VIDEO

Members of Parrish Hill Baptist Church in Charles City County praise the Virginia Capital Trail, saying it is a wonderful idea that will enhance the area's quality of life.

But they are against a proposed portion of the bicycle and pedestrian trail that would cut through an entrance and exit right in front of their church.

Several church members cite safety concerns for their opposition.

"They don't want to come in conflict with bikers when they come to church Sunday morning," said Christopher Marrow, chairman of the church's deacon board.

The paved trail, when finished in late 2014, will connect a stretch of more than 50 miles between Richmond and Williamsburg, mostly along state Route 5. State and federal funds are paying for the $54 million project.

Construction has started in the Charles City Courthouse area, but the phase passing through the Parrish Hill area -- known as the Sherwood Forest phase -- is scheduled to start in April 2010.

The trail would run along the south side of Route 5 from its westernmost point at Richmond's Canal Walk, and cross to the north side of the highway just east of Parrish Hill Baptist.

About 45 people, many of them church members, attended a meeting at Parrish Hill Baptist last month with officials from the Virginia Department of Transportation. Several questioned why the path couldn't cross to the north side of the road at some point west of the church.

State Sen. A. Donald McEachin, who represents Charles City and parts of Richmond and Henrico County, said running the trail through the church parking area could "cause a lot of heartburn."

"The concerns of the citizens of the county are not to be taken lightly," said McEachin, D-Henrico.

Ian Millikan, a VDOT project manager for the Capital Trail, said it would cost between $750,000 and $875,000 more to build the trail on the north side of Route 5 along the one-mile stretch from the intersection of Route 5 and The Glebe Lane east to the planned crossing point.

The land on the north side is more hilly and would require more work to improve the grade, Millikan said. Running the trail on the north side also would require relocating power lines and a longer bridge across Parrish Hill Creek.

"I don't see where cost could outweigh safety," said Yvonne Smith-Jones, clerk of the church. "A life, to me, is more valuable than spending a few extra dollars to just go on the other side of the highway."

Millikan points out, though, that the planned crossing is on a straightaway, and that putting the crossing west of the church, at the intersection at The Glebe Lane, would be less safe because bikers wouldn't be able to see as far.

VDOT officials said they will schedule a public hearing on the Sherwood Forest phase for sometime next spring.

The trail would run past Haupt's Store on Route 5 just west of the church.

Charles Haupt, the store's owner, said he sees the importance of a safe crossing point.

But he hopes a compromise can be reached.

"I just think it's a great idea," Haupt said of the Capital Trail. "I just hope it works out to make everybody happy."
Contact Reed Williams at (804) 649-6332 or rwilliams@timesdispatch.com.