Virginia Department of Transportation System Inventory

Many people are interested in bicycling through the beautiful Shenandoah National Park on the 105-mile long Skyline Drive. Linking Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway takes travelers through Virginia's 214 miles of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Visitors centers and designated campsites are located along both routes.

The National Park Service and the Virginia Tourism Corporation have information on these attractions and their fees.

Northern Virginia presents many bicycling opportunities:

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  The 17-mile Mount Vernon Trail offers a variety of places to visit, including George Washington's home on the Potomac River. A pamphlet describing the route is available from the National Park Service.
  
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  The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority maintains many miles of biking, hiking, horseback, jogging, and nature trails of varying lengths in the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park. A trail guide detailing the 45-mile linear park may be purchased from NVRPA.
  
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  Arlington County, next door to exciting Washington, D.C., has miles of on- and off-road trails. These are detailed on a map available from the county.
  

The Fredericksburg Old Town area, traversed by historic figures and soldiers of the Civil War, may be toured on three, five, and 20-mile routes. Information on the area is available from the Fredericksburg Visitor Center. Route guides are available from the Fredericksburg Cyclists.

The 22-mile long Colonial Parkway joins Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. Jamestown Island has pleasant three-mile and five-mile nature trail loops; an entry fee is charged. Sections of the restored city of Colonial Williamsburg are accessible only to bicyclists and pedestrians, making sightseeing more enjoyable. The Yorktown Battlefield was the scene of the 1781 surrender of General Cornwallis, marking the end of British rule in the colonies.

Virginia's Eastern Shore offers quiet backcountry roads connecting villages, marshlands, farms, and beaches. Birdwatchers will enjoy the variety of fowl populating the peninsula. Bicyclists can observe many varieties of wildlife while riding the trails in the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and on Assateague Island National Seashore.

Virginia has state parks in the Blue Ridge mountains, the hilly Piedmont area, and the flat coastal plains. Some parks, including Chippokes Plantation, Pocahontas, and Seashore State Parks, offer special biking trails. The New River Trail State Park, running through 57 miles of beautiful southwestern Virginia, is a preferred trail of mountain bike enthusiasts. Camping and travel information on the parks is available from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The eastern portion of the state features many rivers and bays. Several major river crossings are prohibited to bicyclists:

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  James River Bridge at Newport News (Rte 17/32).
  
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  Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (Rte 13).
  
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  Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (I-64).
  
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  Nice Bridge leading to Maryland (Rte 301).
  
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  Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel across Hampton Roads (I-664).
  

An alternative to crossing the Hampton Road Bridge Tunnel is the HarborLink ferry that connects Hampton and Norfolk. 

Bicyclists can cross the Chesapeake Bay on seasonal tour boats operating between Reedville and Onancock, with stops on Tangier and Smith Islands.

Scenic Byways

Currently, there are about 2,600 miles of roads designated as Virginia Byways, yet several hundred more miles of Commonwealth roadway could qualify. To help showcase Virginia for the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement, the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Commonwealth Transportation Board, are encouraging local governments to nominate roads for byway designation.

The purpose of the Virginia Byways Program is to recognize road corridors containing aesthetic or cultural value near areas of historical, natural or recreational significance. By designating certain roads as Virginia Byways and widely distributing "A Map of Scenic Roads in Virginia," the program encourages travel to interesting destinations and away from high-traffic corridors. Byways also stimulate local economies by attracting visitors to lesser-known destinations. 

People like to explore. The 2000 Virginia Outdoors Survey, conducted by Virginia's Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), finds that driving for pleasure is the second most popular outdoor activity, with over 64% of the population participating. By following the highlighted byways on the state transportation map and the scenic roads map, visitors are directed to places where they can tour wineries, explore Civil War battle sites and historical attractions, view beautiful scenery and enjoy recreational resources. Once designated, a byway becomes part of the coordinated promotional strategy for Virginia tourism.

Byway designation might limit placement of outdoor advertising signs. It does not affect land use controls. It does not limit road improvements.

Per Virginia Code, "Virginia Byway" means those highways designated by the CTB pursuant to articles §33.1-62 through §33.1-66. The Virginia Outdoors Plan, from DCR, identifies roads that have been considered as "consensus" Virginia Byways for many years. In addition, there are other roads that meet the criteria for designation. 

To be considered, a segment of road must substantially meet the following criteria:

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  The route provides important scenic values and experiences.
  
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  There is a diversity of experiences, as in transition from one landscape scene to another.
  
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  The route links together or provides access to scenic, historic, recreational, cultural, natural and archeological elements.
  
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  The route bypasses major roads or provides opportunity to leave high-speed routes for variety and leisure in motoring. o Landscape control or management along the route is feasible.
  
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  The route allows for additional features that will enhance the motorist's experience and improve safety.
  
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  Local government(s) has/have initiated zoning or other land-use controls, so as to reasonably protect the aesthetic and cultural value of the highway.
  

1. 
   Anyone can request byway designation, but local governments must adopt a resolution of support. 
   
2. 
   Upon receipt of a request from an interested party/local government, VDOT and DCR collect information on local zoning laws, traffic volumes and accident reports before evaluating the roads according to the criteria. 
   
3. 
   Based on a joint review according to the criteria, the DCR Director recommends qualifying roads for consideration by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. 
   
4. 
   Before the CTB acts, VDOT offers (records it's willingness) to hold a public hearing with the local government. If a public hearing is requested, VDOT will conduct the hearing with participation from DCR and VDOT's Environmental Division. 
   
5. 
   After the public hearing, or if no hearing was requested, DCR forwards the recommendation of qualifying routes to the Transportation Commissioner for submission to the CTB.
   
6. 
   The CTB officially designates the Byways at their next scheduled meeting. Subsequently, signs are posted, and changes are made to the appropriate maps.
   

Exhibit R70. Hampton Road HOV Lanes