Modesto’s Virginia Corridor to pierce the city’s core, if the council approves
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- Modesto advances plans to extend Virginia Corridor Trail into downtown core.
- City earmarks over $3 million in grant funds for bike infrastructure expansion.
- Final council vote on corridor additions expected in Fall ahead of 2026 build.
Modesto has big plans to improve the walkability and bikeability of downtown, especially around its high-density affordable housing projects.
On Monday, the Safety and Communities Committee approved a plan to extend the Virginia Corridor Trail’s southern point into the core of Modesto. The Virginia Corridor Trail is a tree-lined bike and pedestrian pathway that runs through the middle of the city.
Currently the trail starts at the south end of Modesto Junior College before running a little over four miles north until it stops near the intersection of Woodrow Avenue and Fremont Street.
But the city wants to extend both points — essentially having it run from one end of Modesto to the other. The plan approved on June 9 is part of the city’s ambitious goal of transforming downtown into a pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly area near affordable housing with transit connections.
This latest addition to the larger downtown redevelopment, if approved, will be paid for by a state grant from the Affordable Housing and Sustainability Program. Modesto accepted the $33 million grant in September 2023 to build Seventh Street Village.
As part of their application, the city also secured about $9 million for transportationn infrastructure around the project. A little over $3 million will go towards the next phase of bike path construction.
“The way the city deployed this grant is a masterclass in how cities should apply grants,” said Modesto City Councilmember Chris Ricci.
Ricci, who sits on the Safety and Communities Committee and voted in favor of the bike path extension, said the city diversified how it spent that grant.
In addition to the Virginia Corridor extension, the grant also will be used to pay $6 million to buy a zero-emission locomotive for the planned Altamont Corridor Express route, which will extend to Modesto late next year and $9 million worth of new sidewalks and street trees near the apartment site.
The larger downtown development plan includes dedicated and protected bike paths, improved sidewalks with modern pedestrian crossings at intersections, roundabouts and having J Street transform into a pedestrian-focused corridor.
Other planned infrastructure improvements include roundabouts along 9th Street, 2,000 feet of sidewalk improvements along 7th and 8th streets and five improved bus stops along a route that runs from west Modesto to downtown.
What exactly is the plan for the Virginia Corridor?
The full bike lane redevelopment is being done in two phases. The plan approved on June 9 will connect the Virginia Corridor from MJC to the city’s 9th Street lane path project.
Phase one of the city’s plan is to have a mix of class 4 and class 1 bike lanes run along 9th Street from Carpenter Road to downtown. A class 4 bike lane typically has a protected two-way bike bath in between a street and an elevated sidewalk. For design reference, the Virginia Corridor Trail is a class 1 bike path. Both class 1 and 4 bike lanes are planned to be built throughout downtown Modesto in the coming years.
Phase two of the project, which was approved by the committee on June 9, will connect Phase one to the Virginia Corridor and to a class 4 bike path project that will run along I Street to 17th Street.
Phase one is estimated to break ground later this year with a completion date anticipated for summer 2026. Phase 2 is estimated to break ground in fall or winter 2026, with a completion date estimated for spring 2028.
As for the northern part of the Virginia Corridor, it’s been delayed. The city’s website had listed it to break ground earlier this year, but that didn’t happen. The city has not accepted a bid because the original bids were over-budget and needed a redesign, according to city officials.
Assuming the next round of bids are good, the redesigns likely will be considered by the city council in August, with construction likely starting in the fall and completion by summer 2026. The northern extension of the Virginia Corridor will push its end-point to West Union Avenue.
The council is expected to vote on approving the new additions to this project sometime in fall.
This story was originally published June 12, 2025 at 3:39 PM.
