First section of Eastern Shore Rail Trail opens in Cape Charles

Years of planning, fundraising and construction culminated Thursday with the ribbon-cutting for the first completed section of the Eastern Shore Rail Trail.

The newly opened portion extends a little more than two miles from the trailhead in Cape Charles to Route 13, providing a roughly 4.5-mile round trip for walkers and bicyclists. It is the first piece of a proposed 49-mile trail that would eventually stretch north to Hallwood.

“What a hell of a day,” Eastern Shore Rail Trail Executive Director Ron Wolff exclaimed as he welcomed the crowd. “Today is a milestone years in the making.”

Wolff said the former railroad corridor is being transformed into a safe, welcoming place where residents and visitors can walk, run, ride bicycles, push strollers and experience the Eastern Shore from a new perspective.

“This first section represents more than just pavement and signs,” he said. “It represents partnership, persistence and a shared belief that the Eastern Shore deserves infrastructure that supports health, recreation, safety, tourism and economic opportunities.”

The Cape Charles segment opened following the ceremony, with those attending invited to take part in an inaugural bicycle ride and walk to Route 13.

Sonya Hallams-Ponton, representing the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Hampton Roads District, said the adjoining Cheriton section could not open Thursday because additional signs and pavement markings are needed. A lightning strike also affected the newly installed crosswalk signal at Route 13.

Crews were working Thursday to complete the remaining items, she said, and the overall project remains ahead of its contractual completion date in October. VDOT hopes to open the Cheriton section within the next several weeks.

Wolff credited a long list of organizations and individuals with bringing the project to fruition, including the Eastern Shore Rail Trail Foundation, Accomack-Northampton Transportation District Commission, Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission, Canonie Atlantic Co., VDOT, Northampton and Accomack counties, the towns of Cape Charles and Cheriton, STAR Transit and contractor Branscome.

He also recognized former Congresswoman Elaine Luria, who helped secure more than $2 million in federal funding for the project in 2022, as well as Champ Burnley and Dave Brickley for helping initiate the federal rail-banking process in 2019.

Cape Charles has agreed to maintain the trail from the town limits to Route 13.

Cape Charles Town Manager Rick Keuroglian said some projects become more than infrastructure and ultimately become part of a community’s identity.

“I believe this trail is going to be one of those projects,” Keuroglian said. “It connects more than just places. It actually connects people.”

Northampton County Supervisor Jon Dempster said the trail will serve local residents as well as visitors and provide an additional attraction for a community that depends heavily on tourism.

“I know that our family looks forward to being able to bike to work,” Dempster said.

Cape Charles Mayor Adam Charney recalled when trains still traveled through the town and Santa Claus arrived by rail. He recognized students from the Northampton County Career and Technical Education Center who constructed the kiosk installed at the trailhead.

“Our kids helped us build this trail,” he said.

Northampton County Board of Supervisors Chairman Dixon Leatherbury said preserving the 66-foot-wide former railroad right of way could have benefits extending well beyond recreation. Because the trail occupies only part of the corridor, the remainder could potentially accommodate other infrastructure in the future.

“It’s here for us for the future,” Leatherbury said. “It’s part of these two counties’ future.”

Wolff concluded that Thursday’s celebration marked only the beginning of a much larger effort.

“The trail will help connect our towns, our small businesses, our parks, our neighborhoods and our people,” he said. “It will invite visitors to slow down and discover the marvels of the Eastern Shore.”