Bristol leaders will consider hiring a firm to conduct a feasibility study/pre-engineering plan for connecting the Mendota Trail to the city’s downtown during the city council meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 300 Lee St.
The connection would be at the Interstate 81 underpass at Island Road and would run for 2.7 miles into the city’s downtown area. Two end points identified in the agenda information are Cumberland Square Park at the intersection of Cumberland and Moore streets and the Bristol Visitor Center at the intersection of Anderson Street and Volunteer Parkway.
The Mendota Trail is a 12.5-mile rails-to-trails corridor for hiking and biking that runs through the countryside and forests between the city and the Mendota community in Washington County. The work on the trestles along the trail has been completed, and the trail is now 100% open, according to information included with the meeting’s agenda.
Currently, access to the trailhead by a pedestrian or bicycle isn’t considered safe because of high vehicle speeds and substandard road curves, plus a lack of a dedicated path for walking and biking. The proposed connector would improve access to the trail, but the Pittstown Road intersection with the railbed would require improvements for a trail crossing, the agenda documents state.
City officials believe that extending the trail would increase its use and safe access would increase economic development opportunities for new and existing businesses.
“The trail’s close proximity to the greater population center of the city will promote greater well-being and healthier lifestyles for both residents and visitors, increase property values, and will attract new businesses and a younger workforce to the city,” the documents say.
The study and plan would pinpoint and secure right-of-way, identify a phasing and funding strategy and consider connection types and locations. The city put out a request for proposals for the study in January and received five. The proposals were evaluated, and city officials chose Alta Planning + Design, Inc.
The city recently received a Virginia tobacco grant and grant funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission and other private sources to help pay for the study, but the amounts weren’t included with the agenda. The cost of the study also wasn’t included.
City Manager Randy Eads couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
The city’s staff recommends that city council authorize Eads to enter into a contract with Alta Planning + Design.
