Agenda - 06-23-2004-6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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BOLIN CREEK TRAIL This section of Bolin Creek has the potential of being the most expensive section of trail in Town. The narrow valley, steep slopes, exposed rock, numerous existing bridges, existing sewer line, and other obstacles create a situation Urat will almost guarantee a very high cost per linear foot of traih We believe the trail should be extended upstream from Airport Road to as close to the Carrboro Town line as funds will allow. A first phase could be built to a number of logical ending points depending on the amount of funding ultimately available. These termination points could include: • Umstead Park • Village Drive • Carrboro in the vicinity of Broad Street (this would involve improving a portion of the Tanyard Branch Trail) • Estes Drive Extension • Seawell School Road (this would involve construction of a portion of the Rail Trail) Depending on the phase one termination point the trail would likely cost anywhere from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000, The cost estimate is based on the staff's general previous experience and not on detailed plans. We believe that detailed cost estimates based on actual design could have a high probability of significant deviation from this estimate, Despite the difficulties this section of the trail has the potential of being especially aesthetically pleasing and useful. In the near term it could provide aloes-traffic route for pedestrians and bicyclists traveling to and from Carrboro. Eventually it could be extended to serve the proposed Carolina North campus and neighborhoods in northwest Chapel Hill. Carrboro has plans to extend a trail further along Bolin Creek. The County could also extend the trail from Carrboro into its jurisdiction. MORGAN CREEK TRAIL We are currently in the planning process for this project, A citizen committee met for almost a year and studied options for possible hail locations. They held a public forum in .June 2003. At the conclusion of the public forum the Committee went into recess to wait for updated flood data, We will bring maps to the meeting that will illustrate options for the potential trail that the Committee considered. The section of the Morgan Creek Trail currently being studied would be an extension of the existing Fan Branch Trail and would continue about 1 mile upstream along Morgan Creek to Smith Level Road.. A spur trail would provide access to the Merritt Pasture. We intend to provide parking. The trail would directly link Southern Community Park, Southern Village, Scroggs School, neighborhoods along Culbreth Road, Kingswood Apartments, Frank P. Graham School, and neighborhoods along Smith Level Road.. Carrboro has plans to extend the trail further along Morgan Creek to near University Lake. This future expansion would directly link several large neighborhoods to the trail system, The chief difficulties with this section of trail are related to the meandering nature of the creek and steep slopes. We will soon have access to recently completed FEMA flood information and will be better able to determine locations, number, and sizes of bridges. We believe that at least 4 bridges will be necessary. As many as 6 bridges are possible. We believe that it will take at least $.3,000,000 to build the trail to Frank P. Graham School.. Additional funds will likely be required to continue the trail through the short section of Carrboro's,jurisdiction to the west side of Smith Level Road, Like the Bolin Creek Trail