[Greenway-board] Re: Pipeline down existing American Tobacco
Trail
Bill Flournoy
Bill.Flournoy at ncmail.net
Tue Jun 7 13:29:02 EDT 2005
Bill & Don --- knowing nothing more than what is in these emails, this
is my knee-jerk reactions. (1) Ecologically the ATT corridor has pretty
much healed itself. The tree canopy has almost closed over the
proposed/existing trail. Any additional clearing along the ROW is a
damaging step backward because it recreates edges that allow/entice
non-core habitat species to invade the area. This fragmentation of the
habitat causes competition among species that drives out animals and
plants that are already in decline because of loss of the home range
they require to survive. (2) Shade is very important in this climate for
a positive trail user experience. Thus, any new clearing should be
minimized and directed to the northern side of the trail corridor. Where
this is not possible, clearing should be directed to the east before the
west, to accommodate early morning drying and afternoon cooling. This
will leave shade trees on the south and west sides of the trail intact;
and although it is made more complex by the ATT's general N-S
orientation, it should not be dismissed. (3) Trail reconstruction and
repair after maintenance access are critical issues for the duration of
joint use of the ROW. A pipeline contractor cannot be expected to do a
good trail reconstruction job, regardless of the specifications. They
are not in the trail construction business, they may not have the
specific equipment required, they may not have the temperament for that
level of detail, they may not appreciate the sophistication and
subtleties of good trail construction, etc. Remember, it is not the
company's principles who do the work on site, and it is those skilled
and unskilled workers who must have the experience, understanding, and
caring attitude to do the job well. The finished product must look and
last like nothing they have ever done on a pipeline project before. (4)
This is already a multiple use corridor: trail and possible future
commuter rail. The introduction of a third use, sewer utility, further
complicates the design and character of the corridor. A second use
should not be introduced until a design for all three uses is completed
and approved by all stakeholders. Otherwise, there is a chance for an
odd-man-out as a result of physical constraints within the narrow
corridor, or unreasonable construction costs for the last one in to
accommodate the earlier uses. There are also corridor character issues,
with a trail demanding the highest or most natural standards because of
its public use, and utilities having almost no appearance standard at
all. Reaching agreement on an acceptable character for this multiple use
corridor may be challenging. (5) There may also be Big-Picture
implications or opportunities in the proposal. A connection between the
ATT and Shearon Harris buffer lands has been talked about for years.
Likewise, a connection between Jordan Lake and Harris Lake. The southern
force main and WRF will virtually make that initial connection. So the
first question is whether the ROW will be secured in fee simple or by
easement allowing public access for a trail, and that may be determined
by whether the Western Wake Partnership is willing to go along in order
to get along. The second question may be whether the TGC would then try
to enhance the corridor by conserving adjoining lands.
Bill Bussey wrote:
> Hi Don,
>
> It isn't the plant that we'll be concerned about.
>
> It is the fact, they will be tearing up the current ATT in Wake
> County, removing a lot of trees, ballast, compacted trail and railbed
> in the process. It would completely alter the shady nature of the ATT
> for many years to come. It would also ruin the years compacted surface
> and subsurface of the trail which would necessitate the need for more
> maintenance and upkeep.
>
> I'd like to see the plans of how the builders of this pipeline will
> restore the trail. There would need to be assurances with actual
> planning and construction documents that the trail would be restored
> to as good or better shape than it is now. I'd sure like to see as
> many trees that are removed, restored. However, even then, they would
> not grow back to the nice canopy that currently exists, for many
> years, if ever.
>
> TRTC's and TGC's boards may not feel this way. We've just started
> talking about it. But I think the concern is there.
>
> Also, whoever did the westernwakepartners website used the ATT Indian
> Head logo without our permission. This logo is copyrighted and the
> service mark has been filed and applied for. I'm checking with our
> attorney on this. I'm not sure if Kim Fisher did this or not. While
> use of the logo makes no question that the ATT is used for this
> project - and that may be a good thing to eliminate any questions - I
> think the TRTC Board would be concerned whether use of the logo would
> indicate we support this project, when we may or may not.
>
> And Kim Fisher has the dubious honor as being the only governmental
> staffer to openly oppose the American Tobacco Trail in general when it
> was being planned in Wake back in 1999. He wouldn't allow a parking
> area on the edge of the plant, even though there was a separate and
> secure entrance and parking area adjacent to the plant next to the
> trail. It is there right now unused by anyone. From my contact with
> him then, in my opinion he exhibited a lack of professionalism then
> about the ATT, as well as with advocates, and even staff efforts to
> plan it. I question his motives for assuming that the ATT can be used
> for this pipeline, without first talking with the owners of the
> corridor south of US 64. From what I understand, Steve Head of the
> NCDOT Rail Division had not been contacted until I sent this email to
> all of you.
>
> In any event, there are a lot of questions we have about this. It is
> *not *the same thing as the existing Cary pumping and filtering plant
> on Wimberly Road. However, the stretch of ATT between US 64 and the
> Wimberly Road plant is cleared of all overhanging canopy, adjacent
> trees and vegetation, and is of a completely different character than
> the rest of the ATT in Wake, Chatham and southern Durham.
>
> I completely understand that the American Tobacco Trail corridor is
> meant to be used for the public good and for infrastructure needs.
> This wastewater treatment plant is an example of this. It is needed to
> accommodate a growing population. However, we as trail advocates, or
> myself as a trail advocate, needs to make sure that the trail is
> protected, maintained and restored in any such projects.
>
> Again, while I'm unsure what position TRTC's and TGC's Boards will
> have on this, I personally am very concerned about a pipeline built
> down the ATT.
>
> Happy Trails,
>
> Bill Bussey
> 919 545-9104
>
> Don.Belk at TownofCary.org <mailto:Don.Belk at TownofCary.org> wrote:
>
>>Good info, Bill. I would imagine in terms of visual/aesthetic impact, it
>>would be no worse that of the existing Cary water treatment plan on
>>Wimberly Road....
>>
>>Donald R. Belk, AICP
>>Senior Planner, Long Range Planning Division
>>Planning Department
>>Town of Cary, North Carolina
>>P.O. Box 8005, Cary, NC 27512-8005
>>(919) 469-4084 (voice)
>> (919) 388-1103 (fax)
>>don.belk at townofcary.org <mailto:don.belk at townofcary.org>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Bill Bussey
>> <billbus at gte.net> <mailto:billbus at gte.net>
>> To
>> 06/06/2005 09:39 Steve Head
>> AM <wshead at dot.state.nc.us> <mailto:wshead at dot.state.nc.us>, Tony D'
>> Amico <Tony.D'Amico at co.wake.nc.us> <mailto:Tony.D%27Amico at co.wake.nc.us>,
>> Tim Lisk <tlisk at co.wake.nc.us> <mailto:tlisk at co.wake.nc.us>,
>> Doug McRainey
>> <Doug.McRainey at TownofCary.org> <mailto:Doug.McRainey at TownofCary.org>,
>> Don.Belk at TownofCary.org <mailto:Don.Belk at TownofCary.org>, Joe
>> Godfrey
>> <Joe.Godfrey at TownofCary.org> <mailto:Joe.Godfrey at TownofCary.org>,
>> tnorman at dot.state.nc.us <mailto:tnorman at dot.state.nc.us>, Michael
>> Hosey
>> <Michael.L.Hosey.II at saw02.usace.arm
>> y.mil> <mailto:Michael.L.Hosey.II at saw02.usace.army.mil>, Tracy Burnett
>> <tracy.burnett at ncmail.net> <mailto:tracy.burnett at ncmail.net>
>> cc
>>
>> Subject
>> Pipeline down existing American
>> Tobacco Trail
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Hi ATT Management Team,
>>
>>I emailed several of you earlier this weekend to find out more
>>information on how the proposed Cary-Apex Wastewater treatment plant
>>that is being considered for New Hill would affect the currently
>>completed American Tobacco Trail.
>>
>>FYI, we found the following link: http://westernwakepartners.org/ which
>>describes this project in great detail.
>>
>>Steve, as the American Tobacco Trail corridor owner, were and NCDOT
>>Rails Division aware of this project and how it will affect the ATT?
>>
>>The Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is discussing on how we will
>>deal with this development. We'd welcome any comments, thoughts, or
>>questions from any in this message as well.
>>
>>Happy Trails,
>>
>>Bill Bussey
>>President
>>Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
>>919 545-9104
>>www.triangletrails.org <http://www.triangletrails.org>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>_______________________________________________
>Greenway-board mailing list
>Greenway-board at rtpnet.org
>http://rtpnet.org/mailman/listinfo/greenway-board
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://rtpnet.org/pipermail/greenway-board/attachments/20050607/a2bb6142/attachment.htm
More information about the Greenway-board
mailing list