The City of Virginia Beach is the recipient of a $449,000 grant from the
Federal Transit Administration (part of the Department of Transportation) to study transportation alternatives for visitors to reach
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge without using private motor vehicles. Transportation alternatives can include providing trams from populated areas of the city to the refuge, construction of a shared-use path for biking and walking, and development of canoe/kayak facilities, among others.
Scope of the Grant Project
This TRIPP grant is an evaluation of transportation alternatives. The City's
application outlined three specific alternatives:
- Extend the tram service beyond Sandbridge. Trams are operated within the Refuge, using volunteers to give guided tours, but this would expand the service along Sandbridge Road and establish remote parking area(s), perhaps at the planned Refuge visitor center and/or in the Red Mill area.
- Build the Back Bay Refuge Trail. This work includes mapping, wetlands delineation, environmental documents, and preliminary design and cost estimates, but no actual construction.
- Improve water access. Several canoe/kayak launch sites exist around Back Bay. We'll look at how we can improve them or add more in additional locations.
Early steps in the public engagement process will query stakeholders and the public for other ideas.
Timeline
This timeline is preliminary and will change as the project progresses. Updated: 4/4/13
- September 2012: The City has contracted with HRT to serve as the administrative pass-thru from FTA.
- March 2013: The City has received proposals from consultants and will shortlist and interview them to make a selection. The consultant should be under contract in early summer.
- Begin the public engagement process.
- Evaluate the alternatives. (12-18 months)
- Review with the public and FTA, and then finalize the report. (3-6 months)
When the grant report is completed, the City and the Refuge can pursue implementation grants through the same TRIPP program or through other programs.
Maps
The first map is an overview of the area. Inset A provides a close-up of Little Island Park launch and the entrance to the Refuge. Inset B provides a close-up of the existing visitor's center in the Refuge.