[Greenway-board] Re: Western Wake Wastewater Management Facilities

[Bill Bussey]

Hi Kim,

Thank you for your quick and thoughtful response on this. I have 
forwarded this message to the Boards of both the Triangle 
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the Triangle Greenways Council, as they 
have been sent information on this project by myself and others.

Glad to hear that Cary would think highly of returning the trail to a 
condition better than before. I think both of our boards realize that 
this corridor should be used, and will be used as a public resource. We 
appreciate all of what Cary has done, and will do to help make the 
American Tobacco Trail a reality and success.

I'm also glad that you have contacted with Steve Head of NCDOT Rail 
Division. In the past, he has not been contacted about development 
issues concerning the ATT, until myself or other trail advocates or 
managers was able to inform him.

While I can't speak for our two Boards, I'm personally not concerned 
about the wastewater plant by itself as one of our TRTC members has some 
property next to a similar wastewater treatment plant down in southern 
NC and has said they do make good neighbors. 

However, I think there will be concerns about what it will do to the 
American Tobacco Trail. On the stretch of ATT that Cary owns north of US 
64 to the Wimberly Road Pump and Filter Plant, the trail overhanging and 
adjacent canopy was cleared in a manner to make for a distinctly 
different trail. It is the most open and unshaded portion of the entire 
ATT. The pipeline there DID in fact change the character of the ATT in 
that area.

I realize this pipeline was built a year or so prior to the start of 
construction of the ATT in this area. However, because the remaining 
ballast and many feet of the years of compacted surface was removed in 
the course of pipeline construction, the construction of the ATT was 
made much more difficult than on other sections. I think they had to go 
back after the initial placement of compacted granite screenings and put 
another layer of ballast sized rock on this section in order to 
stabilize the surface. This section still has some maintenance concerns 
to this day.

Another 1/2 mile-long sewer line that was built from Massey Chapel Road 
to an area behind a development in Durham, was similarly affected, 
though perhaps not to the extent as the trail from US 64 north to 
Wimberly Road. Again, most shade from an overhead canopy of trees, and 
trees located further back from the trail than other areas were removed.

The surface was covered in ABC stone, instead of an initial application 
of larger ballast and then on the very top compacted screenings or 
similar surface. The ABC stone, (crusher run) makes for a rougher 
surface for bicyclists and walkers alike. And there have been major 
erosion problems on this section,which have not been subsequently 
addressed by the contractor or the City of Durham. As the organization 
responsible for trail maintenance and management in this area, TRTC is 
having to address both of these issues.

Though because of the existing compacted granite screenings surfaced 
trail this exact situation would not be the case on the ATT in Wake. 
However, it does let you know what we have experienced based on 
pipelines running down the trail.

Again, this makes the trail in these areas a completely different 
experience compared with, say the trail immediately south of US 64, or 
north of the Wimberly Road Pump and Filter plant.

While my fellow TRTC and TGC Board members may wish that I not mention 
these concerns and perhaps "play our hand" to you at this time, I want 
to make sure you and other staff know some of concerns that have been 
addressed by our members and of some of the trails and greenways 
community. I feel we are in the information gathering mode here at this 
time, so want to get as many facts as we can.

Can you possibly tell us what specific plans you would have to restore 
the American Tobacco Trail to similar or better than it was before the 
pipeline is constructed. If you can't, we sure hope you will consider 
some specific plans because this issue will no doubt come up in future 
correspondence and meetings.

Also, I noted that the American Tobacco Trail Indian Head logo was used 
without our permission on the maps of the westernwakepartners site. This 
logo is copyrighted and TRTC has filed for service mark status on it. 
While use of the logo identifies clearly that the ATT will be used for 
part of the project, thus giving the maps a sense of place, I do wish 
you had asked our permission, or asked if permission was needed, for use 
of this logo.

I'm contacting our filing attorney to see what we should do here. This 
is not something that you and the Southwest Partners should necessarily 
be concerned about. We just wish that you had inquired about permission 
to use this logo before you used it.

Again, thank you for your thoughtful response. I'm sure that several of 
us will be at the public meeting scheduled for June 14. We look forward 
to getting as much information on the project as we can

Please feel free contact me/us  anytime if you have any questions or 
comments.

Happy Trails,

Bill Bussey
Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
www.triangletrails.org
Triangle Greenways Council
www.trianglegreenways.org
919 545-9104


Kim.Fisher at TownofCary.org wrote:

>Hi Bill -
>
>Doug McRainey forwarded me a copy of your email to Tony D'Amico at Wake
>County and Steve Head at NC DOT.  I appreciate your looking our web site on
>this project.  The Western Wake Partners are hoping that the web site will
>give people the information they need about the project; so we would
>appreciate any comments you have.
>
>Wake County has been one of the Western Wake Partners since the beginning.
>Phil Stout has been the County's rep to all of our activities and has been
>a very regular attendee at all project meetings.
>
>When the consultants for the Western Wake Partners first conceived of the
>potential use of the American Tobacco Trail for a pipeline corridor, they
>worked with Phil and, through him, others at Wake County.  The consultants
>also contacted Steve Head at NC DOT (telephone conversation on April 22,
>2005 and follow-up letter) and let him know about this idea.
>
>So, none of this information should be a surprise to anyone in Wake County
>or DOT, unless there have been changes in personnel and the original
>contacts have left since the Partners started the project in 2002.
>
>Since Cary is a principal land contributor to the current ATT [Cary owns
>over 1 mile of the current trail length and agreed to let Wake County use
>it for trail purposes], I should think that it goes without saying that
>Cary is deeply interested in making sure that any future pipeline work
>within the ATT area, returns that area to a condition better that it was
>before any work started.  This is an upside to using the corridor for a
>pipeline route.
>
>There will be an open house type public information meeting on this project
>at the Apex Fire Station #2 in New  Hill [exit US Hwy 1 at Exit 89; turn
>right at the top of the ramp; the fire station is on your right about ¼
>mile towards the New HIll crossroads] on Tuesday, June 14, from 4:00PM -
>8:00PM, so that folks can drop by when it is convenient with them.  There
>will be several different "station" tables, which will each address a
>different, broad topical area about the project.  I invite you to attend so
>we can answer any questions you have, or give me a call any time.
>
>Best Regards
>
>Robert K. (Kim) Fisher, P.E.
>Director of Public Works and Utilities
>Town of Cary
>P. O. Box 8005
>Cary, North Carolina 27512-8005
>Phone:   (919) 469-4092
>FAX:       (919) 469-4304
>E Mail:  kim.fisher at townofcary.org
>
>E mail sent to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina
>Public Records Law and may be disclosed  to third parties.
>
>
>
>  
>