ETAB Discusses Funding, Parking

The status of federal grants, a possible parking location near Pisgah Labs, and a tentative ribbon cutting date for officially opening the Ecusta Trail were all discussed in a brief meeting of the Brevard Ecusta Trail Advisory Board (ETAB) meeting on Wednesday, April 23.

Brevard City Manager Wilson Hooper said that since the last ETAB meeting, there have been numerous incorrect rumors and reports that federal funding for the trail has been frozen or even cancelled.

“The funding is still on, as far as we know, and we are moving forward, full steam ahead, until we hear otherwise,” said Hooper. “Anything you hear contrary to that is not accurate.”

He said the grants are still under review, but they have not been cancelled.

In the summer of 2023, the city of Brevard received two federal grants to be used for the Ecusta Trail.

“The other rumor was that we had taken the money,” said Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof. “Just so people understand, the money doesn’t come to us.”

“It’s all being managed by NCDOT, which we trust, not the city of Brevard,” said ETAB Co-chair Mac Morrow.

The Ecusta Trail project in Transylvania County is being overseen by Lonnie Watkins, whom Morrow referred as “the best project manager.”

Watkins said they have finished the 30 percent design for the Brevard/Transylvania County section of the trail and contracts are projected to be let in June of 2026. 

Copleof asked how that timeline aligns with the timeline for Ecusta West, which will run from Horse Shoe to the Transylvania County line.

Chris Burns, Henderson County’s representative on ETAB, said work on the two sections is closely aligned.

Burns said people are already walking and cycling parts of Ecusta East, the section of trail between downtown Hendersonville and Horse Shoe, even though that section is not officially open.

He said a tentative date of July 18 has been set for the ribbon cutting of Ecusta East. 

He added that the trail “looks good” and traffic lights have been installed where the trail crossed Highway 64 in Horse Shoe.

Burns said holding special, paid events was discussed at the last Rail Trail Advisory Committee (RTAC) meeting. The decision was made by RTAC not to allow any such events until next year.

When asked if there will be one set of rules for events along the entire trail, Burns said that is complicated. He noted that on the six miles of Ecusta East, there are three jurisdictions – Hendersonville, Laurel Park and Henderson County – that have their own rules regarding events. He thinks the initial approach will be for event organizers to apply with the Henderson County’s Parks and Recreation Department, and then proceed to the other jurisdictions for approval. 

He said the process may be tweaked during the first few years as events are held on the trail. He added that the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville only has about a dozen special events a year.

“All of that adds value to the trail,” said Morrow of special events.

Aaron Bland of Brevard’s Planning Department provided an update on a parcel near Pisgah Labs as a possible place for parking adjacent to the trail.

The small area, which was identified as a potential parking area during a feasibility study conducted in 2011, is located about three miles away from another potential parking area along Crab Creek Road. The Pisgah Labs area is relatively flat with little vegetation.

Bland said he perceives the area as just a parking area with some information signage.

Watkins said they are not looking to acquire any property, but just want permission to have further discussions with Pisgah Labs about the property.

“That is the next step,” said Watkins.

Hooper said they have discussed the potential parking area with Pisgah Labs, but they probably need “a little stronger commitment” from the business.

Bland said if the ETAB acts now, “We can roll this into the project area and use the federal funds.”

Bland said ETAB needed to decide if it wants to investigate the property as a potential parking area.

The board then unanimously approved a motion to move forward with investigating the possibility of putting a parking area adjacent to Pisgah Labs after receiving “buy in” from Pisgah Labs.

The board also unanimously approved rules and etiquette for the Transylvania County section of the Ecusta Trail. The rules, according to Burns, are “essentially” the same as those in Henderson County. 

In a related matter, Hooper said city staff has been discussing how R-5800 (NCDOT project to upgrade the Asheville Highway in Brevard), proposed work along the Asheville Highway, would impact the Estatoe Trail and its connection to the Ecusta Trail. Since the Ecusta Trail proper will end near Oskar Blues, the connection to the Estatoe Trail will allow the trail connection to end at Brevard’s Main Street, thus offering a trail from Main Street Hendersonville to Main Street Brevard.

Hooper said the city has been discussing the “in-town trail extension” with NCDOT and McAdams, the engineering firm that is doing the design work for the Ecusta Trail.