Brevard/Transylvania County Ecusta Trail Advisory Board Meeting: March 29, 2023

Federal dollars (Federal Lands Access Program, or FLAP) to pay for engineering design of the ET in Transylvania remain mired in bureaucratic machinations. Transportation Planning and Development (TPD), however, has begun preliminary examination of the trail route and resources. TPD expects to submit a Scope of Work document to NCDOT soon. The LIDAR (light detection and ranging) survey was completed prior to the return of spring leaves. Information from this survey is vital to planning full trail construction.

Chuck McGrady reported that wetland and other required permits for the first section of the Henderson County (HC) trail will hopefully be finished by the end of April. Bidding for construction contracts can start after permit approvals, with completion of the first HC section by January 2024.  A public attendee commented that this timeline for permitting and construction is too optimistic.

Mayor Copelof and Brevard Planning staff attended the most recent meeting of the HC Rail Trail Advisory Committee (RTAC). “Continued collaboration between the two counties will be necessary to keep the trail experience consistent from end to end,” said Copelof. Collaboration will focus on maintenance and operational standards across the trail. She added that Brevard staff will continue attendance at future meetings.  

While the Committee waits for responses on two large grant applications, Copelof outlined planning flexibility. Plan A, both grants approved, will assure sufficient funds for trail completion. Plan B, or one large grant approval, commits enough funding for substantial trail development. Finally, Plan C is to build the trail in sections over time as funding is available. John Ditillo suggested that completing the bridges on the Transylvania side would make the trail usable without paving.

In other reports, Mark Tooley (FOET) notified the Committee that feasibility studies are planned to explore connections between the Ecusta Trail and both Oklawaha and Saluda Grade Trails.  John Ditillo reviewed the extraordinary efforts of Friends of Ecusta Trail volunteers with ongoing fund-raising activities. 

The next meeting of the Advisory Committee is April 26, 2023 at 3:30 PM.