[Greenway-board] Re: Western Wake Wastewater Management
Facilities
Bill Bussey
billbuss at earthlink.net
Tue Jun 7 20:34:59 EDT 2005
Hi Kim,
Bill Flournoy of the Triangle Greenways Council sent the following
comments early on Tuesday morning before you sent earlier and this
message to me. We hope you all will consider in your plans as well.
Thank you for your consideration.
Happy Trails,
Bill Bussey
919 545-9104
Bill Flournoy wrote on 6/7/05:
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.
Kim.Fisher at townofcary.org wrote:
>Thanks for your great comments about the impact that the Cary-Apex raw
>water pipelines had on the trail's tree canopy and on the details of
>construction. I will be sending this information to our consultants for
>their records and will be keeping a "hard copy" of your comments in our
>project file to make sure that this information is not "lost" between now
>and actual design of the pipelines.
>
>
>
>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.
>
>
>
> Bill Bussey
> <billbus at gte.net>
> To
> 06/07/2005 01:42 Kim.Fisher at TownofCary.org
> PM cc
> Doug.McRainey at TownofCary.org,
> Leila.Goodwin at TownofCary.org,
> pstout at co.wake.nc.us, Steve Head
> <wshead at dot.state.nc.us>, TRTC
> Board <trtc-board at rtpnet.org>, TGC
> Greenway Board
> <greenway-board at rtpnet.org>
> Subject
> Re: Western Wake Wastewater
> Management Facilities
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>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.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
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