Greenway project looks for extra funding

Carrboro will have to find other funding sources for greenway trails by Morgan Creek and Bolin Creek.

Now that extra miles have been added to the Bolin Creek trail plan, the project cost estimates exceed the funds the project has, said Randy Dodd, the environmental planner for the Town of Carrboro, after the meeting.

The planning budget for the greenways is $145,000, and the construction budget is $1.6 million.

When the funds were given to the commission five years ago, it was enough to cover the project, Dodd said. Since then, extra miles have been added to the plans.

The Greenways Commission plans to ask the federal government for some funding through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program.

“This federal funding source is targeted at getting people out of cars and to bicycle more,” Dodd said.

He presented a map Tuesday evening to the board of where the greenway trails will run.

The Bolin Creek greenway will start at Estes Drive and run up toward the Carolina North property and Homestead Road. Both the Bolin Creek greenway and the Morgan Creek greenway will connect to paths already in Chapel Hill, providing access to the downtown area.

An initial funding request for the greenways was submitted in 2003. The commission was created by the board in June 2007.

 Construction on the greenways is expected to start in late 2010.


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