VB Parks & Recreation has posted the findings of a study for enhancing environmentally friendly visitor access to Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (BBNWR) and False Cape State Park. All interested citizens are encouraged to review the study and provide feedback by taking this short survey.

Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation has posted the findings of a study for enhancing environmentally friendly visitor access to Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (BBNWR) and False Cape State Park. The study has been funded by a $449,000 planning grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to evaluate transportation alternatives for visitors to reach BBNWR without using private motor vehicles. The money is provided by the FTA’s Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program, which is designed to fund projects that will provide safe, convenient access for visitors to America’s national parks, forests and wildlife refuges, and modernize aging transportation infrastructure.

Transportation alternatives for BBNWR being presented include:

• Back Bay Refuge Trail:  a shared use path from Lago Mar to Sandbridge, and restored bike lanes along Sandfiddler Road.
• Sigma Trail:  a shared use path along Sandbridge Road from Lotus Drive to Back Bay Refuge Trail.
• Shuttles:  a service to the Refuge’s existing Visitor Contact Station from the site of the future Visitor Contact Station and from the Virginia Aquarium.
• Water Access:  improvements to enhance canoe/kayak travel across the bay.
• Water Taxi:  a shore-to-shore passenger service on a pontoon-style boat.
• No Construction:  programs for education and encouragement.

All interested citizens are encouraged to review the study and take this short survey.