Dear American Tobacco Trail Supporter:

Season’s Greetings from the Board of the Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (TRTC)!

Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Accomplishments and News in 2005

This has been a very busy year for the Conservancy. Your contributions, time and efforts have made possible the following major 2005 developments, news and activities:

• $1.6 Million granted to the American Tobacco Trail (ATT) in the Federal Transportation Bill- TRTC played a significant role in advocating for these funds This earmark from Congress will go a long way towards finishing the remaining gaps in the trail!
• ATT grows in Wake County - A 1.3 mile section north of Wimberly Road, as well as a wonderful new trailhead on White Oak Church Road, officially opened on National Trails Day in June.
• New trailhead in southern Durham County - With the help of a state grant, TRTC has nearly completed a new trailhead parking area on Fayetteville Road, south of Southpoint Mall. This will be an important access point for the ATT south of I-40.
• Allocation of funds to purchase the Timberlake and Beltline corridors in Durham County- Though Norfolk Southern withdrew its offer to sell the Timberlake corridor, TRTC and citizens successfully lobbied local governments to set aside funds to eventually purchase one or both corridors. Federal grants were also set aside for the purchase.
• Continued maintenance and development of 6.5+ miles of the ATT - Because of TRTC volunteer work, leadership and management, almost 7 miles of ATT are NOW OPEN for walkers, runners and bicyclists in southern Durham and Chatham counties. Partnering with REI, Bronto Software, the National Charity League, the Volunteer Center of Durham and others, TRTC organized & led several workdays on the Durham and Chatham sections, continued to clear fallen trees and debris from the trail and installed new signage. TRTC also participated in multi-jurisdictional management team meetings with Wake, Chatham, & Durham counties, Cary, as well as the NCDOT Bike-Pedestrian and Rail Divisions, the US Army Corps of Engineers & NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
• Western Wake Partners - This group proposes using a significant section of the ATT corridor in Wake Co. for insertion of a sewer line. TRTC voiced opposition against this proposal, as it would disrupt the trail surface and involve widespread clearing of trees. The NCDOT Rail Division and other trail owners & managers agreed with TRTC and have formally expressed their opposition to running a sewer line down the ATT.
• Promotion of local rail-trails - TRTC shared information about the trails at eight festivals and made presentations to eight organizations. Partnered with several organizations, some listed above, to help build ATT. See our website for more info on TRTC contributors.

Believe it or not, next year could prove to be even more momentous (and busy!) for local rail-trails and the Conservancy. Here are our main goals for 2006:

Goals for 2006

• Completion of the ATT - TRTC will continue to strongly advocate for the completion of the trail in Durham, Chatham and Wake Counties and remain a vital partner in the planning process.
• Complete the Final Mile in Chatham - TRTC will finish clearing, make safe, open and partner in managing the final mile of the trail in Chatham County south to Wake County. When we do this, Wake Parks has agreed to complete their portion of the trail to a managed natural surface trail in Chatham, thus opening almost 9 miles of continuous trail!
• Completion of the Fayetteville Road trailhead - TRTC plans to open this trailhead parking area to the public and transfer it to city management by June.
• Purchase of the Beltline and Timberlake rail corridors - TRTC will continue to advocate for continued negotiations with Norfolk Southern Railroad.
• Finalize and publish the ATT map - The planned four-panel map will provide detail on the whole trail (and some connecting greenways).
• Maintenance of the trail - We will continue to hold workdays in Durham and Chatham counties to improve, maintain and manage the trail. TRTC will also continue to pursue transfer to city management on the southern Durham portion.
• Western Wake Partners - TRTC will continue to advocate for maintaining the integrity of the trail corridor.
• Trail facilities, trail safety - We will promote and find funds for more bike racks, information kiosks, trail-use counters, benches and trail connections. As with this year, we will promote more police presence on the trail and safe trail use amongst users.

Hardly any of the American Tobacco Trail would be open today if weren't for the support of our members and volunteers. Thanks to you, about 90% of the planned 22 miles of ATT is NOW OPEN! TRTC is the only organization -either governmental or non governmental - that advocates for and supports the entire American Tobacco Trail and all of its user groups.

Your TRTC membership and contributions helped us to buy & maintain tools for work days, send out mailings, maintain our trail work insurance, match grants, participate in festivals, give away trail maps, buy signs, and much more. Your volunteer labor and contributions have opened and maintained significant portions of the trail – years ahead of when municipalities could do it – as well as cleared trailheads, promoted the trail and also matched grants.

Your contribution, membership, help and labor are needed now because we all need to keep working to open the ATT as soon as possible. If you haven't already started or renewed your annual membership, or sent in a contribution, please do so now. (See Below)

If you are interested in working on the trail, please check our Volunteers Page for a schedule of workdays. Details about our monthly board meeting – always open to members and the public – and more info that you could possibly want to know about the American Tobacco Trail, are also available on the site.

When we ride our bikes on the ATT, we feel pride to have had even a small part to play in helping it along. You too have played a part in completing, maintaining and promoting the trail, which – even before completion – is recognized as one of the best multi-use trails in the country! Please continue to support, use and demand local officials to complete the ATT, connecting greenways and future rail-trails in the Triangle.

Sincerely,

Dan Clever  dclever1@nc.rr.com
Treasurer

Bill Bussey  americantobaccotrail@earthlink.net
President

If you would like to Join/Renew/Contribute to the TRIANGLE RAILS-TO-TRAILS CONSERVANCY and Help Build the American Tobacco Trail, please go to our Membership Page. The Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is a non-profit, tax exempt organization as qualified under Section 501 (c)(3) of the IRS Code. Contributions are deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Questions? Contact Bill Bussey at 919 545-9104 or via EMail at  americantobaccotrail@earthlink.net

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