Agenda - 06-02-20; 8-e - Resolution of Support – Triangle Trails Initiative

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1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: June 2, 2020 Action Agenda Item No. 8-e SUBJECT: Resolution of Support — Triangle Trails Initiative DEPARTMENT: BOCC ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Proposed Resolution Vice Chair Renee Price, 919-245-2130 Triangle Trails information Commissioner Mark Marcoplos, 919- 245-2130 PURPOSE: To adopt a resolution of support for the Triangle Trails Initiative, a new effort to plan for linked trails within the Triangle region coordinated by the East Coast Greenway Alliance, through a grant from the AJ Fletcher Foundation. BACKGROUND: In 2019, interested parties came together to form an effort to look at trail systems in the Triangle region and how they might be more inter-connected, From this, the Triangle Trails Initiative (TTI) was created and a planning effort identified, working under the auspices of the East Coast Greenway Alliance and a grant from the AJ Fletcher Foundation. The Initiative recommends linking trails and greenways together across a multi-county regional landscape, gaining cooperation of public and private sector interests that encourage collaboration, and creating a network that will eventually provide transportation, exercise, leisure, safety, accessibility, recreation, community and economic benefits for the region. The group's mission states that "Triangle Trails is a collaboration between government, business, institutions and civic leaders to make the Research Triangle Region a national leader in greenways and trails." To date, an advisory board has been formed, which includes BOCC Vice-Chair Renee Price as a member, and the group has completed Part 1 of Funding Strategy (matching funds for the AJ Fletcher Grant), and drafts of a work program and position description for a Program Manager have been prepared. A draft work program for the counties within the TTI has also been created. The group has reached out to the existing Triangle Greenways Council (Triangle J Council of Governments) about merging efforts. A resolution in support of this effort has been created and approved by several counties in the last few months, including Durham County, Johnston County, Harnett County, Vance County and Warren County. A similar draft resolution for the Board's consideration is attached.