2015 Corridor Analysis Of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail in Northern Virginia 0 http://www.novaregion.org/index.aspx?nid=299 Acknowledgements The Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) thanks the following individuals for their contributions to this report: • Donald Briggs, Superintendent,Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, National Park Service; • Ursula Lemanski, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, National Park Service; • Mark Novak, Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services; • Debbie Andrews of Prince William County Department of Parks and Recreation; and • Members of the Potomac Heritage Trail Association. The report is an NVRC staff product, supported with funds provided through a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service National Capital Region (Task Agreement P14AC01704). Any assessments, conclusions, or recommendations contained in this report represent the results of the NVRC staff’s technical investigation and do not represent policy positions of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission unless so stated in an adopted resolution of said Commission. The views expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the jurisdictions, the National Park Service, or any of its sub agencies. Report prepared by: Corey Miles, Senior Environmental Planner Northern Virginia Regional Commission Debbie Spiliotopoulos, Senior Environmental Planner Northern Virginia Regional Commission Figure 1 Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail Corridor 1 http://www.novaregion.org/index.aspx?nid=299 The Northern Virginia Regional Commission 2015 Commissioners Listed by Jurisdiction (as of December 2015) Commissioners are appointed by and from the governing bodies of NVRC’s member localities on a population-based representation formula. Terms are normally for three years, and representatives may be reappointed. Officers are elected each June for the upcoming year beginning July 1. For more information go to www.novaregion.org. Officers of the Commission Hon. Penelope A. "Penny" Gross, Chairman Hon. Lisa C. Merkel, Vice Chairman Hon. Redella S. "Del" Pepper, Treasurer G. Mark Gibb (staff, non-voting), Executive Director Commission Members County of Arlington County of Prince William City of Manassas Park Hon. John Vihstadt Hon. Peter Candland Hon. Frank Jones Hon. Libby Garvey Hon. Martin E. Nohe Town of Dumfries Hon. Frank J. Principi County of Fairfax Hon. Gerald M. Foreman II City of Alexandria Hon. Sharon Bulova Town of Herndon Hon. John C. Cook Hon. Redella S. "Del" Pepper Hon. Penelope A. "Penny" Gross Hon. Paul C. Smedberg Hon. Lisa C. Merkel Hon. Pat Herrity City of Fairfax Town of Leesburg Hon. Catherine M. Hudgins Hon. Jeffrey C. McKay Hon. Scott Silverthorne Hon. David S. Butler Hon. Kathy Smith City of Falls Church Town of Purcellville County of Loudoun Hon. David Tarter Hon. Kwasi Fraser Hon. Phyllis Randall City of Manassas Town of Vienna Hon. Tony Buffington Hon. Harry J. Parrish II Hon. Laurie A. DiRocco 2 http://www.novaregion.org/index.aspx?nid=299 Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................ 1 Existing Parks and Amenities: Existing Easements ............... .......... 18 The Northern Virginia Regional Commission ................................... 2 Table 5 Loudoun Parks and Easements ............................. .......... 18 About this Report .................................................................. 2 Table 6 Loudoun Trail Completion Projects ...................... .......... 21 2015 Report Methodology ......................................................... 2 Potomac Heritage Trail in Northern Fairfax County ............. .......... 24 Using the Interactive Map of the Corridor ..................................... 2 Figure 5 Map of Trail in Northern Fairfax County ............... .......... 24 Caveats .............................................................................. 7 Table 8 Trail Completion Project for Northern Fairfax ...... 27 Potomac Heritage Trail Background ............................................ 7 The Trail in Arlington County and City of Alexandria ...................... 28 Trail Management in Northern Virginia ......................................... 8 Figure 6 Map of Arlington and Alexandria ........................ .......... 29 Land Managers in Northern Virginia ............................................. 8 Potomac Heritage Trail in Southern Fairfax County ............. .......... 35 Features of the Trail Corridor in Northern Virginia ........................... 9 Southern Fairfax Features ............................................ .......... 35 Table 1 Trail Progress and Populations Served ............................. 10 Figure 7 Map of Southern Fairfax County from Alexandria to Prince William Border ................................................................... .......... 36 Amenities Along the Northern Virginia Trail Corridor ...................... 10 Table 8 Southern Prince William Parks and Amenities ....... 37 Table 2: Local Park Amenities ................................................. 11 Table 9 Southern Fairfax Trail Completion Proje ............. cts .......... 39 Events on the Potomac Heritage Trail ........................................ 11 The Trail in Prince William County ................................. .......... 41 Annual PHNST Events ............................................................ 11 Figure 8 Prince William County from Fairfax Border ............ .......... 42 Event Sponsors ................................................................... 12 Figure 9 Corridor to Stafford County Line ........................ 43 Accessibility ....................................................................... 12 Table 10 Prince William Corridor Trails and Amenities ......... 44 Table 3 Trail Parking ............................................................ 12 Table 11 Prince William County Gap Completion Projects .. 48 The Trail References in Local Plans ........................................... 13 Appendix A Economic and Public Health Trail Benefits ......... 51 Table 4 References in Local Plans ............................................. 13 Appendix B Trail Funding Opportunities ........................... 53 The Potomac Heritage Trail in Loudoun County .................. ......... 15 Appendix C Memorandum of Understanding .................... 62 Figure 3 Map of Loudoun from West Virginia Border ............ ......... 16 Figure 4 Map of Loudoun to Fairfax County Line ................. ......... 17 3 http://www.novaregion.org/index.aspx?nid=299 About this Report The 2015 Corridor Analysis of the Potomac Heritage National amenities. This corridor analysis supports the new feature with Scenic Trail in Northern Virginia offers a regional summary of an overview of the Trail network, benefits of multiuse trails, current and planned segments, amenities along the trail and funding opportunities for completing trail gaps. Please note network, and projects that improve and eliminate specific gaps that the information used in this report represents a snapshot of within the larger framework of the Trail network in Northern conditions and status of the Trail network in Northern Virginia: Virginia. circumstances, costs and specific alignments are subject to change. For 2015, the maps are interactive and public, providing information on features, trail completion projects, and current in Northern Virginia--the connections, benefits and gaps. The 2015 Report Methodology report provides funding opportunities and timelines. Descriptions of the corridor and trail segments geographically by Each section Identifies existing routes, parks and County from Loudoun County in the North to Prince William amenities, and provides information on some trail County in the South. Trail projects are identified by local projects jurisdictions and with input from National Park Service. Unlike Some trail projects include cost estimates for completion the 2012 report, this corridor analysis is comprised of text and an interactive online map, so that the user can better Spurs/continuous hiking/paddling opportunities understand existing trail elements in context with trail gaps that The report suggests funding sources that can be used to require alternatives or completion. The PHNST Interactive map eliminate gaps in the trail network is located at http://www.novaregion.org/index.aspx?nid=299. Route marking needs are identified, as well as existing and potential interpretive features Using the Interactive Map of the Corridor Online component: this report offers a paper version of the online maps with all relevant information provided The core effort of the 2015 corridor analysis produced a public for both trip development and assessment of online, interactive map found at opportunities to close gaps. http://www.novaregion.org/index.aspx?nid=299 . The online tool offers users the ability to zoom in and out and offers Developed for land managers and interested members of the specific, detailed parks and corridor gaps information also public to understand the scope of the Potomac Heritage Trail summarized in the corridor analysis report. Park resource 2 http://www.novaregion.org/index.aspx?nid=299 features provide size, trails, amenities, land manager, and new data become available. connections for each park. Black points represent trail completion projects and offer details on project scope, planning The