The Fairfax County Planning Commission got a report on June 3 regarding the Lorton Core Study (Plan Amendment 2021-IV-LP1).
Report includes (p.27) “The Active Transportation and Trails Plan (ATTP), adopted by the Board on May 5, 2026, provides recommendations for pedestrian facilities in the Lorton area… As development and redevelopment occur, the goal is to enhance pedestrian paths and features according to recommendation of the ATTP which are also reflected in the Conceptual Parks, Open Space, and Pedestrian Network map.”
The Potomac Heritage Trail Association submitted the following comments to the Planning Commission:
As President of the Potomac Heritage Trail Association (PHTA), I think it is shameful that the Lorton Plan fails to even mention the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST), which runs right through Lorton. The PHNST, established in 1983 as a National Scenic Trail, is one of only eleven in the nation.
Lorton could be a keystone for the PHNST and a real trail town, given its nexus with the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail, planned trails up the Occoquan River and ambitious projects across the Occoquan footbridge in Prince William County. The current PHNST route through Lorton unfortunately runs along major highways for eight miles (Route 1, Lorton Road and Route 123). It is the antithesis of what a National Scenic Trail should be, as defined by Congress. But improvements to the Lorton PHNST are possible.
To its credit, the plan includes some of these improvements, notably a trail along Pohick Creek under I95 and the railroad and use of the BOS-owned open space around the Noman Cole plant. But others are omitted, including other parts of Noman Cole, better links to Meadowwood, desired trail connections across the Occoquan River and parks off Old Colchester Road.
The report should include all these opportunities and clearly label them as possible PHNST routes.
Bill Niedringhaus
President, Potomac Heritage Trail Association
The Active Transportation Trails Plan map shows the trails planned in the Lorton area (see below).. The National Park Service (see above) and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission also have posted maps of existing and planned/proposed segments of the PHNST.
