[Durham INC] Fwd: Greenway and Trail Supporters Needed, City Council Meeting, Monday June 1

[Melissa Rooney]

> 
> Hi neighbors. Please see below.

> The greenways and trailways in Durham are a unique and inviting aspect for visitors and newcomers (not to mention all of us who live here and use them).
> Preservation and expansion of Durham's greenways and trails benefits the quality of life as well as home value of every Durham resident (whether city or county).

> It also benefits the sincere community that Durham is becoming known for, as people from all backgrounds cross paths when they utilize these public access areas.

> If you or someone you know appreciates these trails, please consider at least emailing City Council to tell them so.
> 
> Thanks!
> Melissa (Rooney)
> 
> 
>> Begin forwarded message:
>> 
>> Date: May 28, 2015 at 11:25:18 AM EDT
>> Subject: [WHHNA-list] Greenway and Trail Supporters Needed, City Council Meeting, Monday June 1
>> From: Larry Brockman <brockman.larry at gmail.com <mailto:brockman.larry at gmail.com>>
>> To: Listserv WHHNA <whhna-list at whhna.org <mailto:whhna-list at whhna.org>>, ECWA list <ECWA_List at yahoogroups.com <mailto:ECWA_List at yahoogroups.com>>
>> 
>> Greenway and Trail Supporters,
>>  
>> Next Monday (June 1 -- 7:00 PM) the City Council will have their annual budget public hearing in the Council Chamber on the first floor of City Hall.  We need to get as many trail advocates (walkers, runners, cyclists, commuters, dog walkers) as possible to attend so we can continue to demonstrate to the Council the importance of greenways to our community.  We also want to communicate our appreciation of their support for extending the West Ellerbe Creek Trail, see below for a recent e-mail from Steve Cohn (long time trail advocate) related to this good news! 
>>  
>> Although, the W. Ellerbe Creek Trail is ready to move forward, there are other trails, that I believe all of us would love to see happen, but won't unless "we the people" make it clear to the City Council that they need to invest in trails.  A couple other trails for example are:
>>  
>> The Warren Creek Trail Extension (Upper Warren Creek Trail).  This trail would let people safely walk, run and ride all the way out to West Point on the Eno via designated greenways/trails, which is now safely accessible only by car.
>> 
>> The North Ellerbee Creek Trail. This natural service trail (i.e., not paved) would allow people to walk, run or hike from downtown Durham out to the Mountains To Sea Trail and Falls Lake, mostly following Ellerbe Creek and passing through the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association's 82 acre Glennstone Nature Preserve. Almost all of the land that is needed to make this trail a reality is already publicly owned. We need the City to commit staff resources to identify route options, potential obstacles and solutions and eventually funds to making this trail happen. 
>> 
>> To speak at the public hear, you should arrive before 7pm and sign up with the City Clerk to indicate your interest in speaking.
>> 
>> I hope you can join us at City Hall on Monday, June 1.  If you have any questions or comments feel free to contact me or John Goebel, Chair, Durham Open Space and Trail Commission, (john.a.goebel at gmail.com <http://gmail.com/>).
>> 
>> Larry
>> 
>> XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
>> 
>> Email from Steve Cohn regarding W. Ellerbe Creek Trail Extension
>> 
>> The last significant obstacle has now been overcome (woohoo!), and the City is taking final steps towards a beginning of construction in February 2016 on extension of the West Ellerbee Creek Trail across Guess Road, along the creek past North Pointe, and all the way to Broad Street near its intersection with Stadium Drive. As we will all be able to see pretty soon, this trail will go along a very pretty stretch of the creek, and it will connect the present short but much-loved West Ellerbee Creek Trail to the whole City trail network http://www.bikewalkdurham.org/dost/DOST_Maps/EllerbeeCreek.pdf <http://www.bikewalkdurham.org/dost/DOST_Maps/EllerbeeCreek.pdf>.
>>  
>> Easements for the three problematic properties are now being approved by the land owners and by City Council, with all prices agreed upon. Plans for two sections of the trail are approved, and the third section is currently in review at the City Planning Department, with all issues seemingly resolved. Once approved by the City, the plans will go to NCDOT for their review. The City has now been cleared to prepare the Municipal Agreement, the final key step before NCDOT releases the federal CMAQ funds that will pay the majority of the project’s costs.
>>  
>> Assuming all goes smoothly on these final steps, the City staff expects to give the green light for the actual start of construction in February 2016, with the project slated to be completed in February 2017. Jessica Kemp is the construction project manager for the City. Sounds like she is excited to have this project finally ready to roll. So am I!
>>  
>> Lots of people—far too many to name—did lots of things over the course of many years to keep this project moving forward on its long path from idea to reality. But in recent years none have been more important than Steve Schewel, whose steady and persistent enthusiasm for the project made a big difference in keeping it high on the City’s agenda.
>>  
>> Hurrah!
>> 
>>                                 Steve Cohn
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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