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Durham leaders seek feedback on 18.2-mile Durham–Roxborough rail-trail draft plan
Summary
County transportation staff and consultants presented a draft final plan to convert an 18.2-mile Norfolk Southern corridor into a multiuse rail-trail. Staff said NCDOT is acquiring the corridor and the county's net acquisition cost is projected to be modest; construction would be phased over many years with an estimated cost of $46—257 million.
Transportation staff and consultants presented the draft final plan for an 18.2-mile Durham-to-Roxborough rail-trail and asked the Board of County Commissioners for feedback before a later adoption and funding request. Ellen Beckman, Durham County's transportation director, introduced the project and the multiagency team working on acquisition, planning and design.
"No eminent domain is required to make this happen," one consultant said during the briefing, stressing the plan relies on acquisition negotiated by NCDOT and facilitated by the Conservation Fund. Consultants described a 12—14-foot asphalt corridor as the preferred cross section, with crushed-stone shoulders and design options for equestrian uses in more rural northern segments.
The planning team summarized public outreach: nearly 3,000 participants in the first survey and about 453 detailed responses to a second round of conceptual-design questions, plus dozens of public workshops, focus groups and pop-up events. Staff said they identified publicly owned parcels suitable for trailheads and many potential connections to schools, parks and other trails, and emphasized flexibility on crossing treatments: out of 21 crossings identified, two are grade-separated (I-85 and Camden Avenue) and several high-volume intersections would likely need signalized crossings.
The presentation included a very rough construction estimate of $46 million to $57 million for design, facilities and connections in Durham County. Beckman said NCDOT is pursuing corridor acquisition this year and that Durham County's net acquisition cost is projected to be modest—roughly $223,000 as presented—thanks to grant awards and partner contributions. She said construction would be phased over many years and additional funding approvals would be requested later.
Commissioners pressed staff on timing, trailhead locations and infrastructure impacts. Several commissioners praised the community engagement and asked for details in the final report about cost breakdowns, phasing and how trail development will interface with existing bus routes, schools and neighborhood access. Staff said a written final report and more detailed preliminary budgets would follow and that the county would return with a funding agreement and specific appropriation requests tied to NCDOT's acquisition schedule.
