The document discusses plans for greenway projects in Jackson County, North Carolina. It notes the health benefits of physical activity and that trails are a desirable community amenity. It outlines the history of developing the Tuckaseegee River Greenway, including acquiring land, obtaining funding, and completing construction of the trail. It provides details on next steps to finish the project, including fabricating and installing a bridge across the river.

1. Jackson County Greenways
Projects and Plans
October 16, 2014

2.  Need for physical activity to combat health issues faced by
Americans due to lack of exercise
 Provide an alternate mode of transportation, linking
communities to each other, residential to service areas, etc
 Walking and jogging trails ranked as the most desirable amenity
in a recent NAHB survey, with roughly half of active adults and
older seniors (52%) saying the presence of trails would seriously
influence the home-buying decision.
 The most significant feature of home sales near a trail in
Massachusetts is that these homes sold in an average of 29.3
days as compared to 50.4 days for other homes
 Visitors to Ohio’s Little Miami Scenic Trail spend an average of
$13.54 on food, beverages, and transportation to the trail.

3. How did we get here?

5. JACKSON COUNTY GREENWAYS
PROJECT
Conservation, Recreation, Transportation
COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN
presented to the Jackson County Board of Commissioners
by the Jackson County Recreation Department and the Greenway Advisory Committee
with the assistance of the residents of Jackson County
Jackson County, North Carolina ▪ June 2009

6. TUCKASEEGEE RIVER GREENWAY
P R E L I M I N A R Y M A S T E R P L A N
J A C K S O N C O U N T Y , N O R T H C A R O L I N A
J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 9
Prepared for:
Jackson County Recreation & Parks Department
Presented by:
Equinox Environmental Consultation & Design, Inc.

8. The Initial Project

11.  Properties acquired
 Purchase of one property
 Donation of another property
 Application submitted for Parks and Recreation Trust
Fund grant
 Application submitted in January 2013
 $435,000 grant awarded in June 2013
 Began preparation of construction drawings
 Stillwell Engineering selected to prepare greenway trail
plans
 Lofquist Engineering selected for engineering services
related to bridge

12.  Requested encroachment agreement from NC DOT
 Much of greenway route is within NC DOT limited
access right-of-way
 Encroachment required approval by NC DOT staff in
Raleigh
 Coordinated with TWSA on use of sewer easement
 Greenway route is on sewer easement
 Entered into agreement for shared use of all TWSA
easements
 Applied for Trout Buffer variance
 Variance granted by NC DENR
 Prepared Biologic Assessment for US Fish and Wildlife
Service
 Tuckasegee River is habitat of endangered species

13.  Prepared bid documents working with project
engineer
 Advertised for bids
 WNC Paving submitted lowest bid for greenway trail
 Provided project management
 Interaction with construction crews
 Inspected and approved work
 Greenway programming being managed by Parks and
Recreation Department

14.  Total estimated cost is $1.3 million
 Trail cost $375,000
 Bridge cost estimate $1,000,000
 Final cost dependent upon construction bids
 Soil conditions at bridge abutments will impact cost
 Funding Sources
 PARTF Grant
 Duke Mitigation Funds
 Parks and Rec Capital Project Funds
 Includes funds reserved for greenway
 County Capital Funds

20.  Bridge being fabricated
 Complete design of abutments
 Prepare bid documents and solicit bids
 Review bids and award contract
 Construct abutments
 Construct walks and ramps
 Construct retaining wall
 Install bridge
 Completion scheduled for spring 2015

21. What’s Next?

26. Questions and Comments