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Virginia Capital Trail Foundation outlines 7.5-mile extension linking Jamestown to Colonial Williamsburg
Summary
The Virginia Capital Trail Foundation presented a proposed seven-and-a-half-mile extension that would connect Jamestown High School to Colonial Williamsburg. The foundation estimated total costs of $25–33 million and described design goals, funding avenues and next steps for engineering and outreach.
Will Gillette, director of trail development for the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, told the James City County Board of Supervisors that the proposed extension would add roughly 7.5 miles to the existing 51.7-mile multi-use Virginia Capital Trail and connect Jamestown High School through neighborhoods and parks into Colonial Williamsburg.
Gillette said the project would extend the same multi-use standard as the existing trail — typically a minimum of eight feet of separated path — while acknowledging that denser areas will require compromises. He described a route that runs from Jamestown High School up Eagle Way to Monticello Avenue, under Route 199, to Ironbound and Strawberry Plains Road, past William & Mary and into College Corner before reaching Colonial Williamsburg.
Asked about cost, Gillette said the full seven-and-a-half-mile extension is projected at $25 million to $33 million, with James City County’s share estimated at roughly $13 million to $17 million depending on final alignment and design choices. He noted that the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization produced the earlier estimate and that detailed engineering will refine those numbers.
Gillette said the trail sees more than one million users annually and cited a 2019 economic-impact study that estimated roughly $8.5 million in annual economic activity along the corridor; the foundation is preparing an updated study for future funding requests. He added that the foundation pursues state, federal and private funding and that a $2.5 million General Assembly budget amendment for the corridor was introduced this year but did not pass.
Board members asked about design, right-of-way and private funding opportunities. Gillette said the foundation and county will pursue final design and engineering, federal grant applications, and private sponsorships for components such as design and engineering. He described programs such as Adopt-a-Trail and volunteer trail ambassadors as ongoing stewardship elements and said the foundation will continue to coordinate with county staff on outreach and grant applications.
Next steps described by Gillette included advancing final design and engineering with the county and updating the economic-impact analysis to support funding applications. The presentation concluded with Gillette offering to remain a point of contact for county staff and board members as the project advances.
