July 2009

Brevard Bike Path

A gravel composite surface is currently being laid into the Pisgah National Forest extending the Brevard Bike Path so as to join the Art Loeb Trail. Most of this extension will be upon the crown of the dismantled railbed of the defunct Carr Lumber Railroad. NCDOT stimulus enhancement funds are being used to fund a safe crossing of the wide and busy Asheville Highway. The path will connect with the Art Loeb Trail. The latter trail is a connector to and part of the Mountains to the Sea Trail (MST). This would make the Brevard Bike Trail a connector to the MST.

Dunn-Erwin Rail-Trail

(Harnett County)
The Dunn-Erwin Trail Authority met May 12 at the Dunn Area Tourism Authority Building. A budget request was filed with the county for trail maintenance for 2010. Thomas Jernigan reported the trail is in good condition. Calvin Dickenson of Erwin Parks reported a washed out section in Erwin which they may look into paving. Sgt. Aaron Meredith of the Sheriff's Office suggested the creation of a safety committee of regular users and adjacents, and use of the Sheriff's ATV for visible uniformed patrol.

Washington-Greenville Greenway

(Pitt and Beaufort Counties)
The committee met April 18th, May 12th and June 16th in Washington at the Parks and Recreation Building. Vernon Teeter unfurled the Washington-Greenville Greenway banner on the 18th at the Cycle NC event and got email addresses of seventeen local trail supporters. Mayor Judy Jennette will be managing the list and sent out her first "blast" June 23rd establishing contact. Bob Henkle of the city's planning board has joined and has begun trail easements analysis on other utility corridors. The committee decided not to take the Summer off. Their next meeting is July 21st.

Atlantic Coast Line Rail-Trail

(Cumberland, Sampson, Pender & New Hanover Counties)
West Pender Rail Trail Alliance was formed with Susan Bullers elected chair. She has gone before the Pender County Commissioners for an endorsement as a part of the County's park and recreation program. The vote has been postponed waiting for a recommendation from the County's Park and Recreation Advisory Board.

Deep River Rail Trail

(Franklinville - Randolph County) Perry Conner, Franklinville's Town Commissioner has supervised with assistance of property owner Harvey Harmon the building of a 12 car parking lot, access trail past the town's waste water treatment plant and the placing of geotextile and granite screening over the railbed for the creation of a .78 mile section of the DRRT on Harmon's property next to the river. Putting up gates, signs, information kiosk are yet to be complete. An early September opening to the public is expected. Marlys de Alba, Landscape Architect Professor at Wake Community College visited the Randolph Industries site for a second look (on 6/29) at the design challenge of getting the trail safely through the industrial site, and to begin to build a Base Map. Marlys has offered to do it as a summer project. The two grant requests for funding were denied. Z.Smith Reynolds because it had brick and mortar in the second phase, Adopt-A-Trail because it did not put trail on the ground. It is hoped Marlys' proposed design can be marketed to other funders.