Durham–Roxboro Rail Trail Plan, Costs, and Timeline

The County Board reviews a draft plan to convert 18 miles of inactive rail into a multi‑use trail, outlining phased buildout over 10–20 years, flexible road crossings, and an estimated $46–$57 million price tag. Public input showed strong support alongside concerns about safety, gentrification, and environmental impacts, with trailheads sited on public land to avoid eminent domain. 9mins

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Original Meeting

Monday, October 6th, 2025
11764.551
Full Meeting on Granicus
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Bike Durham Advocacy, Old West Durham, Duke
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In This Video
  • A speaker introduced the draft final plan summary for converting an 18-mile inactive rail corridor in Durham County into a greenway trail and recognized the multi-jurisdictional team and consultants involved.
  • A consultant summarized the year-long planning study for the Durham to Roxboro Rail Trail, outlining the multi-agency leadership, historical context of corridor acquisition without eminent domain, anticipated NCDOT ownership, phased development over 10–20 years, and the project’s goals including assets, partnerships, connectivity, cultural identity, and implementation strategy.
  • A consultant reported that early community engagement included focus groups, pop-up events, and an online and in-person survey with nearly 3,000 participants across 88 zip codes to gather input on local context and desired trail features.
  • A consultant reported that survey results showed strong overall support with 15% strongly opposing, highlighted desired uses like walking, biking, and running, interest in connections and amenities such as restrooms, shade, trailheads, and signage, and noted expected frequency of use ranging from daily to a few times a month with 18% saying they would never use the trail.
  • A consultant outlined plan development for the 18.2-mile corridor, describing GIS and aerial analyses, consideration of other trail examples, and identification of trailhead sites on publicly held parcels without requiring eminent domain or private landowner negotiations.
  • A consultant presented corridor-wide recommendations calling for a 12–14 foot asphalt trail with crushed stone shoulders to extend pavement life and provide additional passing and softer-surface space.
  • A consultant noted that while equestrian interest came from a smaller group of survey respondents, the team identified a potential future North Durham alternative configuration that could be pursued with partnerships and further analysis.
  • A consultant explained that, based on input from the City of Durham and NCDOT, the plan recommended flexible roadway crossing treatments with both signalized and unsignalized options and a toolkit of advance street measures to improve approach safety.
  • A consultant reported that the second, more in‑depth survey drew 453 participants and showed 71% in favor of the trail, consistent with earlier support.
  • A consultant described second‑phase engagement including three public workshops in downtown, Braggtown, and North Durham County with over 90 attendees, along with four focus groups.
  • A consultant summarized second‑phase engagement with nearly 400 participants outside the survey, noting feedback to limit environmental impacts, concerns about crime and gentrification, and enthusiasm for connections to communities and local assets.
  • A consultant explained that the southern corridor would be advanced through phased implementation, breaking the 18.2‑mile route into 6 segments beyond the five planning sections since it could not be built all at once.
  • A consultant highlighted key community assets and connections along the corridor, including links to the Tobacco Trail and future Durham Rail Trail, proximity to schools, parks, and a library near Braggtown, and access via multiple GoDurham bus routes to enable public transportation to the trail.
  • A consultant described the existing East Club Boulevard rail corridor crossing and presented a rendering showing a likely signalized treatment to provide a safe crossing in the Braggtown area.
  • A consultant highlighted two road crossings and key connections near Penny’s Bend, noting the area as a major recreation hub with the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and an elementary school, and proposed a shared trailhead serving the Rail Trail, East Coast Greenway, and nearby amenities.
  • A consultant outlined the third segment from Penny’s Bend to Rhododendron as just under four miles with one bridge over the Little River, three road crossings, and multiple connections to nearby schools, a community college, and Catawba Trail Farm.
  • A consultant detailed the fourth segment from Rhododendron to Ball Road with eight at‑grade road crossings, key destinations including the Stagville State Historic Site, Horton Grove, and Lake Michie, noted Mangum Elementary, and explained where the East Coast Greenway would diverge.
  • A consultant concluded that the Norfolk Southern‑owned corridor would be acquired without eminent domain, outlined funding prospects including 80/20 federal matches and state parks support via designated state trails, and estimated construction costs at $46–$57 million with full details to come in the final report.
  • A speaker invited public feedback and explained that an approval request for the local share of corridor acquisition funding would be coming soon, while noting design and construction funding would occur in phases over future budget cycles.
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