Trail Talk - Ecusta Trail

Trail Talk - March 2024

March 2024

Ecusta Trail Stories

Stops Along the Way

By Cindy Ruzak

One of the businesses that is looking forward to the opening of the Ecusta Trail multi-use path is Elijah Mountain Gem Mine. This local treasure, offering a way for people of all ages to find their own jeweled treasure, hopes that trail riders will take the short diversion to its location on Brevard road to take a biking break to enjoy Elijah’s wide range of amenities. These include picnic tables, goat petting, and peacocks in the “Jurassic Pond” open space, and a brew pub in addition to the gem mining and retail store.

At Elijah’s, potential prospectors can choose from a number of different sized buckets of premium “dirt” shipped in from all over the world, including Madagascar, Bolivia, Brazil, and the USA containing a variety of unfinished gemstones. Jack-of-all-trades defacto manager Joe Strassel and the rest of the staff pride themselves on a high level of customer satisfaction by giving personalized service so that every visit is like the first. To assure happy customers, the quantity of gems found each time is always high by intention.

Elijah also offers polishing of rocks found, as well as selling finished gems, specimens and fossils, and a new jewelry section is in development. Gold panning is another activity, which includes a lesson on sifting since the process is a bit more involved than the sluice gem mining. Other educational opportunities abound, as I learned a new term of “en cabochon” for a non-faceted polished gem, and how crystals form different shapes. Fun fact - the structure of a crystal is governed by atomic forces, with every mineral containing an inner order arrangement of ions and atoms that then connect in set patterns.

Whenever Elijah’s is open, so is the Base Camp Brewery, an outpost of local Guidon Brewery. On weekends during the peak summer months they will often have a food truck available, and in the past have done fish frys on Fridays, and periodic live music. Currently on their Facebook page they offer a live podcast every Thursday evening at 6pm about what is new at the store and other gems.

Henderson County Rail-Trail

Advisory Committee

By Cindy Ruzak

February 14, 2024 Meeting: Vice President Chris Burns welcomed all, which included a full complement of committee members with three attending by Zoom (as was Brevard’s Mayor, Maureen Copelof, and their Planning Commission). One correction to the previous meeting’s minutes was suggested by Ken Shelton to list the name of the sculpture donation idea group as Advocates for the Arts.

Chris Todd, Business and Community Development Director stated that the Henderson County Board of Commissioners had approved the appointment of Chris Burns to the title of RTAC President. Chris Burns moved on to ask for nominations to fill the now vacant VP position. Committee member David Adams suggested member-at-large Selena Einwechter, who was unanimously approved.

Ken Shelton reminded that this leaves a vacancy on the committee for an at-large member of the community, which would need to be approved by the Board of Commissioners. Some discussion of possibilities ensued, including approaching members of the business community, perhaps one of those involved in the developing Trail Partners program; with the final result that anyone with a prospective member should contact Chris Burns with their name.

Conserving Carolina’s Trails and Greenways Coordinator, Kristin Cozza, mentioned the organization is continuing to work with the county on property line issues, but had nothing substantial to report. She recommended that the organization be taken off the agenda standing list of reports, preferring instead to present when something needs to be reported, although the organization will continue to be at the RTAC meetings.

Mark Tooley reported that Friends of the Ecusta Trail held an operational meeting to define the organization’s role in future trail management. They are also following up on proceeding with an economic impact study, using some existing funds for the project; and waiting for specifics on federal highway funding for trail amenities.

In response to two recent articles about the trail (see links below, and *note), Chris Todd summarized the county’s efforts to be responsive to property owners’ issues by acknowledging their hardships while reiterating vegetation removals have all been within the trail right of way. He emphasized that trees have only been removed for three primary reasons – the need for drainage, for line of sight at car/pedestrian intersection points for safety, and for construction where a re-alignment of the trail is necessary.

During additional discussion of support, Ken mentioned that tree control on Swamp Rabbit Trail is important because roots can disturb trail surfaces, and Chris Burns felt all involved have done well by being responsive to concerns. Marcus Jones, Henderson County Engineer, along with others reminded everyone that the number of homeowners with remaining issues is very small given the hundreds of homes along the first section of the trail. Marcus also mentioned that he met in person with the Goodwins, who were mentioned in recent newspaper articles, in May of 2023 to discuss tree removal. Also expressed at various points in the discussion was that while all has been handled well, there is always room for improvement, so even more communication up front will be done in the future.

Henderson County Planner III, Lee Stevens, gave an update on the Trail Partners Program. The first group meeting this past October drew 35 people from invitations to businesses directly adjacent to the trail, and current plans are to expand the outreach up to ½ mile from the trail with the goal toward reaching more than 250 people for the next meeting of this group. At a planned March 11th gathering, a guest panel from the Travelers Rest business group will speak about their experience with the Swamp Rabbit Trail. It is hoped that people from these business group meetings will produce participants in the Trail Partners Program. The main goal of the group is to give the business community along the trail a forum to collaborate on shared issues, generate partnerships, and streamline communication with the county and FOET.

Lee reviewed the variety of ways that individual businesses can become involved in trail support. Structurally, “Trail Partners” are those businesses with direct access to the trail who volunteer amenities such as parking, free water, bathrooms, in exchange for free marketing. Available to anyone is “Trail Sponsor” for entities not adjacent to the trail who may wish to pay for an amenity, or sponsor a business that is adjacent in order to provide an amenity. “Trail Supporters” are those non-adjacents who want to volunteer time or resources to support the trail. And “Trail Lease Program” for those adjacent entities that might want to lease an amenity entirely to the county to manage for trail users.

Chris Todd added that all businesses are being invited, whether or not they want to support the trail, so that they can make sure the committee is hearing all points of view and issues. Mark Tooley supported that FOET can certainly help with a trail map showing the businesses.

Marcus Jones provided trail construction updates. At the end of three months, clearing has been finished, and he again reiterated that the only vegetation removed was where it was necessary for construction, and where traffic safety demanded. Erosion control measures are installed, and now contractors are replacing, and upgrading to current standards, all cross drainage pipes (about 25% completed) as well as removing trestles. In response to Ken Shelton’s question about an area where pictures taken after last month’s record rain showed a washed out culvert, Marcus said it had been addressed and reminded that many of the elements of the previous drainage structure were more than 100 years old, so their redesign for the trail will result in even better performance to designed storm event guidelines. Up next will be reviewing the design from JMT for the third segment of the trail.

*Note – In an after meeting question and comment session with Chris Todd, he mentioned that the title of the Times News article “Trail of Destruction” in the printed edition, was not the same as the one in the original e-version of the article (link below)

Trail Talk - February 2024

February 2024

Henderson County Rail-Trail

Advisory Committee

By Cindy Ruzak

The session led off with public comment from Marilyn Bailey, Advocates for the Arts, inquiring about the process to place public art along the trail. Chairman Chuck McGrady responded that the first step is to get the idea on the radar of the committee. This idea, along with many other trail auxiliary improvements, will be considered in the future.

On a similar note, Kristin Cozza, Conserving Carolina’s Trails and Greenways Coordinator, reported no substantial updates but again mentioned that Lia Waldrum had reached out to them about incorporating Cherokee gardens in the trail amenities and enhancements plan. For more information, see the link below. Basically, this involves utilizing indigenous plants to sustain craft and food traditions through long-term sustainable harvest agreements, and collaborating on educational aspects that focus on preserving Cherokee culture and heritage.

Mark Tooley, president of the Friends of Ecusta Trail (FOET) board, reported that Destination By Design is wrapping up the design of kiosks and trail markers. The board held a retreat to discuss the possibility of transitioning the organization to a true friends group, shifting fundraising from Conserving Carolina to FOET. A future economic impact study is also possible.

Chris Todd, Henderson County Business & Community Development Director, reported a successful kickoff with businesses to develop partnerships. The group was challenged to bring someone who had expressed comments against the trail, so that any issues can be directly addressed. The mood at the meeting was generally positive, and he emphasized the importance to continue encouraging people who have any concerns to contact him for resolution. Entities interested in the Ecusta Trail Partners & Supporters can contact Todd for further information.

Marcus Jones, Henderson County Engineer, updated trail construction progress. Three contracts have been signed for three sections of the trail (Main Street to Kanuga, Kanuga to Horseshoe, and Horseshoe to the county line). JMT Engineering, as they did with the first two sections, will be providing the plans for the third segment. NMH Construction, which already has finished clearing encroachments on the eastern 6 miles, will continue with trail pathway construction on the first two segments, from Main Street to Horseshoe shortly. The majority of the construction timeframe will involve further grading and drainage with culvert installation, followed by bridge completion, and finally paving. All will be done with NCDOT oversight and administration, and will begin as soon as they release grant matching funds. Completion by the end of 2024 is expected.

Jones continued that perceptions of property lines change over the years so the face-to-face communication has helped. Four property owners had concerns with trail encroachments (line of disturbance, right of way, or line of site safety hazard), which were all successfully resolved. As an example of this collaborative resolution, one owner had an electric fence in place for decades, but it was within the trail right of way and would be a safety issue since it was less than 10 feet from the trail. The county worked with the owner to relocate the fence. In another example, buffer trees at a synagogue needed to be removed when the trail had to be relocated away from a White Pine Drive guardrail, so the synagogue will receive assistance in replacing the buffer.

Blue signs are in place at permitted crossings, while other point of contact crossings that have been spontaneously created over the years will be removed for safety. A formal encroachment policy will be posted on the county website. Jones also noted the existing trail grading held up very well after the recent historic rain.

McGrady announced that this would be his last meeting, stating he has enjoyed working with everyone from the pipe dream at the beginning to the fulfillment of obtaining funds to make the trail a reality. He said he will continue to be engaged in other ways, and thanked everyone for their efforts.

Brevard Ecusta Trail

Advisory Board

By Matt Revis

Trail Construction Advances in Henderson County

Mayor Copelof brought the meeting to order, noting that a couple of Advisory Committee seats are currently empty. Chuck McGrady has retired from his position as Chair of the Henderson County RTAC, thereby relinquishing his Brevard Ecusta Trail Advisory Board (ETAB) seat. Several Committee members noted McGrady’s important contributions to Ecusta Trail’s vision and development. Chris Burns (Henderson County Representative for this meeting) reported that during the next meeting of the Henderson County Commissioners a new representative to Brevard ETAB will be appointed.

Paul Ray (Brevard City Planning) revisited the status of the property offer from Pisgah Heath Foundation. This property, located near the Brevard Trail connection to the ET and Oskar Blues Brewery is envisioned to provide access, parking and an accessible playground along the ET. Ray will present a status update at the next Brevard City Council meeting. Ray continued stating that a land survey and engineering consultations is the next step and will cost approximately $10,000 - $17,000. He added that the Pisgah Foundation intends to pay for the design and construction of the park.

Mayor Copelof reminded the Committee that the next edition of the Brevard ET newsletter is due in February. This publication is designed to bring the latest information about ET construction to property owners along the trail. Larry Chapman (Transylvania Commissioner) and Burns noted the importance of maintaining open communication with property owners.

Clark Lovelace (TDA) requested action from the city of Brevard to begin re-definition of the TDA Ecusta Trail grant ($1 Million over four years). He explained that it is necessary to re-write the grant’s original “pledge” as it no longer applies due to the award of two federal grants. Brevard City staff agreed to work with Lovelace to create a letter releasing the TDA from the original promise so that a new grant description addressing current trail fiscal needs can be created. He also added that TDA funds are for capital costs, not ongoing maintenance.

Aaron Baker, a new committee member due to his election to Brevard City Council, reported that a long-term project, funded by a grant from the Appalachian Regional Council to extend Mountain Industrial Drive, might provide an access point to the ET. He added that bids for this project had just opened with construction potentially starting in February 2024.

Committee members expressed excitement regarding construction progress in Henderson County as relayed by Burns. Work is visible from downtown Hendersonville to the Battle Creek crossing in Horse Shoe. Estimates that the first Henderson section will be completed by the end of 2024 remain realistic.

February ET Events

Henderson County R-TAC Meeting

February 14, 2024 @ 10:00am – 12:00pm

https://www.hendersoncountync.gov/bc-rtac

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Brevard Ecusta Trail Advisory Board Meeting
February 28, 2023 @ 3:30pm – 5:30pm

Open to the public. Meeting at City Council Chambers.

FOET NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTORS: Bernard Grauer, Lynn Huffman, John Lanier, RJ Miner, Matt Revis and Cindy Ruzak.

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Trail Talk - January 2024

January 2024

2023 Was A Very Good Year

By John Lanier

For advocates of the Ecusta Trail, 2023 will be remembered as a milestone. It was the year in which nearly $46 million in federal funds were designated for the trail and construction began on the first six miles of the trail from downtown Hendersonville to Horse Shoe.

In January of 2023, the Henderson County RTAC approved the engineering and design of those first six miles, which opened the door for permitting of that section to begin. Advocates hoped construction work would begin in July with the first section to be completed by year’s end.

The following month, the train trestle over Davidson River was removed and an aerial survey of the trail corridor in Transylvania County was planned. And with 90 percent of the engineering design completed for Henderson County, the design plan was ready to be brought before the Henderson County county commissioners.

With the arrival of spring, FOET (Friends of Ecusta Trail) announced there were plans to conduct feasibility studies to connect the Ecusta Trail with the Oklawaha and Saluda Grade trails. That concept received a financial boost when the Hendersonville Engineering Department was awarded a grant to study two possible plans that would connect the Ecusta Trail to the Oklawaha Greenway.

A Business Community Outreach Plan also was introduced in Henderson County in hopes of identifying property and business owners along the trail who might be interested in partnering with the county to develop parking, restrooms, and other amenities along the trail.

In a related move, representatives from Henderson County and its municipalities, the city of Brevard, FOET and Conserving Carolina began meeting to discuss coordinating signage, logos, parking, bathrooms and other amenities along the trail.

As spring drew to a close, MOUs (Memorandums of Understanding) that would define the relationships and responsibilities among the governmental entities and the volunteer organizations began to move forward. And to recognize the many people who contributed to FOET’s efforts, the organization held a volunteer appreciation event attended by more than 50 volunteers.

In July, advocates for the trail rejoiced in the news that the city of Brevard had received both the RAISE and NSFLTP grants. The two grants total approximately $46 million. At that point, more than six grants totaling more than $64 million had been designated for the Ecusta Trail, which should be more than enough to cover construction expenses for the entire 19-mile trail. As a result, it was suggested to shift area fundraising efforts toward raising money for amenities.

More good financial news came when the Blue Ridge Bike Club, through its annual fundraiser, the Tour de Transylvania, raised more than $100,000 for the Ecusta Trail. The club had set an initial goal of $50,000.

Meanwhile, the state of South Carolina allocated $15 million to the Saluda Grade Trail, which very well could connect to the Ecusta Trail, thus providing a potential bike route from Brevard to Upstate South Carolina.

If July was full of good news, August brought messages of delays. Henderson County received only two bids for construction of the first six miles. Since the state requires a minimum of three bids, the county modified the construction timeline and rebid the project. Five companies then placed bids, all of which were under the engineering estimates for per mile cost.

The other potential delay was the announcement that delivery of the bridges, which will be constructed entirely off-site before being transported and installed locally, could be delayed by 250 days. It appears, at present, that the delay, however, may not be that long.

Good news rebounded in September when the Henderson County Commissioners voted to award a $10 million contract to NHM Constructors, Inc. in Asheville to build the first six miles of the trail. The county also awarded the engineering firm Traffic Planning and Design (TPD) to design the remaining section of trail to the Transylvania County line.

In Transylvania County, the Pisgah Health Foundation proposed donating 11 acres next to Ecusta Trail to the city of Brevard. The property could be a potential trailhead.

On the financial front, Sierra Nevada made a $250,000 gift and AdventHealth made a $100,000 contribution to the trail. Chuck McGrady, a tireless advocate for the trail, also noted the state budget included $100,000 for the Ecusta Trail.

On Saturday, October 28, more than 400 people attended the long-awaited groundbreaking for the Ecusta Trail at the Veterans Healing Farm. The six-mile stretch, known as Ecusta Trail East, is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

In an effort to benefit both future trail users and business/property owners along the trail, Henderson County planning staff continued to meet with business/property owners to discuss a Trail Partners and Supporters program. The program would not go into effect until the first section of the trail is completed.

By year’s end, NHM Constructors had placed markers and temporary fences along Ecusta Trail East and had begun removing trees and debris from the trail right-of-way. The first tangible signs of the reality of the Ecusta Trail were visible.

In the nearly 15 years since FOET was formed, there has never been a year so productive and rewarding as 2023. For the Ecusta Trail, 2023 was a very good year.

Brevard Ecusta Trail

Advisory Board

(November Meeting Summary)

By John Lanier

Mark Tooley, president of FOET (Friends of Ecusta Trail) noted that Conserving Carolina had closed on a property on Everett Road that could be a potential parking area along the trail.

Tooley said there was another opportunity for a connection to the trail in Penrose.

Lonnie Watkins of the NCDOT said work on the first six miles of the trail would begin in December and that the heavier construction work would probably begin in the spring once the weather gets warmer.

Watkins said the bridges and floodplains on the Brevard end of the trail will be analyzed within the coming months.

Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof said the city had received an email from the Pisgah Health Foundation regarding a long-term lease on 11 acres near the trail.

“It looks like it’s really going to be a good partnership,” said Copelof.

Brevard City Manager Wilson Hooper said there may be some complications in using the Pisgah Health property because “it is technically not of the footprint of the Trail.”

He said the property is an “ideal” location for a trailhead, but the property was not within the land submitted for the two federal grants. He said the city will see if it can use the grant money for the property.

Hooper also said the city would begin sending out quarterly newsletters to property owners along the Ecusta Trail to apprise them of activities along the trail, such as the presence of surveyors.

The city will begin advertising for a new citizen representative on the ETAB board since the current citizen representative, Lauren Wise, was elected to the Brevard City Council in November.

Former state legislator Chuck McGrady said he was resigning from both the Henderson County and Brevard Ecusta Trail boards, but that he would remain on the NCDOT Board. Copelof praised McGrady’s efforts in moving the trail forward.

McGrady said it has taken a while for the Ecusta Trail project to progress, but the speed in which the project has moved forward recently has “been the envy” of other counties and municipalities in the state.

The meeting scheduled for December 27 was canceled. The next meeting of the Brevard Ecusta Trail Advisory Board will be January 31.

Giving Tuesday Results

A big thank you to everyone who helped us make Giving Tuesday 2023 a success! We had 55 donors give a total of $7,539.65.

Congratulations to Evelyn Cauley for winning our Giving Tuesday bicycle raffle!

January ET Events

Henderson County R-TAC Meeting

January 10, 2024 @ 10:00am – 12:00pm

https://www.hendersoncountync.gov/bc-rtac

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Brevard Ecusta Trail Advisory Board Meeting
January 31, 2023 @ 3:30pm – 5:30pm

Open to the public. Meeting at City Council Chambers.

FOET NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTORS: Bernard Grauer, Lynn Huffman, John Lanier, RJ Miner, Matt Revis and Cindy Ruzak.

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Trail Talk - November/December 2023

November/December 2023

Groundbreaking Held for Ecusta Trail

Story by John Lanier

Photos by Jeff Shields and RJ Miner

A crowd of approximately 400 people attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the first six-mile stretch of the Ecusta Trail on Saturday, October 28, at the Veterans Healing Farm in Hendersonville. “The dream has become a reality,” said Henderson County Board Chairman Rebecca McCall. “To be able to move dirt and start construction on the first phase of the trail is the culmination of many years of hard work by so many people.”

McCall praised many of the organizations that have helped make the Ecusta Trail a reality, including Conserving Carolina and the Friends of Ecusta Trail (FOET), which put a plan together and delivered it to the Henderson County Board, which unanimously supported it.

“This group is an amazing group of people,” said McCall of FOET.

FOET, a grassroots volunteer group, has championed the vision of the Ecusta Trail since 2009. In 2021, a subsidiary of Conserving Carolina purchased the rail corridor and then worked with FOET to raise funds for construction. Local businesses and individuals gave millions of dollars, making it possible to match major grants, including two large federal grants awarded in the summer of 2023.

“Today’s groundbreaking for the first section of the Ecusta Trail is the culmination of nearly 15 years of advocacy by the Friends of Ecusta Trail (FOET),” said Mark Tooley, FOET President. “What started as a dream and a vision for repurposing the unused rail corridor as a community asset has now come to fruition. I want to especially thank past and present FOET board members for their unwavering determination to get us to this historic event today and to all the volunteers and donors that have provided support and encouragement along the way. In the end, the partnership of federal, state and local governments, nongovernmental organizations, and nonprofits, all striving for the same goal, was the secret sauce that made all of this possible."

Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof lauded all of the partners involved with the Ecusta Trail and said the city of Brevard was “proud to be part of the team.”

“Three years ago the city of Brevard stepped up and agreed to take on the leadership and responsibility for the Transylvania portion of the trail because we realized just how important and transformational this project will be,” said Copelof. “I look forward to the day that is coming soon when Brevard, Etowah, Horse Shoe, Laurel Park and Hendersonville are all linked together by the Ecusta Trail. The city of Brevard rejoices with our Henderson County brothers and sisters on what is truly a regional project.”

In the last year, the city of Brevard has received $45 million in grants to be used for the trail. Copelof has stated several times previously that the city received those grants because it collaborated with other governmental entities, including Henderson County.

Kieran Roe, executive director of Conserving Carolina, said he was impressed by the cooperation between Henderson County, the city of Brevard and other organizations.

"It has been a team effort for sure,” said Roe. “We are so excited to be making this dream real. A project of this scale takes a huge amount of effort and investment and could easily seem beyond reach. But our community made it happen—from the grassroots advocates to the dedicated volunteers to the many generous donors. As we celebrate this milestone for the trail, we are celebrating the vision and generosity of this community."

The final phase in fundraising for the trail is to raise money for amenities so the public can access and enjoy the trail. This includes things like trailheads, restrooms, benches, and signage. This fundraising effort is being led by FOET.

The Ecusta Trail, when fully completed, will be a 19-mile multi-use greenway that connects the communities of Henderson County to the city of Brevard. The first six-mile stretch of the trail will start in downtown Hendersonville, go through the town of Laurel Park and will end at Battle Creek off US 64 in Horse Shoe.

Major funding came from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the State of North Carolina, Henderson County Tourism and Development Authority, Transylvania County Tourism and Development Authority, and private donors. Major donors are recognized on the Conserving Carolina website here.

Construction of the first six-mile stretch is expected to be completed in one year. Completion of the entire trail is expected to take 3-5 years.

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Brevard Ecusta Trail

Advisory Board

(September Meeting Summary)

By Matt Revis

Brevard City Planner Paul Ray stated he will attend the first gathering of the Hellbender Trail forum, a group comprised of parties interested in connecting the growing number of greenways/trails in WNC. Ray and Aaron Bland will present Ecusta Trail (ET) information to this group. Vicki Eastland mentioned the increase in trail planning and construction in the area. City Councilman Mac Morrow also suggested that connections between all the proposed WNC trails would create a unique system in the country.

Ray continued to share that requests for trail encroachment agreements are receiving attention from the Planning Department, including the fence along Pisgah Labs property. Chuck McGrady suggested delaying final decisions until the exact trail location is determined by engineers.

In grand news, Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof announced a proposal from the Pisgah Health Foundation to donate 11 acres of land next to the Estatoe Trail to the city of Brevard. This generous proposition might also furnish a nice trailhead close to the the Estatoe Trail. Ideas discussed included construction of a park accessible for persons with disabilities at this site. The parcel is located behind Oskar Blues Brewery and next to the Transylvania Regional Hospital.

Larry Chapman related complaints he has heard from Transylvania residents reacting to letters received concerning DOT surveying of trail location. Lonnie Watkins (NC DOT) described these letters as generic announcements of ground surveys during which DOT personnel may walk across private property. On this subject, Chapman and Mayor Copelof mentioned the need for another “town hall” meeting for owners of property adjacent to the trail. Further discussion emphasized the importance of personal contact with owners. Brevard City Manager Wilson Hooper noted that Brevard staff is working on the first edition of the ET Newsletter for release later in November. Designed specifically to address the concerns of property owners, this quarterly letter will be mailed to all landowners (near the trail) and posted to the city website.

McGrady announced that the Henderson County Commissioners accepted a bid to construct Phase I of the Ecusta Trail in Henderson County. NHM Constructors will begin construction soon on the trail section from downtown Hendersonville to Battle Creek Road in Horse Shoe. McGrady said he hopes that some paving will be completed before it’s too cold. A groundbreaking event was set for October 28. In addition, the same engineering firm, Traffic Planning & Design (TPD), that worked on Phase I has been awarded the project to complete engineering design for Phase II of the Ecusta Trail from Horse Shoe to the Transylvania County line. McGrady finished by adding that a current version of the state budget includes $100,000 to assist in Ecust Trail construction.

Watkins noted that work continues to develop a list of trail amenities that the federal grants might pay for. Official approval from federal officials to pay for such accommodations as bathrooms, lights, bike maintenance stations, and benches will benefit trail users and save local funds for other enhancements.

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Brevard Ecusta Trail

Advisory Board

(October Meeting Summary)

By Matt Revis

Kristin Cozza of Conserving Carolina began this meeting with the announcement that a groundbreaking event would occur October 28 beginning at 10 a.m. Hosted by the Veterans’ Healing Farm (38 Yale Road), parking will be available, and she suggested that those wanting seats should bring folding chairs. Chuck McGrady noted that the groundbreaking is open to the public. Kristin also noted that Conserving Carolina and Traffic Planning & Design sponsored a group to begin planning for a potential connection between the Ecusta Trail and the Saluda Grade Rail Trail.

Paul Ray (Brevard Planning) shared that a list of trail amenities has been developed by Henderson County and Brevard City staff, and with assistance from Lonnie Watkins (NC DOT), is being forwarded to US DOT grant personnel for review and written approval. This huge step will ensure grant dollars for Ecusta Trail accommodations in both counties. The list includes restrooms, parking lots, signage, information stands, emergency call boxes, safety lights, and mileage signs among other items. Watkins will coordinate communication with US DOT on this subject.

McGrady, referring to imminent construction of Ecusta Trail Phase I, emphasized the importance of completing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) related to trail maintenance and security. The MOU describes the responsibilities that Henderson County, Brevard, Conserving Carolina, and Friends of Ecusta Trail (FOET) will have in ongoing trail maintenance and promotion. A final draft is pending approval.

Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof shared that she continues waiting for an official letter from the Pisgah Foundation regarding the land donation to the Ecusta Trail. Brevard City Manager Wilson Hooper added that city staff are working on the first ET newsletter, slated for delivery the third week of November. The letter is mailed directly to property owners adjacent to the ET and will be posted to the City website. Hooper mentioned the need for an ongoing reserve to cover extra costs related to trail maintenance. He will continue to keep this subject up front.

John Ditillo (Friends of Ecusta Trail) and Mac Morrow discussed the notion of “trail partners” – businesses that sponsor sections of the ET and in return receive promotional benefits. Ditillo shared that the FOET recently convened a group of over 30 businesses interested in this idea. In other FOET news, Mark Tooley, president of FOET, shared that a team from NC State University is interested in research on the impact of the Ecusta Trail on local economies, land values, employment, and other factors. The entire committee received this as outstanding news and expressed support for this to begin as soon as possible.

The next meeting of this committee is November 29, 2023.

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Henderson County Rail-Trail

Advisory Committee

(October Meeting Summary)

By Lynn Huffman

Kristin Cozza, Trails and Greenways Coordinator for Conserving Carolina (CC), reported on CC’s preparations and publicity for the October Ecusta Trail (ET) groundbreaking ceremony. She also reported that CC hosted a kickoff meeting with the Saluda Grade Stakeholders on the feasibility study being done.

Friends of Ecusta Trail (FOET) President Mark Tooley reported that FOET has been working with a group of individuals that include Henderson County and the City of Brevard on updating the branding of the trail. He showed a draft of images to the group and requested feedback from the RTAC. FOET is also working with Henderson County in planning the October groundbreaking.

Ken Shelton thanked Henderson County for the proclamation for North Carolina’s Year of the Trail that the Board of Commissioners approved.

Henderson County Business and Community Development Director Chris Todd reported that the groundbreaking event for the Ecusta Trail was scheduled for a Saturday in October at the Veterans Healing Farm. The event will begin around 10:00 and will include a 30–40 minute program with various speakers, including the actual groundbreaking of the trail.

Marcus Jones, Henderson County engineer, reported that the county is working closely with NCDOT with record speed on proceeding with the construction of Ecusta Trail East, the 5.7 miles from Hendersonville to Horse Shoe. He reminded the RTAC that the county received 5 bids on the trail construction and 2 of those were not completed and were rejected. The award will go to NHM Constructors, and the bid was within $100,000 of the engineers’ estimate. Ecusta Trail East is expected to be completed by the end of calendar year 2024. He also stated that the Board authorized the county engineer to select JMT for the engineering of Ecusta Trail West, pending all needed documents with NCDOT.

Chris Todd reported that the county is still working with the jurisdictions and organizations on the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the level of service, ongoing maintenance and event management of the trail. Staff has received comments from Conserving Carolina and FOET and is incorporating all of those requested changes. The goal is to have the MOU finalized by the end of the year.

Henderson County Senior Planner Janna Bianculli reported that planning staff, with assistance from Joe Sanders of FOET, hosted two public meetings for business owners adjacent to the trail to primarily discuss the Trail Partners & Supporters Program. She explained the purpose of the program to the RTAC and explained that the program is not in effect until the first phase of the trail is completed. She also asked the RTAC for their input and feedback on program operations as well as how to connect with the business community. A recorded presentation from the public meeting can be seen on the Planning Department’s website here.

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Henderson County Rail-Trail

Advisory Committee

(November Meeting Summary)

By Matt Revis

Chuck McGrady (Chair) began this meeting by noting the great work of Hendersonville and Henderson County staff in the planning and execution of the Ecusta Trail (ET) groundbreaking event held late October at the Veterans Healing Farm, captured in this video. A large crowd of trail supporters and stakeholders influential in the long effort to bring the ET to the edge of construction watched the ritual of shoveled dirt signifying the start of construction. All Henderson County Commissioners attended along with Mayor Copelof and city staff from Brevard.

Of special note, Henderson Commissioners approved the contract for construction of the trail. Awarded to NHM Constructors at a cost of $10,629,359. Marcus Jones (Henderson County Engineer) commented that staff from NHM have been cooperative during the complex bureaucratic machinations related to the various funding sources, each source with its own rules and expectations. These funds should be approved at the next NC Board of Transportation meeting on November 15. With funds released, NHM will begin installation of drainage control and track clearing necessary to prep the trail for paving. Initial paving may begin Spring of 2024 and Mr. Jones anticipated a finish date for this first section of the ET (termed Ecusta East) by the end of 2024.

In addition, progress moves rapidly toward construction of the next 5 miles of trail, now called Ecusta West, as shared by Jones and Autumn Radcliff (Henderson Planning). The Henderson Board of Commissioners (BOC) has approved the selection of Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson, Inc. (JMT) to perform preliminary engineering of this section. The BOC also approved an agreement with the NC Department of Transportation (NC DOT) to allow Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) money for this purpose, and it is expected the Board of Transportation will pass a final approval in December 2023. If so, JMT will begin Preliminary Engineering (PE) in January 2024. The expected completion time of PE for Ecusta West is approximately 18 months, after which bidding will begin for construction of this final Henderson section. Potentially building of the Ecusta West section will coincide with the start of ET construction in Transylvania County.

The NC DOT has forwarded a list of trail amenities to the Federal Highways Administration requesting approval for grant funds to pay for trailside convenience such as trash bins, parking, restrooms, bike racks, water fountains, benches and trail signage. Stakeholders and grant requestors did not anticipate that grant funds would pay for such items.

Next meeting of this group is to be determined later, possibly skipping the regular December meeting (12/13) and re-convening January 10, 2024.

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November Fundraising

The Dream is Becoming a Reality!

Now that the excitement of the grant money and the Ecusta Trail groundbreaking is in the rear view, the Ecusta Trail continues to be in need of additional funding. We hope that you will consider this year’s Giving Tuesday (November 28) as your opportunity to continue to support the Ecusta Trail.

DONATE NOW!

November/December ET Events

Henderson County R-TAC Meeting

Our next meeting may be 12/13/23 or 1/10/24. Please check our website for the latest details.

https://www.hendersoncountync.gov/bc-rtac

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Brevard Ecusta Trail Advisory Board Meeting
November 29, 2023 @ 3:30pm – 5:30pm

No meeting in December. See you next year!

Open to the public. Meeting at City Council Chambers.

FOET NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTORS: Bernard Grauer, Lynn Huffman, John Lanier, RJ Miner, Matt Revis and Cindy Ruzak.

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Trail Talk - October 2023

October 2023

County Awards Construction Contract

By Lynn Huffman

Wednesday, September 20, was a big day for the Ecusta Trail. The Henderson County Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve a $10 million contract to construct the first six miles of the Ecusta Trail. The approved contractor is Asheville-based NHM Constructors, Inc. Incidentally, this section from Hendersonville to Horse Shoe is being called Ecusta Trail East by the planning department, and the remaining five miles to the Transylvania County line is being called Ecusta Trail West.

Photo by Real Digital Productions

In the same meeting, the commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the contract for the design and engineering of Ecusta Trail West. The approved engineering firm is the same one used for Ecusta Trail East, Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson Inc. (JMT).

Sierra Nevada Makes Major Gift to Ecusta Trail

By Rose Jenkins Lane

Mills River-based Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has made a major gift of $250,000 toward the completion of the Ecusta Trail, Conserving Carolina announced in a press release Tuesday, September 19.

The gift will help release major federal grants by counting toward the local match for trail construction. Any remaining funds may be used to provide vital amenities so the public can access and enjoy the trail. These may include trailheads, parking areas, restrooms, kiosks, shelters and benches.

“The establishment of the new Ecusta Trail in Henderson County, just down the road from our brewery, will provide alternative transportation and recreation benefits to the region—connecting communities and promoting health and wellness," said Sierra Grossman, the brewing company's vice president of Community & Corporate Philanthropy. "Supporting this project feels like a natural fit, and we’re proud to have contributed to it.”

Kieran Roe, executive director of Conserving Carolina, said, “We are thrilled and grateful to announce this leadership gift from Sierra Nevada in support of the Ecusta Trail. We anticipate that the Ecusta Trail will be a huge boost to our local economy as a popular local greenway and a destination rail trail. When people have more opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors, that means more customers for businesses like breweries, restaurants, shops, outfitters and lodging. This exceptionally generous gift from Sierra Nevada will benefit our whole community by supporting local businesses, creating jobs and raising quality of life.”

Mark Tooley, president of Friends of Ecusta Trail, said, “We are so grateful to Sierra Nevada for their support of the Ecusta Trail. We thank them for this generous gift and their continued support of initiatives like this and to their contributions to the economy and well-being of WNC. Monetary pledges such as this one have been responsible for leveraging many millions of dollars in grants that will be used to construct the Ecusta Trail and create a generational asset for the people of the region.”

Sierra Nevada is one of many local businesses and individuals that have given generously to make the dream of the Ecusta Trail real. In all, the local community gave millions of dollars toward the trail. These donations are making it possible to unlock major state and federal grants, including the more than $45 million in federal grants announced this summer. Over 90 major donors who gave $5,000 or more are recognized at conservingcarolina.org/ecusta-trail-donors.

A subsidiary of Conserving Carolina purchased the 19-mile trail corridor in 2021. Since then, Conserving Carolina and Friends of Ecusta Trail have been working together on a successful campaign to raise the matching funds needed for construction. A groundbreaking on the first section of the Ecusta Trail—a 5.6-mile stretch between Hendersonville and Horse Shoe—is expected this fall. Ultimately, the trail will extend from Hendersonville to Brevard.

(Rose Jenkins Lane is the Communications and Marketing Director for Conserving Carolina. This article originally appeared in the Lightning on Tuesday, September 19, 2023.)

Henderson County Rail-Trail

Advisory Committee

A Henderson County RTAC meeting was not held in September.

Brevard Ecusta Trail

Advisory Board

The Brevard Ecusta Trail Advisory Board October article will be published in our November newsletter.

Trail Groups Speak To Brevard City Council

By John Lanier

Representatives of several organizations involved in building the Ecusta Trail made presentations to the Brevard City Council on Monday, September 18.

Mark Tooley, president of the Friends of Ecusta Trail (FOET), provided a quick history of efforts to convert the old Ecusta rail line to a hiking/biking path. FOET was incorporated in 2010. In 2014, Norfolk Southern sold the rail line to Watco/Blue Ridge Southern Railroad, which indicated in 2019 that it was willing to sell the line. Ecusta Rails2Trail LLC purchased the rail line in 2021. This year the federal government has awarded nearly $46 million for the Ecusta Trail.

The western terminus of the trail will connect to Brevard’s Estatoe Trail. Thus, once the Ecusta Trail is completed, the trails will connect “Main Street to Main Street,” he said.

He said the trail would serve as an economic engine for the region, revitalize the communities through which it passes, and provide a transportation alternative. FOET is in the process of designing signage, rebranding of the trail, designing and placing trail amenities, and fundraising while continuing close cooperation with the City of Brevard and Henderson County.

Vicki Eastland of the Land of Sky Rural Planning Organization (LOSPRO) said the LOSPRO staff initiated the application process for the $1 million FLAP grant to be used for designing and engineering of the trail. It was the first FLAP grant in the state. She also said the RPO staff is a liaison for the City of Brevard with the North Caroling Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and will work closely with the city to develop and deliver the trail it envisions.

Wesley Jamison of NCDOT said the NCDOT is working with the federal government to finalize agreements on the RAISE and NSFLTP grants, and once those agreements are signed, the funds will become eligible for use.

The RAISE grant will require monthly and quarterly reporting on both the financial status and progress while the NSFLTP grant will require bi-annual reporting on the financial status and progress, as well as an annual budget review.

Brevard City Manager Wilson Hooper clarified that when the City of Brevard received the RAISE grant, it transferred it to the NCDOT so that NCDOT could work with the federal government on both grants. NCDOT also will be responsible for reporting to the federal government.

Autumn Radcliff of Henderson County said that the county worked with NCDOT, Conserving Carolina (CC) and FOET to acquire right-of-way for the trail. She added that Henderson County was awarded $7.8 million in STBG-DA funds to design and construct the first 6 miles of the trail and another $10.5 million for construction of the last 5 miles in Henderson County. The Henderson County Board of Commissioners also leased the rail property from CC and approved the creation of the Rail Trail Advisory Committee (RTAC).

She said Henderson County created an encroachment policy to address utility, road, and driveway encroachments and trail connections. The county also will be kicking off its Ecusta Trail Partners program in October.

Chris Todd of Henderson County relayed some of the messages they have learned since Henderson County is further along in the designing and construction process than Brevard.

Todd said they had to decide on whether bridges should be renovated or replaced. He said they decided to replace the bridges because the cost differential was nominal, the environmental impact would be positive and it would require less maintenance.

He said it is important to design and build the trail “right the first time” because funding is much more difficult to procure for future repairs and improvements. As a result, the trail will be constructed to a high standard and, since safety is a top priority, bridges will be able to accommodate the weight of ambulances.

He told city council members to expect the unknown, particularly regarding drainage. He said some of the railway was not well maintained and parts are in low-lying areas and wetlands.

He said no local taxpayer money is being used in the design or the construction of the trail, but that local funds may have to be used for future maintenance. New construction, however, should keep future maintenance costs low.

Todd said they talked at length with those overseeing the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville, S.C. The trail in South Carolina is only 8-10 feet wide and sometimes gets congested. As a result, they decided to make the Ecusta Trail 14-feet wide in urban areas and 12-feet wide in rural areas.

Lonnie Watkins, the NCDOT’s project manager for the Ecusta Trail, said his duties include budget/funding, schedule, ensuring quality, and coordination and communication with the various entities. He will be the project manager from the beginning to the end of the project.

Watkins said the project is complicated because of the various funding sources and the restrictions as to how some of those sources can be used. The FLAP grant, for example, can be used only for engineering and design.

He hopes bids on the Brevard end of the trail, which stretches from the Henderson County line to the area near Oskar Blues, could be let in 2025 with construction possibly completed in 2026.

Christy Staudt, a design engineer for TPD (Traffic Planning and Design, Inc.) who is working on the Ecusta Trail, said people ask “What is there to design?” since the rail bed is already in place. She said even on the flat portions, they have to study proximity to roads, water runoff from impermeable surfaces, property impact, utilities, etc. In some areas the rail bed has to be raised out of the floodway.

She said they also have to design bridges and “Each bridge is different.”

Roadway crossings, some of which “are really tough,” also have to be designed to protect those using the trail while not impeding vehicular traffic.

Staudt also said that federal funding means meeting federal requirements, which range from transportation needs and social impacts to ecological and economic impacts.

She concluded that there would be a chance in the future for public input.

When Yeast Hits the Honey

By Bernard Grauer

Oh, the splendid sweet and nutty flavors of sourwood honey. Drops of golden nectar go into each bottle of beer to add a complex and flavorful taste. When Sideways Brewing states, “beer grown here,” they mean it. Five fully flourishing bee hives skirt the wildflower garden to produce some of the tasteful sourwood notes with the small batch varieties of beer.

The bees are not the only ones buzzing with business. The collaborative work between Jon, Lou, and their families is hustling to make deadlines as familiar faces are expected back to the relaunch of Sideways. Sideways Brewery is nestled along the Ecusta Trail in Etowah, NC. Patrons can expect weekend hours of 4-8 PM on Fridays, 12-8 PM on Saturdays, and 12-6 PM on Sundays.

It was 1985 when Lou Schafer brewed his first small batch of beer. Friends, family, and admirers came again and again to indulge in Lou’s homebrew crafts in Austin, Texas. Lou and his wife Julie (current owners of Sideways) fell in love with Jon Schneider’s (founder of Sideways) Belgum-style brewing process. The couple was impressed with the careful attention to the soils, locally grown ingredients, and beautiful brightwork and recently purchased Sideways from Schneider. A lot of work has gone into the relaunch of the beautiful 7-acre farm.

The Sideways Farm and Brewery reopened on October 6th with renewed fanfare of seasonal favorites such as Double Goat IPA, Sideways White, jars of their local honey, and many more. Come sample the smooth flavors of Jon and Lou’s work this season before it’s gone. For more information about Sideways Brewing, check out their website here.

All new Ecusta Trail Swag and Merch is coming soon so all of our current shirt inventory have been reduced to $10! Items are selling fast so get yours today!

October ET Events

Henderson County R-TAC Meeting

October 11, 2023 @ 10:00am – 12:00pm

https://www.hendersoncountync.gov/bc-rtac

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Brevard Ecusta Trail Advisory Board Meeting
October 25, 2023 @ 3:30pm – 5:30pm

Open to the public. Meeting at City Council Chambers.

FOET NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTORS: Bernard Grauer, Lynn Huffman, John Lanier, RJ Miner, Matt Revis and Cindy Ruzak.

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