May 2010
Lifetime Achievement Award Given to AL Capehart
On May 26th, the Conservation Trust of North Carolina presented AL Capehart, a founder and Board member of North Carolina Rail-Trails, with a well deserved award for over twenty-five years of advocacy for rail-trails in the state. As described in the Trust's announcement: "AL Capehart launched a personal crusade to educate local and state governments on the value of preserving the Triangle region’s surplus railroad corridors in 1985. His efforts materialized into an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization called North Carolina Rail-Trails (NCRT). NCRT educates the public, government officials and citizen groups about the importance of railroad corridor preservation to connect communities with public trails, bikeways, and greenways for active transportation and healthy recreational options. With the assistance of like-minded volunteers, AL’s persistent efforts, energy and vision have resulted in 17 rail-trails, three developing rail-trail projects, and two initiatives and studies for rail-trails. In addition to his commitment to NCRT, AL spearheaded the NCRT Land Trust, first developed in 1995. In 1999, the NCRT Land Trust entered into North Carolina’s first federal 8(d) railbank agreement with Aberdeen and Rockfish Railroad (Dunn-Erwin Railway) in Harnett County. The Dunn-Erwin (Rail) Trail has become a community connector as an essential source of Harnett County’s health and pride." The award was presented by John Morck, NCRT's current Chair. Click HERE to see pictures of the other awardees.
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Tour de Blueberry--To Benefit West Pender Rail Trail Alliance
On June 19th, the Cape Fear Cyclists will sponsor 21 and 33 mile rides from Burgaw. Proceeds will benefit the West Pender Rail Trail Alliance in their advocacy efforts for establishing a rail-trail that might ultimately connect Wilmington to Fayetteville, much of it on an abandoned rail line. The West Pender group has initiated a request to obtain status as a non-profit organization.
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Spring 2010 Little Toot Available
Our latest newsletter is available HERE. Those who have requested Email delivery should be receiving it soon. Those requesting hard copies should expect their copy by June 1st. Contents include an interesting story of a family's 90 mile cycling vacation on the C & O Canal trail, a profile of our newest Board Member, and updates on a number of rail-trail efforts around the State. Also note we have updated our Trails & Projects section with status updates and some new images. If you would like to receive an Email announcement of the latest newsletter, please click on a link to the Little Toot mailing list.
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Potential Rail-Trail Urged for Belmont
Citizens in Belmont have petitioned the City to create a rail-trail on an unused 1.63 mile section of the P&N railroad. It appears that NCDOT's Rail Division will play a key role in this process since DOT owns this section as part of a 1991 purchase of the idle portion of the P&N Railroad. DOT bought this idle portion to preserve it for future transportation use and currently is completing efforts to allow future rail service from Gastonia to Ranlo. For more on this evolving story please see the article in the Gaston Gazette.
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