Chair Chris Burns called the meeting to order and welcomed new RTAC member Patrick Kennedy.

During the opening public comment, Austin and Andrea Bankert, owners of Cognative Brew House in Horseshoe, asked if there are any plans for pedestrian traffic at the intersection of Highway 64 and South Rugby Road. Specifically, they wondered about crosswalks and sidewalks to accommodate bikers from the Ecusta Trail, as well as pedestrians to their business and other businesses in the area, and if the speed limit could be lowered.

Henderson County Planning Director, Autumn Radcliff said they are looking into a couple of new grant options with the NCDOT. At some point it will become beneficial for business owners to write letters in support of the grants. Henderson County engineer Marcus Jones added that he also is waiting on a proposal for a 30% design, so things will be ready to move forward once funds are obtained. As far as speed reduction, the recommendation was to petition the DOT directly.

Mark Tooley, president of the Friends of the Ecusta Trail, reported that the review of the website for the organization is underway and will be completed this summer.

Jones reported that Phase 1 construction is on schedule for December completion, with the drainage being the current focus as it was last month. The contractor, NHM, is installing cross-drainage pipes, abutments for bridges and re-grading ditches. In some cases where the position of the trail makes it impossible to grade, they are installing buried pipe for drainage. Also, the contractor has run into “bad soil” where density of the soil negates drainage, so it is being removed and replaced.

Jones also mentioned that it now looks likely the two remaining sections of the trail may be contracted at the same time, providing cost savings, with a tentative timeline of 3-4 years to completion.

Amenities are being included in the Ecusta Trail West section plan, while they had been pulled out of the Ecusta Trail East section plan due to grant requirement wording. However, funding is now available to cover East section amenities, and he is working on advancing from the 30% to 100% design for those to catch up in time for construction.

Brevard’s council was participating online, and Mayor Maureen Copelof reported that the Brevard trail portion’s 30% design should be completed. Having received a $1 million funding commitment, they can move directly to the 90% design. She jested that perhaps Henderson can get caught up. 

Brent Detwiler of the Hendersonville Director Public Services Department gave a detailed explanation of the final plan for the bike traffic to transit from the Kanuga trailhead into downtown Hendersonville. There will be two 5-foot-wide bike paths, one for each direction along the south end straight road portion of Main Street that are located generally between parked car areas and the sidewalk in the downtown area to Allen Street. Dedicated crosswalk signals will aid pedestrians and bikers to navigate the area, and a bike corral of some sort is planned for the area in front of the Visitors Center. Paving work will begin around Memorial Day, followed by striping. Some placement of the more permanent bollards might be delayed until after the Apple Festival due to logistical concerns for the event. Striping bids are still being solicited, and if there continues to be some difficulty in that regard, then some of the striping may need to be done with the city’s own crews.

Chris Burns asked if there would be any signage to get people down 4th Street to the Oklawaha Trail. Radcliff said she is working with the business partners group to map a safe route to do so. Detwiler added that the “Above the Mud” project is working on a public survey that has gone out to Friends of the Ecusta and others for input on that connection, along with connecting to 7th Ave.

Ken Shelton summarized the positive presentation made by Swamp Rabbit Trail partners to the Ecusta Trail Partners meeting, especially about the multiple ways they collaborate to solve problems such as parking. He suggested that at each of the RTAC meetings there be a discussion of updates with partners and naming opportunities.

Radcliff agreed that whenever there was something new with the partners that it would be mentioned, but perhaps not at every meeting. Jones said it is better to wait until amenity contracts have been let to see what will be in place first before specific naming opportunities are offered.

The end of meeting public comment period yielded a question from Tooley on whether or not a policy would be issued regarding pedal assisted e-bikes. The consensus from multiple persons was to maintain a reliance on etiquette education versus policy until there is an apparent reason to do differently.

Selena Einwechter, RTAC vice chair, asked if the park rules (under which Ecusta will fall) are published regarding such concerns. Several persons indicated that some guidelines are being worked on, with Tooley adding that Friends of the Ecusta Trail is also planning some published guidelines. 

To learn more about the South Main Street Bike and Pedestrian Improvements please click here.

To see detail pictures of the South Main Street Bike and Pedestrian Improvements please click here.

By Cindy Rusak