Minutes 09/24/2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

September 24, 2013 Background: • The Commonwealth Railway Mainline Safety Relocation Project, completed in 2010, moved rail operations from neighborhoods of Portsmouth and Chesapeake to the median of Route 164. • The Virginia Port Authority owns the 1.82 miles of abandoned track in Portsmouth that extends northwest from the city line on High Street to the intersection of Old Coast Guard Blvd. with West Norfolk Road. • The Portsmouth portion is part of the envisioned 41 mile South Hampton Roads Trail between Suffolk and Virginia Beach. Discussion: • Rail to trail projects increase property values and boost economic development. • Conversion of rail to trail will provide Churchland residents a linear recreation and alternative transportation facility. • The rail to trail would be constructed with a funding award through VDOT's competitive Transportation Alternatives Program. • A conservative cost estimate for the Portsmouth trail construction is $1 million. Financial Impact: • Responsible for 20% match to the 80% federal funding. Assessed value of the rail property can be used as the City's match, even if the property transfer does not occur before the application deadline of November 1St Recommended Action: • Adoption of the resolution. Vision Principles: Change and New Directions, Lifelong Learning Community, Neighborhoods and a Sense of Community, Quality of Life, and Efficient Responsive Government. Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Mr. Meeks, to adopt the following resolution, and was adopted by the following vote: "RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE CITY'S APPLICATION TO THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM FOR THE RAIL TO TRAIL CONVERSION OF THE FORMER COMMONWEALTH RAILWAY TRACK RIGHT-OF-WAY IN THE CITY. WHEREAS, The Commonwealth Railway Mainline Safety Relocation Project, completed in 2010, moved rail operations from neighborhoods of Portsmouth and Chesapeake to the median of Route 164; and WHEREAS, as part of the relocation of the Commonwealth Railway rail operations, the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) acquired 1.82 miles of abandoned track and right-of-way in Portsmouth that extends northwest from the city line on High Street to the intersection of Old Coast Guard Blvd. with West Norfolk Road; and WHEREAS, VPA's Portsmouth portion is part of the envisioned 41-mile South Hampton Roads Trail between Suffolk and Virginia Beach; and WHEREAS, the cost of the Portsmouth portion of the Trail has been estimated conservatively at $1 million; and WHEREAS, the conversion of the former railway right-of-way into a trail will provide the citizens of Churchland with both a linear park and an alternative transportation facility, as well as increasing property values and boosting economic development; and WHEREAS, funding is available for the proposed trail through the Virginia Department of Transportation's competitive Transportation Alternatives Program. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia that it hereby endorses the proposed conversion of the former Commonwealth Railway right-of-way to a trail for use by the public as an alternative transportation facility and a linear recreational facility.