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Newport News Now

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Newport News Now is a daily e-newsletter that launched in March 2016. Articles that ran in our newsletter between March 2016 and March 2018 are available on these pages. Newsletters produced beginning in April 2018 can be viewed on our new daily newsletter page.

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May 03

Rails to Trails

Posted on May 3, 2016 at 10:01 AM by Communications Department

As part of the Lee Hall Depot Foundation's Speaker Series award-winning journalist, author and preservationist, Joe Tennis, will present "Virginia Rail Trails Crossing the Commonwealth"5-3 rails_SC on Wednesday, May 4th at 7 PM. Mr. Tennis will provide an overview of Virginia's Rails to Trails Program which has created miles of cycling and pedestrian trails along abandoned train tracks. According to the Rails to Trails Conservancy, Virginia currently has 32 rail trails totaling 283 miles and there are another 12 active projects which, when completed, will add another 69 miles of trails.

The State is leading the way in developing an exciting new concept called Rails-WITH-Trails, or trails along active railway lines. There are over 3,000 miles of railroads crisscrossing Virginia. As tax dollars are being spent to enhance and improve active rail corridors, organizations like the Virginia Bicycling Federation are asking that trails be included as part of these projects.

The presentation will be held at the 1884 Warwick Courthouse, 14421 Old Courthouse Way and is free and open to the public.