By Ashley McLeod, Staff Writer
Oct 23, 2015, 15:40
COLONIAL HEIGHTS — The expansion of the Appomattox River Greenway Trail is now moving into its next phase following approval in two votes from the Colonial Heights City Council.
At the council meeting on Oct. 13, the group approved a resolution allowing for City Manager Thomas Mattis to enter into a standard project administration agreement with VDOT to fund the fifth stage of the project.
In 2014, the city applied for funding through the federal Transportation Alternatives Program. Being accepted for the TAP, the city also committed to matching 20% of the funds provided by the TAP. In its application, the city requested funding in the amount of $112,400.
Later that year, the Commonwealth Transportation Board approved the application, awarding $102,251 to the city for its project, estimating the net cost for the city as $45,749.
Since the beginning of the project, the city has received four grants totaling $1.2 million for the project.
Phase five of the project will allow the extension of the trail from Roslyn Landing Park to Temple Ave., adding approximately 0.6 miles to the trail, giving it a total length of about two miles.
Currently, the project is in phase four, which cost $760,000 and includes a long-term easement from the Army Corps of Engineers.
“I think it’s an exciting time. We’re not only getting ready to begin phase four but were already looking ahead to phase five,” said Mayor Gregory Kochuba.
Planning for phase five will soon begin, and the amount of funding needed will not be known until after.
At the City Council meeting on Oct. 20, the council voted to approve another resolution, which would request funding from the CTB for right of way acquisition for phase five.
In what City Manager Thomas Mattis called a “routine authorization,” the resolution allowed for the request of funds from the TAP. The program funds the total balance in increments and requires that each reward have a separate resolution for each funding. This is in case any changes occur during the project that would change the outcome.
The estimated costs for acquiring property in phase five of the project is $90,000. The city is requesting a total of $72,000 in federal funds from the TAP. If given that amount, the city would be responsible for 20%, having a net cost of $18,000.
If not awarded the full amount, the city would be responsible for the remainder of the project.
The project, once completed, would allow residents to enjoy kayak, canoe, and boat launches, fishing piers, historic signage, an outlook, gazebo and benches to rest. It will open up access to the water for fishing and boating, and also allow citizens to enjoy hiking and biking along the river.
“No matter where you go anymore it seems like the trails are becoming extremely popular for people walking, people riding their bikes,” said Kochuba.
The trail, while not completely finished, has already seen an increase in patrons along it as well as those using the water.
“The amount of traffic that is on our present trail – it is really utilized by our citizens,” said Councilmember Kenny Frenier. “The longer we make it, the better it will be.”
