Fall Line Trail Vision Plan
Central Virginia
Project Summary
The Fall Line is a 43-mile regional trail running from Ashland to Petersburg through the heart of historic Richmond. Championed by Sports Backers and to be built and maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the trail spans seven jurisdictions across Central Virginia. Envisioned as the north–south spine of a growing active transportation network, the Fall Line will link people to jobs, neighborhoods, downtowns, and existing trails across a diverse landscape of forests, farmland, and urban centers.
Toole Design partnered with Sports Backers to help communities along the corridor envision what the trail could become and develop a clear Vision Plan.
Expertise Applied
Listening to Communities Along the Corridor
The process began in March 2023 with a walking tour of the entire Fall Line to better understand on-the-ground conditions. In May, our project team led a week-long discovery charrette. Stakeholders, elected officials, and community members were invited to share ideas, identify opportunities, and work toward a collective vision for the trail. We held workshop sessions in three locations, in addition to two evening open houses in Richmond and Ettrick, and multiple walking site visits.
Using this input, we organized the trail into distinct character zones and trail types that reflect the places it passes through. We also developed an extensive menu of ways to establish gateways and trailheads, celebrate the community, enjoy nature, interpret complex histories, and enable people of all ages and abilities to access and use the trail. In October 2023, the team presented the Vision Plan framework and initial recommendations for specific sections of the Fall Line for further refinement. Throughout the process, we also met with VDOT and planning and transportation staff from communities along the Fall Line to ensure all recommendations were aligned with concurrent local, regional, and statewide planning efforts.
Shaping the Trail Experience
The final Vision Plan includes segment-by-segment recommendations paired with precedent imagery to illustrate how each part of the Fall Line can evolve while contributing to a cohesive regional vision. The plan equips jurisdictions with the tools to shape their segments of the trail, develop projects, and leverage investment for amenities, public art, and trail-oriented development.
Moving A Shared Vision Forward
Nearly 5 miles of the Fall Line trail in the Town of Ashland and Hanover County opened in 2025 and are being enjoyed by the public. Sections in Henrico County, the City of Richmond, and Chesterfield County are under construction and there’s more in the pipeline. As each segment takes shape, the Vision Plan sets a collaborative path forward, helping communities work together to deliver a trail that is both locally meaningful and regionally connected.