Success Stories: Virginia

FHWA TE Project: Danville, VA

The Danville Train Station Complex

TE award: $3,184,000
Other funds: $1,791,000
Total cost: $4,975,000

The historic Danville Train Station, freight depot, and rail trestle, were acquired and rehabilitated in conjunction with a multi-phase TE award. The century-old station continues to serve rail passengers via an Amtrak line. It also contains the Danville Science Center, the first satellite facility of the Science Museum of Virginia.

Another TE funded project included the renovation of the freight depot for use as a farmers market (open April-December) and festival area. The renovations have encouraged greater use of the station and surrounding business areas; several new businesses have opened as a result of the Danville Station renovations.

The former rail yard is now home to shops, entertainment, and recreational opportunities. TE funds have also been used to convert the former rail trestle to a rail trail. TE funding has enabled Danville to preserve its rail transportation history while providing transportation options, goods and services to its modern day community.

FHWA TE Project: Richmond, VA

Richmond Canal Walk

TE award: $1,700,000
Other funds: $7,150,000
Total cost: $8,850,000

The Richmond Canal Walk is a 1.25-mile walk through historic downtown Richmond, VA via the Kanawah and Haxall canals and the James River. A multi-phase $1.7 million TE award was used towards the cost of canal floor restoration, walls, edges, and a 950-foot section of the walkway.

The Canal Walk travels past a former Confederate armory, the Richmond Civil War Visitor's Center, and Tripple Cross--the intersection of three elevated railroad lines. Canal boats, festivals, concerts, the nearby Tourning Basin, Brown's Island and other public events on the canal have made the Canal Walk popular with the community and tourists.

Plans for mixed-use development, including residences, office and retail space, and restaurants, surrounding the canal are underway. It is expected that the Canal Walk will bring an additional 6,000 jobs and $60 million in tourism revenue to Richmond by 2010.

The city of Richmond and the Richmond Riverfront Development Coorporation (RRDC) combined the TE project with the installation of a new sewer system running under the canals. The Canal Walk and combined sewer project recieived the nationally recognized American Council of Consulting Engineers 2001 Honor Award for their innovative canal and sewer project design.

FHWA TE Project: Statewide, VA

Virginia Civil War Trails

TE award: $2,210,232
Other funds: $552,558
Total cost: $2,762,790

This project created a series of twenty pull-off sites along a 110-mile driving tour tracing the closing days of the Civil War. Design and construction of the sites interpretive markers and solar powered radio transmitters so drivers can tune their car radios for a description of area events associated with the retreat.

FHWA TE Project: Williamsburg, VA

A Preserve America Community

Williamsburg Transportation Center

TE award: $550,000
Other funds: $760,166
Total cost: $1,310,166

With its convenient downtown location just four blocks from Colonial Williamsburg, the city of Williamsburg's Transportation Center provides the only full service transportation center in the state of Virginia. Companies that operate through the center include Amtrak, Greyhound and Trailways Bus Lines, Williamsburg Area Transport, Colonial Rent-a-Car, Yellow Cab of Williamsburg, Colonial Cabs of Williamsburg and Williamsburg Taxi Service.

A 1999 Transportation Enhancements award of $550,000 helped fund the renovation and restoration of the 5,400 square foot, 1935 brick structure. The city of Williamsburg sponsored the project, which included the city's purchase of the building in 2000 from Colonial Williamsburg.

The city hired the architectural group of Guernsey Tingle with the goal of increasing the function and usefulness of the center while still maintaining its 1935 character and charm. The Williamsburg Transportation Center's functionality is found in the Amtrak and bus offices in the building's east and west portions, which are separated by conveniently located restrooms and vending machines. A covered platform abutting the main rail line evokes the charm of an earlier era.