MEMORANDUM

TO:	Mayor and Town Council
FROM:	Greenways Commission Glenn Parks, Chair
SUBJECT:	Bolin Creek Trail (Phase 3) Concept Plan
DATE:	January 24, 2007

The Commission recognizes the difficult nature of the greenway trail included in the study, due to its many physical, regulatory, and ownership constraints. However, the Commission notes that the development of this segment of the trail is vital if the overall vision of building an integrated transportation and recreation trail that serves the entire Town is to be realized. Phase 3 of the Bolin Creek Trail would allow the Town of Carrboro, Carolina North, Umstead Park, and many residential neighborhoods to be tied directly into the existing Bolin Creek Trail.

The Commission voted unanimously (4-0) to recommend that the Council adopt the recommended concept plan with the following changes:

• That both options west of Estes Drive Extension be retained until such time as both Chapel Hill and the Town of Carrboro has had time to fully consider the issue and provide specific recommendations. We believe that there is no need to settle for a single option in that area at this time.
• That the Town explore an additional option that would extend a trail segment along Estes Drive Extension to Carolina North. This trail could provide a more direct route to Carolina North and could possibly serve as a more efficient transportation link in the trail system.
• The Commission considered the two options available for the crossing of Umstead Drive near Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and recognized that both options have benefits and costs. The Commission recommends that initially the trail should be designed to accommodate an at-grade crossing of Umstead Drive with sufficient traffic calming measures to ensure pedestrian safety. However, the Commission also recommends that the bridge and trail be designed so that the option to later build a below-grade crossing would be preserved.

Commission members voting were: Glenn Parks (Chair), Jim Earnhardt, Mary Ann Freedman, and Reed Huegerich

Absent:   Bill Bracey (Vice Chair), Mary Blake, and Gary Galloway   A quorum was present.