Greenway commission asks town to push downtown connection, details 30x30 goal

The Huntersville Greenway & Bikeway Commission on Oct. 7 urged the Town Board to prioritize a downtown greenway connection and described a broader 30x30 objective to connect 30,000 residents to trails by 2030.

Jeff Locke, chair of the Greenway & Bikeway Commission, told the board the group’s top priority is a short but important downtown link that would join an existing segment outside Town Hall to a new greenway segment several blocks away. ‘‘We need to get from that point to that point somehow,’’ Locke said, urging the town to ‘‘do everything that they possibly can to try to get the rest of that on paper’’ before adjacent development removes the alignment opportunity.

Locke said the commission also prioritizes east–west connections — linking Stevens Grove on the west to Skybrook on the east — and new connections at North Mac Park that should tie into a planned NCDOT multiuse path. The commission identified a regional goal of linking to the ‘‘Seam’’ (the former Charlotte-to-Mooresville Trail alignment) to better connect Huntersville with neighboring municipalities.

The commission updated the board on a ‘‘30 by 30’’ target. Locke said Huntersville currently has no signed bike routes and is piloting an 18‑mile townwide bike-route network to supplement greenways and provide ‘‘all ages and abilities’’ routes. The pilot aims to make bicycling more obvious and safer across town.

Commissioners and members of the public asked about timelines and property issues. Locke acknowledged property‑owner negotiations and right-of-way needs for several prioritized segments, saying some acquisitions remain outstanding. In response to a question from Commissioner Walsh, Locke said two engineering-funded sections are ‘‘the next in construction’’ but conceded the overall process is slower than desired.

The commission emphasized community outreach events (including a recent Biketober block party) and county-produced maps that show greenway connections across Mecklenburg County. Locke said greenways consistently top residents’ amenity surveys and that improving sidewalk connections to greenways is critical to reduce driving to trailheads.

Commissioners discussed safety and informal etiquette on existing trails; Locke said the commission has promoted ‘‘auditory warnings’’ and respectful riding, and noted informal conversations among neighboring towns about potential e-bike or speed regulations, though no official policy work has begun.

No formal vote or new funding was requested at the Oct. 7 update; the commission asked the town board to continue support for planning and to help secure necessary rights of way and interagency coordination with NCDOT and Mecklenburg County.