THE BACKBONE OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA
The Fall Line is a world-class, paved multi-use trail in Central Virginia that promises to transform the region for active transportation, connecting communities, and economic development. Originally named the Ashland to Petersburg Trail, this 43-mile trail traverses seven localities and two planning districts in a region of 1.3 million people.
In 2020, a regionally collaborative effort sought to rename the trail to the Fall Line. This name celebrates the east coast geology that led to the site of Richmond’s settlement in the 1600s at the falls of the James River. The name also elevates the trail’s brand and persona, modeling projects such as the genre-defining High Line in New York City and the Atlanta Beltline.
The potential for this game-changing trail was born out of the leadership of local governments in developing municipal bike and pedestrian plans between 2014 and 2017. Starting with the City of Richmond, the counties of Chesterfield, Henrico, and Hanover followed in subsequent years, providing the opportunity for Sports Backers to develop a conceptual alignment spanning five contiguous jurisdictions. The line could be extended further south by way of a former rail line into Colonial Heights and Petersburg.
This conceptual alignment gained approval of all seven participating local governments, giving Sports Backers the opportunity to present the plan to Virginia’s then Secretary of Transportation, Shannon Valentine, who directed Virginia Department of Transportation and Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment to develop a feasibility study and corridor plan. This plan, continually updated, is the basis for the ongoing work to build the trail today.
Today, the trail is being administered by Virginia Department of Transportation’s Richmond District Office, the Central Virginia Transportation Authority and its member localities, PlanRVA, and the Crater Planning District Commission.
CORRIDOR OF CONNECTIONS
When complete, the Fall Line will connect rural, suburban, and urban landscapes and connect a multitude of places of interest and use. Key connections along the trail:
95
Public Schools
6
Colleges/Universities
(Including 2 Historically Black Colleges and Universities)
2
Major Regional Trails
(Virginia Capital Trail, Appomattox River Trail)
3
River Crossings
(Chickahominy, James, Appomattox)
Many
Parks
(Including Bryan Park, Battery Park, Abner Clay Park, James River Park System, Charlie Syndor Playground, Falling Creek Trail, Bensley Park, Goyne Park, Ettrick Park)
Many
Transit Connections
(Richmond and Chesterfield, including the new GRTC Bus Route 111 along the Route 1 corridor that launched earlier this year)