American Tobacco Trail Workday Cancelled for May 17, but read message

[Bill Bussey]

Hi Volunteers for the American Tobacco Trail,

This message is to inform you of our American Tobacco Trail workday,
*Saturday, May 17*, has been canceled. *This is a change from our 
calendar last week.*

*Instead, *please join us at our booth at the completely free NBC17 
Health and Fitness Festival 
<http://www.nbc17.com/midatlantic/ncn/shopping/2008_health_fitness.html> 
in the Jim Graham Building at NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. We'll be 
there from 10-5 both Saturday and Sunday. We'll be in Booth #338 just in 
front of the Active NC Walking Track in the back of the building.

Come on by and help us out, learn more about the ATT, pick up an 
American Tobacco Trail map, and see our new ATT System map.

We'll be doing our regular workday next Saturday, May 24 at the  O'Kelly 
Chapel Road Access <http://www.triangletrails.org/DIRECTIONS.HTM> at 9 a.m.
 
Last week, Curt Devereux, Jim Suiter, travelin' Jack Walker, Frank 
Bennett, and me worked to clean, trim and clear our Fayetteville Road 
Parking Access. They did a super job! Thanks to all for the great work.
 
*For those *volunteering for school *Environmental Service hours*, check 
with your instructor to see if helping to staff our information booth 
will qualify for your service hours. In my opinion, it does because 
you'll be learning more about the American Tobacco Trail and other 
trails and greenways in the triangle. You'll also sharpen your talking, 
presentation and "thinking on your feet" skills!

If you or your group would like to work days or early evenings other
than Saturdays, please let Bill Bussey <mailto:billbus at gte.net> know.

Please let Curt Devereux <mailto:cdevereux at nc.rr.com> 919 919 544-3948 
Frank Bennett <mailto:FJB675 at hotmail.com> 919-851-3992 or Bill Bussey 
<mailto:billbus at gte.net> 919 545-9104 know anytime if you have any 
questions.

For more information on ATT workdays, please see our Volunteering page
at: http://triangletrails.org/VOLUNTEERS.HTM

For directions to workday meeting places and ATT Trailheads go to our
directions page at: http://www.triangletrails.org/DIRECTIONS.HTM

Future workdays are still being planned. Here is the tentative schedule
for upcoming workdays. **

*Upcoming American Tobacco Trail Workdays *

*Saturday, May 17 & Sunday, May 18*  ATT Information Booth at  NBC17 
Health and Fitness Festival 
<http://www.nbc17.com/midatlantic/ncn/shopping/2008_health_fitness.html> 
10-5 both days.

*Saturday, May 24* Chatham Workday 9 a.m. O'Kelly Chapel Road Access 
<http://www.triangletrails.org/DIRECTIONS.HTM>
*
Saturday, May 31* Durham Workday Scott King Road Access 
<http://www.triangletrails.org/DIRECTIONS.HTM> or Solite Park 9 a.m.

*Saturday, June 7* National Trails Day Possibly Solite Park 9 a.m.

*Saturday, June 14* Chatham Workday 9 a.m. Just north of the 
Chatham-Wake County line
*
Big News!

*The second Community Meeting about the planned pedestrian and bicycle 
bridge crossing of *I-40 for the American Tobacco Trail (ATT)* was held 
this past Tuesday, April 29 in the City Council Chambers at Durham City 
Hall.  

This meeting, which was hosted by the City of Durham Department of 
Public Works (and facilitated by Steven Grover and Associates) focused 
on a selection of bridge concepts and designs for this long anticipated 
bicycle and pedestrian bridge.

About 100 ATT trail supporters and interested folks attended this 
informative meeting. It was refreshing how Stephen Grover discussed the 
bridge and the thoughts behind it in a very intelligent manner. He spoke 
up to those in attendance instead of talking down to them, as is usually 
the case when consultants speak before the public. Most questions were 
answered thoughtfully with time after the meeting for individual 
discussion with the architect and staff involved.

Cudos to Stephen Grover, staff at Parsons Brinkerhoff, and Byron Brady 
for setting up this meeting.

If you missed the meeting, here are some links that may give you a sense 
of what happened.

http://www.bullcityrising.com/2008/05/another-look-at.html

The first is the list of design criteria:
http://public.campingfools.com/wiki/tiki-download_file.php?fileId=75 
<http://public.campingfools.com/wiki/tiki-download_file.php?fileId=75>

The second is the survey itself:
http://public.campingfools.com/wiki/tiki-download_file.php?fileId=76 
<http://public.campingfools.com/wiki/tiki-download_file.php?fileId=76>

Keep in mind there was a LOT of information, graphics, models and 
discussion at the meeting that might influence your choice. Thus, the 
information in these links only scratch the surface of the thought, 
scope and concerns that went behind these bridge choices. I present them 
to you here with the concern that one might make a choice based on too 
little information. Please be aware of this...

Thanks to Daniel Schudel dan at campingfools.com 
<mailto:dan%40campingfools.com> for these links.
 
Should you have any questions or input regarding this meeting, please 
contact Byron Brady, PD CPESC, Contract Engineer, City of Durham at 919 
560-4326 x 296 or byron.brady AT durham.gov <mailto:byron.brady at durham.gov>.

Feel free to contact Mr. Brady at the above address with your questions. 
Better yet, contact the Durham City Council 
<mailto:council at ci.durham.nc.us> (this address sends your message to all 
of the Durham City Council) and tell them how much you want the ATT I-40 
bridge AND trail built as quickly as possible. You might also ask them 
to attend the meeting as well.

If you have any questions regarding this message, or want to chat about 
the trail or bridge, or don't know who to ask or talk to about your 
ideas or concerns, please feel free to contact Bill Bussey Triangle 
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy 919 545-9104 americantobaccotrail@ 
embarqmail.com <mailto:americantobaccotrail at embarqmail.com> or Dan 
Clever 919 286 3827 daclever@ gmail.com <mailto:daclever at gmail.com> 
 
You can print out our latest ATT map *right now* at 
http://www.triangletrails.org/ATT.HTM . Click on both links under the 
thumbnail for both sides of the map.

Don't let the thumbnail fool you. This is our new color ATT map done by 
Wayne Horton of Winston-Salem.

And let me take this opportunity to *Thank You* for all of your help
and support in building, cleaning and clearing the American Tobacco
Trail in 2007. Thanks to your hard work, expertise and
diligent efforts, we are making steady progress.

Thousands of trail 
users are *now safely using* the sections of the trail and facilities
you have helped clear, clean and build. We get so many wonderful
comments and thanks on how well the trail looks when folks use these
facilities. These trail users are often *amazed* to find out that these
improvements were done *completely* by volunteers. Thank you for the
great work and for volunteering your valuable time to help with this
project. Know that it wouldn't be possible without the great work of
each and every one of you.

Thanks for your help and support in building the American Tobacco Trail.

Happy Trails,

Bill Bussey
Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
americantobaccotrail at earthlink.net
www.triangletrails.org
919 545-9104
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