It's done.  The speeches have been given, the ribbon has been cut and now this beautiful trail is a reality.  On October 2, 2015, a night when drenching rains combined with a petulant Hurricane Joaquin who head-faked this way long enough to create cancellations everywhere, hundreds of trail supporters threw on raincoats and packed the Virginia Holocaust Museum. (Thank you to Matt Simpson and his staff for coming to the rescue!) Governor and First Lady Terry and Dorothy McAuliffe, Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Lane, Congressman Bobby Scott, Mayor Dwight Jones and an impressive array of other dignitaries led the huge crowd in enthusiastically embracing this accomplishment.  It was dazzling, inspiring, and festive. And now? Back to work. 

 

An Impressive Group Effort

We feel a giant responsibility to see this trail fulfill its promise.  Currently, we're using a federal grant for benches, bike racks, bike fixit stations, rain shelters and additional signage so the trail experience is safe and fun.  Naming opportunities are available for each of these amenities to help us raise the necessary matching funds.  This is an opportunity to honor a loved one, show your own trail support or that of your business and at the same time, be a part of this important enhancement project. 

 

The VCTF is also a critical link in the maintenance chain.  As we've seen on the James City County portions of the trail, VCTF volunteers are the eyes and ears we need to alert us to issues.  They also manage litter, minor debris clearing as well as make suggestions on how we can improve the trail experience.  If we all take ownership of this thing we've worked so hard to create, we'll have the best-maintained trail in the country.  V-DOT is dedicated to keeping this trail pristine, and the VCTF is an important part of that.

 

Finally, we're full steam ahead on marketing the Virginia Capital Trail.  We made bold predictions, now it's time to make it happen.  To that end, we are continuing to work with stakeholders and partners from Richmond to Williamsburg.  We know everyone in the region is excited to experience the trail, and we're developing online tools to make sure they can easily access it.  We're improving our website and developing a more intuitive--and downloadable--map showing where to park, eat, sleep and experience nearby attractions.  It needs to be easy for tourists from near and far to plan a trip to the Trail.

Together we've achieved something historic. For us, the next chapter began the moment we cut the ribbon.  And like the last one, this chapter includes all of us working towards a common goal--making the Virginia Capital Trail the best it can be.