F r o m R i c h m o n d t o t h e O C e a n f r o n t How - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

F r o m R i c h m o n d t o t h e O C e a n f r o n t

How Regional Trails are connecting Coastal Virginia Steve Lambert, Transportation Planner

C o a s ta l V i r g i n i a

V i r g i n i a C a p i ta l T r a i l

A Vision Comes true

C a p i ta l t o C a p i ta l

From Richmond to Jamestown

D e v e l o p m e n t t i m e l i n e

1996 - 1999 VDOT Feasibility Study for Trail along Virginia Scenic Byway Route 5. 2004 VDOT receives federal enhancement funds for first two segments in James City County. 2003 VDOT prioritizes trail along Route 5 and obtains initial funding for design. 2006 First trail segment, Greensprings Road opens. 2015 Entire Virginia Capital Trail

• pens.

2004 Virginia Capital Trail Foundation established. 2005 Virginia Capital Trail recognized as part

• f the East Coast

Greenway. 2006-2015 Construction of the remaining phases of trail underway.

Sherwood Forest Phase 14 miles 2014 Greensprings Phase 3 miles 2006 Chickahominy Riverfront Phase 5 miles 2007 Charles City Courthouse Phase 8 miles 2009 New Market Heights Phase 12 miles 2015 Varina Phase 7 miles 2015 Richmond Riverfront Phase 3 miles 2009/2013/2015

P h a s e s o f D e v e l o p m e n t

B i r t h p l a c e o f A m e r i c A T R A I L

A STUDY TO CONNECT THE VIRGINIA CAPITAL TRAIL TO THE HAMPTON ROADS REGION

J a m e s t o w n

Beginning of Virginia Capital Trail

J a m e s t o w n

Historic Settlement

C o l o n i a l W i l l i a m s b u r g

Governor’s Palace

As the barge carrying the Comte de Rochambeau and his staff approached Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, around p.m. on September 5, 1781, Baron Ludwig von Closen “discerned in the distance General George Washington… waving his hat and a white handkerchief joyfully.” As “MM. de Rochambeau and Washington embraced warmly on shore” the American informed his ally that the French fmeet under Admiral de Grasse had arrived off Lynnhaven Bay on the evening of August 29. With 28 ships-of-the-line (SOLs) and four frigates carrying 3,300 troops under the Marquis de Saint-Simon riding at anchor west of Cape Henry; Continental forces under the Marquis de Lafayette in Williamsburg; and, a large allied army

• n the march, “the soldiers from then on spoke of

Cornwallis as if they had already captured him.” Just as Washington and Rochambeau rejoiced in the welcome news, French gunners were fjring broadsides at a British fmeet of 19 SOLs and eight frigates Thomas Graves. Learning of de Grasse’ arrival, Graves had hurriedly sailed from New York City for the Chesapeake Bay. At about 9:30 a.m.

• n September 5, the French frigate l’Aigrette and H.M.S. Solebay sighted each
• ther and Graves headed for the bay. With some 2,000 of de Grasse’ offjcers and

sailors ashore, his vessels anchored southwest

• f the Middle Ground Shoal off Cape Henry,

and the tide against him, de Grasse hoisted

• sail. It was almost 1 p.m. before his fmagship,

the Ville de Paris, cleared the channel and headed for the open sea. fmeet, Graves, following Royal Navy “Fighting

Battle of the Capes, September 5, 1781

the approaching French fmeet. The maneuver took 1½ hours to perform and allowed the remainder of de Grasse’ vessels to take their gave the order to attack at 3:46 p.m., de Grasse had fjve more ships sailing in close formation with his best and fastest ships lined up against Graves’ slowest and weakest. British confusion over confmicting signal fmags and French superiority in numbers proved decisive. When Graves ordered fjre to cease at 6:30 p.m., his vessels had suffered more damage and higher casualties than the French. As both fmeets drifted southward during the night, they cleared the bay entrance for the eight SOLs under Admiral de Barras carrying French Newport, Rhode Island. With de Barras safe in the Chesapeake, de Grasse had achieved his goal: Cornwallis was trapped by sea. In late afternoon of September 14, Washington and Rochambeau rode into Williamsburg. The next day, Washington apprised de Grasse of “the Wish

• f the Count De Rochambeau, as well as myself,

have the Honor of an Interview”. On September 17, Washington’s Private Secretary Jonathan Trumbull entered in his journal that Washington and Rochambeau had embarked “on board the fjne little Ship Queen Charlotte” for the Ville de Paris. Shortly before noon, the 6’ 2” admiral welcomed the equally tall Washington on board his fmagship with exclamations

• f “mon cher petit general.” Having persuaded de Grasse

to extend his stay until November embarked on the “Queen Charlotte” that afternoon. After a three week siege, on October 19, Cornwallis Two days later, accompanied by Lafayette, Washington returned to the Ville de Paris to request de Grasse’ assistance in an attack

H I S T O R I C A L b at t l e S I T E S

F O R T M O N R O E

Planned Development

S o u t h h a m p t o n r o a d s t r a i l

S u f f o l k

Suffolk Seaboard Trail

N o r f o l k

Elizabeth River Trail

N o r f o l k

Pilot Bike Loop

V i r g i n i a B e a c h

Future Rail to Trail

V i r g i n i a B e a c h

Norfolk Avenue Trail

V i r g i n i a B e a c h

Oceanfront

V i r g i n i a B e a c h

First Landing State Park

V i s i o n t o r e a l i t y

• Virginia Capital Trail - 52 Miles Completed
• Birthplace of America Trail
• 6.7 Miles COmpleted
• 1 Mile Under design and Funded
• 1.5 Miles Applied for future funding
• South Hampton Roads Trail
• 5.8 Miles COmpleted
• 4.7 Miles FUnded
• 1.7 Miles Applied for future Funding
• 12 Miles Former Rail ROW Purchased

Future 140 Miles off-Road Paved Trails

C o n ta c t I n f o r m at i o n :

Steve LAmbert Active Transportation Planner Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization slambert@hrtpo.org