted SHA effort.
By the end of the discussion several council members indicated a consensus to pursue alternate designs and to seek ways to preserve grant eligibility where practicable. The council did not take a final vote to commit to a specific alignment; staff was directed to continue outreach to SHA, review alternate route options and report back with cost comparisons and implications for timing.
Next steps: Staff will coordinate with the town engineer and SHA contacts to evaluate alternate alignments, clarify MOU timing and identify grant paths; council asked for updated cost estimates and feasibility guidance before a final commitment to 100% design.
