Orange County NC Website
5 <br />The Newly Proposed Trail on Twin Creeks Property <br />A trail on the Twin Creeks property to connect from the property's southern <br />terminus to Morris Grove Elementary within the sewer easement would span <br />approximately 3350 feet (or 2/3 mile). A trail that conformed to the Twin Creeks <br />master plan "redline" trail would run west of the Jones Creek sewer easement on <br />the southern potion of the site and then east of the easement as it nears the <br />school. A small portion of the middle of the two trails are in the same location, but <br />most of the "redline" trail would be outside of the sewer easement. The total <br />distance of the two trails is nearly identical. The attached map shows these _ <br />different trail concepts. <br />There appear to be two basic options for construction of such a trail either as <br />requested by the schools and/or proposed by Commissioner Gordon (pending <br />Town of Carrboro review and agreement). <br />1. Option 1 - An interim natural surface or aggregate trail that could provide <br />for bike and stroller traffic until a more permanent trail is constructed. <br />2. Option 2 - A permanent 10-foot greenway trail, probably paved. <br />It should be noted that both trails will require a pedestrian bridge crossing over <br />Jones Creek. A permanent structure would likely be a substantial bridge, <br />potentially in terms of both span and thus cost. The Town's greenways plan <br />envisions a greenway trail to serve both transportation purposes as well as <br />leisure use, and discussions will be needed with the Town as to whether an <br />interim bridge is acceptable. Town ordinances (and FEMA regulations for stream <br />crossings) may preclude the possibility of an interim, less-costly bridge -more <br />information on this possibility will be provided as it becomes available. The long- <br />term vision in the Town's plan for this trail is one that requires grading, paving, <br />subsurface base and other work. This, plus the bridge, will make the permanent <br />version (Option 2) a more costly measure -although the trail surface selection <br />will affect the degree of that cost. <br />It is possible that Option 1 could be at least partially constructed by staff and <br />volunteers (with coordination and oversight), with perhaps an Eagle Scout or <br />community project for the bridge - if this is permissable. Even a rough estimate of <br />the cost for this option is difficult to determine, pending clarification from the <br />Town of Carrboro on the standards and grading that would be required (and <br />whether other federal floodplain certifications may be needed for the bridge). The <br />cost will greatly hinge on what type of bridge and associated grading is required, <br />if this version would be permitted in the sewer easement and stream buffer at all. <br />Option 2 would require construction by a professional firm, grading and <br />subsurface work and edging along the trail, and a more permanent bridge. If the <br />surface is a paved trail, this type of trail on the Twin Creeks site would cost an <br />