[TRTC-news] Thank you for helping to Build the American Tobacco Trail

[Bill Bussey]

Dear Friends of the American Tobacco Trail,

Happy Holidays from the Triangle Rails to Trails Conservancy (TRTC)! It 
has been a productive year for the TRTC.  We would like to take this 
opportunity to update you on our activities and progress in promoting 
our mission - to open, maintain and promote the American Tobacco Trail 
and future area rail-trail projects.

We hope that you will consider making a year-end tax-deductible 
contribution to TRTC, or joining us as a member, so we can continue 
working to build and complete the American Tobacco Trail.

*Trail Construction & Maintenance -- *TRTC has been busy clearing, 
maintaining and managing almost 8 miles of the American Tobacco Trail 
(ATT) corridor in southern Durham and Chatham counties. Each week, TRTC 
volunteers of all ages work to make these sections of trail safe for use 
*NOW* by thousands of trail users. Volunteers remove downed trees and 
brush from the trail, empty trash cans, fill in holes and ruts, 
improving drainage and keep it mowed and trimmed.  Your contributions 
help us to pay for signage, gravel, tools and regular mowing.

Thanks to TRTC's efforts and the completion of the final Wake County 
section of the trail, you can now walk, run or ride 8.25 miles of 
continuous trail from Panther Creek in Chatham County to the New 
Hill-Olive Chapel Road trailhead in Wake County. You can also now walk, 
run or ride over 4.5 miles of trail in Chatham County alone.

*Advocacy -* It has been a busy year for advocacy. Thanks to the summer 
and fall 2006 petition, in which over 2,000 signatories asked the City 
of Durham to move forward with the design and construction of the bridge 
over I-40 and completion of the final section of the ATT, Durham is 
finally moving on the project.

At the first public meeting to discuss the planned bridge on November 
13th, trail users had the opportunity to share their desires and visions 
for the crossing of I-40 and the construction of the "missing link" of 
trail south of the interstate. At that meeting, a tentative timetable 
was proposed in which the planning and bid process will be completed in 
2008, allowing construction to begin in January, 2009.

*/Last Second Update: /* At their December 20, 2007 Work Session, the 
Durham City Council approved using "Two-thirds bonds" to fund the 
remainder of what is needed to complete the ATT in Durham, across I-40 
to the Chatham County line. Thanks to the 110+ of you who contacted the 
Durham City Council by email and phone. This made a huge difference!

*Chatham County Update*

We are also happy to report that through a joint agreement between 
NCDOT, Chatham County, and the Town of Cary, funding has been acquired, 
designs have been developed and the permitting process has begun for 
construction of the dual-surface trail through Chatham County. This 
project will include the long-awaited completion of the bridges over 
Panther and Northeast Creeks. Construction could be underway as soon as 
this summer! We will continue to monitor the progress of these projects 
and to advocate for their completion.

*Publicity -* TRTC has also developed new trail maps (available at 
http://triangletrails.org/ATT.HTM) to facilitate and encourage use of 
the ATT. Every year we set up information booths at several local 
festivals and events, where we enjoy telling trail users and government 
officials about the area's rail-trails and greenways.  In case you 
haven't checked it out, click on www.triangletrails.org to find out more 
about the American Tobacco Trail and our work.


*Still another Last Second Happening: *A photo by Wake County ATT 
Manager Tony D'Amico took first place in the Canal/Rail Trails Division 
of the 2007 National Recreation Trails Photo Contest. Here is the link 
to the photo that is rather appropriate for the holidays: 
http://americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails/07photocon/pages/AmTobacco77_JPG.htm

Congratulations Tony!

Despite our progress, there is still plenty of work to do!  Now would be 
an excellent time to join the TRTC or to renew your membership.  Please 
go to http://triangletrails.org/MEMBERS.HTM to print and mail a 
membership form, or to renew online via PayPal.  We appreciate your help!

If you have any questions about joining the Triangle Rails-to-Trails 
Conservancy, making a tax-deductible contribution to TRTC, or if you 
have any questions about your existing or past membership, please 
contact TRTC Treasurer Moria Smoski moriajoy at gmail.com 
<mailto:moriajoy at gmail.com> (919) 383-4930.

Thank you again. Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Dan Clever, President
Triangle Rails to Trails Conservancy
www.triangletrails.org
919 943-9694

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