Virginia, North Carolina East Coast Greenway connection advances with Chesapeake connectivity plan

With East Coast Greenway Alliance Virginia & Washington, D.C. Manager Elliott Caldwell playing a key role in its development, the Chesapeake Trails and Connectivity Plan - known as TConn - was unanimously adopted by a vote of the Chesapeake (Virginia) City Council in November.

The implementation of the TConn, alongside the Alliance’s efforts to close a key gap in the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail at the Virginia-North Carolina border, highlights growing momentum for enhanced bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in the region.

The TConn “is focused on developing a rich network of open spaces, trails, off-road natural paths, greenways, recreational waterways and water access points throughout the City of Chesapeake,” including expansion of the East Coast Greenway in the region.

“It was a privilege to serve on the steering committee for this transformative connectivity plan,” Caldwell said. “The City of Chesapeake has demonstrated a genuine commitment to enhancing infrastructure for active transportation and recreation, creating exciting opportunities for both local residents and long-distance travelers along the East Coast Greenway.”

In the recently approved TConn plan, the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail extension to the North Carolina border is highlighted as a connection that should be a priority for the city in the future, aligning with a longtime goal of the Alliance to link Virginia and North Carolina via a protected segment of the East Coast Greenway.

In late 2021, the Alliance was awarded $20,000 from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation to jumpstart the planning of a key 1.5-mile connecting segment of the 8.5-mile Dismal Swamp Canal Trail, which is the most visited trail section of the current East Coast Greenway in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. The Dismal Swamp Trail is owned and maintained by the City of Chesapeake and sits across the Dismal Swamp Canal from the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.

“We are deeply grateful for the Virginia Outdoors Foundation’s support toward closing a critical gap in the East Coast Greenway,” said Dennis Markatos-Soriano, Executive Director of the East Coast Greenway Alliance. “Their collaborative partnership has been invaluable, providing guidance as we’ve worked together to adapt to the evolving needs of this project.”

Currently, the trail ends 1.5 miles from the North Carolina border and about 5 miles from North Carolina’s Dismal Swamp Canal State Park, where a 4.5-mile paved trail begins before heading south towards South Mills, North Carolina. The two segments are connected via a 5-mile roadway gap along U.S. Route 17. 

“It has long been a regional priority for the East Coast Greenway’s coastal route to link these two trails, creating a seamless connection between Virginia and North Carolina,” Caldwell said. “This effort will not only unite the Hampton Roads region with Camden County and North Carolina’s Inner Banks but also enhance accessibility and connectivity along the Greenway and to a large open space area.”

Caldwell added, "We’re thrilled about the potential for future East Coast Greenway connections through Norfolk and Virginia Beach. These include a ferry link to Norfolk and the Elizabeth River Trail, as well as planned routes to Virginia Beach and the Atlantic oceanfront, which are all a part of the South Hampton Roads Trail regional network."

Caldwell engaged with regional stakeholders, including the Chesapeake Bicycle/Trails Advisory Committee and partners in North Carolina, to explore opportunities for extending the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail. In addition, he assessed the physical, stakeholder and funding landscape necessary for updating the East Coast Greenway route to better connect cities like Norfolk and Portsmouth, which are part of the envisioned Greenway corridor but not currently included in the active travel route.

Alliance North Carolina Manager Andrew Meeker played a key role in connecting Caldwell with the partners on the North Carolina side of the proposed trail extension.

“We are committed to partnering with city staff and local advocates to expand the trail network in Chesapeake,” Caldwell said. “This includes the Western Branch area, where the Chesapeake section of the Seaboard Coastline Rail Trail is nearing completion. Once finished, it will connect with the same rail trail system in Suffolk to the west and Portsmouth to the east, further strengthening the regional trail infrastructure.”

In the recently approved TConn plan, the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail extension to the North Carolina border is highlighted as a connection that should be a priority for the city in the future, aligning with a longtime goal of the Alliance to link Virginia and North Carolina via a protected segment of the East Coast Greenway.

In addition to highlighting the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail connection as an important future project, one of the five sample projects in the TConn highlights a vital East Coast Greenway connection between Poindexter Street and Portlock Elementary School. This 2-mile initiative focuses on creating a bicycle boulevard with traffic-calming measures and wayfinding signage. In addition to linking Portlock Elementary, the project aims to enhance connections to three nearby schools and the South Norfolk business district, fostering a safer, more accessible network for the community.

"We're thrilled that this plan prioritizes local connections to schools and key destinations within the population center, focusing on areas that will benefit the largest number of trail users right from the start," said Allison Burson, the Alliance’s National Greenway Director.

The City of Chesapeake partnered with long-time Alliance collaborator Alta Planning + Design to develop the TConn. As part of this effort, Caldwell was invited to join the steering committee, contributing to a planning process that included three public meetings and four steering committee sessions facilitated by Alta Planning + Design.

Senior Planner Kevin Finn of the Chesapeake Planning Department and Collin Hodges from Alta Planning + Design held key leadership roles in the TConn development process. 

 With a comprehensive plan aimed at creating an active transportation and recreation network across Chesapeake now in place, as well as support from surrounding communities and area stakeholders, momentum toward completing East Coast Greenway in the region continues to build.