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Ashland to Petersburg Multi-Use Trail Gets a Little Closer to Reality

A proposed recreation trail from Ashland to Petersburg is one step closer to reality. The Virginia Department of Transportationjust completed its year long study that included how it would look and how to fund it. 

The trail will span just more than 40 miles from Ashland to Petersburg when it’s complete. That’s roughly 10 miles shorter than the Capitol Trail, which runs from Richmond to Williamsburg. 

It took a decade to finish the Capitol Trail. Here’s Cat Anthony, the Executive Director of the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation. 

“I’m hoping the ATP will take long or less. I mean it really depends on funding and planning to be done quickly.” 

V-DOT’s  report recommends localities ask for state and federal money to help pay for the ATP, since there’s currently no dedicated funding source. 

Some funding needs could be met if a bill in the General Assembly gets passed, that would create a transportation authority in Central Virginia. 

 

Ian M. Stewart is the transportation reporter and fill-in anchor for VPM News. He also produces and hosts the World Music Show for VPM Music — now in its 16th season. You can often find him riding his bike around Chesterfield County or on Virginia's Capital Trail. Stewart has won multiple Regional Edward R. Murrow and Virginia's AP Broadcasters awards for reporting and sound editing. He graduated from San Francisco State University with degrees in journalism and creative writing.