AGENDA ITEM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ITEM TITLE
title
Support a Great Trails State Grant Application for Construction of the Tanyard Branch Trail Neighborhood Connector
presenter
RESPONSIBLE STAFF, TITLE, DEPARTMENT
Britany Waddell, Planning Director, Planning
Bergen Watterson, Mobility and Greenways Manager, Planning
Ben Berolzheimer, Mobility and Greenways Planner, Planning
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council adopt R-1 supporting the Great Trails State Program grant application.
body
ACTION/DECISION POINTS
Council can choose to adopt the resolution in support of the grant application.
LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT
Certification and approval by a governing board is a required component of the Great Trails State Program grant application process. For staff to proceed with submitting the application, Council must adopt the resolution of support and the Mayor must certify the contents of the application prior to submittal.
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation (NCPR) runs the Great Trails State Program. NCPR is providing $25 million in funding for new trail development and extension of existing trails anywhere in the state of North Carolina. The funds are non-recurring and are being distributed through one grant cycle.
The Town is a member of the Great Trails State Coalition and Town staff participate in monthly meetings and attended the 2024 Great Trails State Conference.
Staff have determined that the Town meets all the requirements of the program and has identified construction funding for the Tanyard Branch Trail Neighborhood Connector as a well-suited project that could be competitive for program funding. The trail is currently in the design and engineering phase (ARPA funded), which is expected to be completed and ready for construction in 10-12 months. No other source of funding for construction has been identified. This small section of greenway will provide critical connections for the soon-to-be-constructed Tanyard Branch Trace affordable housing development off Jay Street and will be a major step in completing a long-desired off-road connection from Estes Dr. to the Northside neighborhood, once envisioned as part of the Campus-to-Campus connector.
The project will create better linkages to transit opportunities and the broader network of greenways in Chapel Hill and Carrboro as well as creating a more direct connection to the downtown commercial area. It would greatly improve connectivity in this area, which is currently restricted by the railroad tracks running along the area’s western border. Households living in the new affordable housing community and surrounding areas would benefit from multi-modal transportation options that could reduce household transportation costs and alleviate vehicular traffic in the area.
TRADEOFFS, ALTERNATIVES, IMPACTS
If Council decides to adopt the resolution, staff will finalize the application and submit it by the November 12th deadline.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The Great Trails State Program requires Tier 3 counties (the 20 least distressed counties in the state, according to the North Carolina Department of Commerce) to contribute a 100% local match. Staff will request $400,000 in grant funding, and if awarded, will plan to meet the $400,000 local match requirement using the annual greenways budget allocation.
COMPLETE COMMUNITY CONNECTION
This project directly addresses the Complete Community goal to expand and deliver new greenways for everyday life and to depend on greenways for transportation to support growth. This segment is identified on the Everywhere-to-Everywhere Greenways map and is directly connected to an approved future affordable housing site.
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A GREAT TRAILS STATE GRANT APPLICATION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF TANYARD BRANCH TRAIL NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTOR AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO CERTIFY THE APPLICATION (2024-11-01/R-1)
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation is soliciting applications for the Great Trails State Program’s FY24 grant, under which $25 million will be made available to fund greenway and trail projects across the state; and
WHEREAS, this is a one-time grant cycle to distribute the full $25 million in non-recurring funding; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill is a member of the Great Trails State Coalition and staff have attended monthly meetings and the annual conference in September; and
WHEREAS, the Town recently contracted with a consulting firm to design and engineer the two segments of the Tanyard Branch Trail Neighborhood Connector that will connect the Tanyard Branch Trace affordable housing development to the Northside neighborhood and Estes Drive; and
WHEREAS, the design and engineering process is expected to take approximately 12 months, which will line up with the grant funding, if awarded; and
WHEREAS, the Tanyard Branch Trail Neighborhood Connector will provide access and connectivity to transit opportunities and the broader network of greenways in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, reducing transportation costs for residents and alleviating vehicular traffic in the area; and
WHEREAS, the Great Trails State Program grant requires a 100% local match, and the Town will use the annual greenways budget allocation for the local match; and
WHEREAS, a recent cost estimate for construction of the two segments of greenway is around $800,000 so the Town will request $400,000 in grant funding.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council supports a 2024 Great Trails State Program grant application for construction of the Tanyard Branch Trail Neighborhood Connector with a commitment to fund and implement the project as described in the application.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council authorizes the Town Mayor to certify the program application.
This the 1st day of November, 2024.
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