ORIGINS OF THE FALL LINE
Named
for its unique geography along the trail corridor, the Fall Line
denotes the area where the Piedmont plateau and Atlantic Coastal Plain
meet, resulting in a number of rapids and waterfalls. The Fall Line
trail courses through seven localities: Ashland, Hanover, Henrico,
Richmond, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, and Petersburg.
The
Fall Line trail came together as an opportunity to "connect the dots"
of active transportation networks taking shape in the greater Richmond
region. Several sections of the trail already existed or were planned in
localities’ comprehensive and special area plans, including the
existing
Ashland Trolley Line Trail and Chester Linear Park, and planned Trolley Line Connector in Henrico, Brook Road protected bike lanes in Richmond, and the Northern Jefferson Davis Special Area Plan
in Chesterfield. A natural corridor for a long-distance trail began to
emerge that would provide opportunities for active transportation,
recreation, and economic development.
Between
2019-2020, the Virginia Department of Transportation launched a study
to determine a preferred route to connect all seven localities. Since
then, jurisdictions along the Fall Line route have been hard at work
planning for and building out the trail.