Chapter 3A TRAILWAYS MASTER PLAN Page 1 Comprehensive Plan, Chapter 3A, Trailways Master Plan Adopted by the Board of Supervisors 7/28/2020 TRAILWAYS MASTER PLAN Introduction The purpose of the Trailways Master Plan (Plan) is to provide a framework around which a comprehensive system of bicycle, pedestrian, and equestrian friendly improvements can be implemented throughout the County for user safety, provision of non-motorized transportation alternatives, and recreational value. This Plan is expected to positively contribute to transportation systems (as transportation alternatives) and provision of parks and recreation amenities considerate of levels of service as established in the Public Facilities Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan. The Plan also is intended to complement existing and future land uses, economic development and tourism related goals. For the purpose of this Plan, such improvements will be collectively referred to as “trailways”. The Plan includes transportation systems improvements paired with planned road improvement projects as outlined in the Thoroughfare Plan including provision of sidewalks, shared use or multi- use paths, paved shoulders. The Plan also includes interconnected off road corridor greenway trails (varying surface types) considerate of intended user groups, location, connectivity, existing and future land uses, and potential vehicular traffic conflicts and volumes. In a number of instances, planned greenway trails and road corridor based improvements such as planned shared use paths, complement one another and have a shared alignment. This Plan addresses trailways on public land, public rights-of-way, and private land where the trails are open to the public. This Plan identifies a number of goals, objectives, and implementation strategies that Spotsylvania County can use in the development of an integrated system of trailways. An integrated system would link the existing trailway segments within the County into a larger common network of trailways that access residential areas, state, county, and national parks, forests and wildlife management areas, significant viewsheds, entertainment, water related resources, cultural and historic resources, schools, retail outlets, commercial services, mixed-use areas, employment centers, and transportation nodes. On a larger scale they can be incorporated into a regional system of trailways, effectively allowing for inter- and intra-jurisdictional infrastructure, regional tourism, and promoting regional alternative transportation possibilities. The Plan has been developed acknowledging that full build-out of the trailways system with all amenities will not take place immediately. This will be a flexible, living plan and will be subject to future developments and economic conditions, as the community evolves. Levels of interest, available funding, and community support factors may fluctuate over time; so may the rate at which implementation of the plan is feasible. Plan History As noted in Chapter 3, the Spotsylvania County Trailways Master Plan was initially adopted by the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors on February 22, 2011 as a standalone document. The Plan was developed initially with direction from the 2008 Comprehensive Plan, 2009 Parks and Open Space Master Plan, numerous community meetings, community survey, collaboration with Page 2 Comprehensive Plan, Chapter 3A, Trailways Master Plan Adopted by the Board of Supervisors 7/28/2020 the Spotsylvania Greenways Initiative (SGI), work sessions and public hearing process. In 2011 the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association bestowed the 2011 Outstanding Plan Award- Plan Element upon the Plan. In the interest of assuring the Plan does not become outdated or inconsiderate of opportunities that may arise from changes elsewhere within other elements of the Comprehensive Plan, the critical elements of the Plan were reviewed, updated, and incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan in Chapter 3A, here. Abandonment of the standalone Plan in favor of inclusion as a Comprehensive Plan element better positions it for continued monitor, pursuit, and review and update consistent with the 5-year review and update cycle. Otherwise staff has found there tends to be little impetus to update standalone plans that may become outdated or proactively amended to reflect new opportunities or routing alternatives. Amendments between the 2011 Plan and this iteration result in an update that more harmoniously links planned greenway trails to road based improvements, reduces potential plan recommendations; potential routes that conflict with existing developments or past community input. Road based implementation has been found to be more favorable and feasible in many instances. Bicycle and pedestrian improvements also lend added support in the awarding of transportation dollars for road improvement projects. Bike/Ped improvements add strength to transportation project applications for funding such as Virginia’s Smart Scale applications. Plans also lend support and basis for VDOT Project Scoping, Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Projects, County guidance on transportation projects managed by others, etc. This update respects and upholds the many months of work and input that went into the development of the 2011 Trailways Master Plan and allows the planning process and implementation efforts to continue on without a radical shift or abandonment on prior plans and progress. This update is not intended to “reinvent the wheel”. This update will play an integral role in administration of the County Design Standards Manual, specifically Article 5 where issues have been identified in the past related to required frontage improvements. This update will also better inform and influence bike/ped related recommendations for rezoning and special use permit applications. The Code of Virginia requires the study of transportation needs and their incorporation in comprehensive plans. Section 15.2.2223 requires coordination of plan amendments that will substantially affect transportation on state controlled highways with the Virginia Department of Transportation. Following staff review and update and work sessions held with the County Transportation Committee and Planning Commission, the draft Transportation Plan was routed to the VDOT Fredericksburg District Office for review in September, 2019. Following the initial VDOT review and County submittal of revisions on December 20, 2019, the VDOT-Fredericksburg District finalized their review with no additional comments, on March 25, 2020. Existing Plans The Trailways Master Plan is Spotsylvania County specific however has been developed to “fit” within the scope of larger regional, state or national scale trail routes that involve Spotsylvania County. This Plan was created in consideration of other existing plans to ensure that it is Page 3 Comprehensive Plan, Chapter 3A, Trailways Master Plan Adopted by the Board of Supervisors 7/28/2020 consistent and harmonious with those other important planning efforts. The result is a Plan that is intended to complement larger regional, state, and nationally significant trail systems. Specifically, as follows: Nationally Significant U.S. Bicycle Route 1 U.S. Bicycle Route 1 was designated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 1982. The route runs the length of the United States eastern seaboard from Maine to Florida. It is one of the two original U.S. Bicycle Routes. The Bicycle Route also coincides with the Atlantic Coast Trail, an Adventure Cycling Association trail. In Spotsylvania County, the Bicycle Route is designated along Lee Drive, Benchmark Rd, Mills Dr, Massaponax Church Rd, Church pond Rd, Guinea Station Rd. VDOT road signage identifying the Bicycle Route designation was added along the corridor within the past five years. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) recognize the segments in North Carolina and Virginia as being the only "official" segments of U.S. Bicycle Route 1. U.S. Bicycle Route 76 It is important to recognize that the second of the original U.S. Bicycle Routes, U.S. Bicycle Route 76, passes just to the south of Spotsylvania County in Louisa County. The Bicycle Route is an east-west corridor accessing Virginia, Kentucky, and Illinois. With proper mapping and advertisement, proximity of the Bicycle Route to Spotsylvania County potentially could bring additional users into the County, resulting in an additional tourism benefit. The U.S. Bicycle Route 76 coincides with the TransAmerica Trail, an Adventure Cycling Association trail. East Coast Greenway (ECG) Primary users: A multi-use path serving bicycle (road or mountain), pedestrian. Approximate Distance: 13 Miles Intended final surface: Asphalt shared use path The East Coast Greenway (ECG) is a developing trail system, spanning nearly 3,000 miles as it winds its way between the State of Maine’s northern boundary with Canada and Key West, Florida, linking all the major cities of the eastern seaboard. The ECG long term vision and plans include a 100% firm-surface road separated trail extending all 3,000 miles. At present, thirty-two (32) percent of the planned greenway is now located on safe, vehicle Page 4 Comprehensive Plan, Chapter 3A, Trailways Master Plan Adopted by the Board of Supervisors 7/28/2020 traffic-free paths. This figure is up from 25% as reported in the 2011 Trailways Master Plan. A portion of the ECG alignment is planned to pass through