Minutes 04-14-2026-Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

17 • Reflect Local Character • Advance Access and Equity • Prioritize User Safety • Expand Travel Options • Cultivate Community Wellness, and • Design for Longevity. All of the above work yielded a draft Plan that identifies nine (9) possible trails (three (3) of which have alternative routes): • Trail 1—UNC Campus to University Station (aka the J Branch Rail Trail) • Trail 2 — Chapel Hill to Hillsborough (branching from Trail 1 along NC 86 to Waterstone and the Town of Hillsborough trails system) • Trail 3—Carrboro to Hillsborough (a road route along Old NC 86 to the Town of Hillsborough trail system in Waterstone) • Trail 4— Mountains to Sea Trail (MST/West-Two (2) alternatives connecting from the Alamance County line to Seven Mile Creek Natural Area) • Trail 5—Seven Mile Creek to Riverwalk(via Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area) • Trail 6 — Mebane to Hillsborough (three (3) alternatives different points in Mebane to Panther Branch Natural Area or Hillsborough Riverwalk) • Trail 7—Cedar Grove Park to Kings Highway Park(nature trail via the Eno River to Hillsborough) • Trail 8—Little River Park to Cedar Grove Park(Two (2) alternatives via Northeast Park and Breeze Farm) • Trail 9—Mountains to Sea Trail (MST/East— Eno River State Park to Durham) The draft Plan includes pages that provide a brief overview summary of the potential trail, key connections, length, and possible trail type, community needs addressed, required structures and crossings,and potential construction challenges. (Note—feasibility assessments and cost estimates would be created for each of these trails if approved as a part of the implementation process. The process for creating a prioritization of the trail options is on pages 68-69 of the Plan.) Based on the analysis in the plan, the highest priority trail is Trail 9 — MST via Eno River State Park to Durham,followed by Trail 2—the Chapel Hill to Hillsborough route.The lowest prioritytrail identified is Trail 813—Little River Parkto Cedar Grove Park.(These priorities are subject to future Board and staff discussion and evaluation and are provided as a "first cut" of a priority scheme.) Finally,the Implementation section of the Plan (page 70) looks at the trails and attempts to classify them into three (3) levels of phasing — Near-Term Opportunities, Mid-Term Opportunities and Long-Term Opportunities. The text box on page 73 outlines a possible course of action for the first 12 months of implementation,subject to further discussion. Possible phasing categorization is offered as a starting point for future discussion. The Plan concludes with sections on partnerships,funding potential, and an outline of an implementation plan.