Several years ago TRTC identified that users of the South Durham section of the ATT were often unaware that restrooms were available only a short distance from the trail at Herndon Park. As many users had asked us about facilities there and elsewhere on the trail we took action to try raise resources for construction of an all- weather path from the ATT to the Herndon building. Last year we were successful in getting a State Adopt-A-Trail grant and generous donations from the Carolina Tarwheels and the Tobacco Road Marathon. Construction of this 8' foot wide concrete walkway was completed in early June and is being used already. It is located ~600' north of Scott-King Rd. on the west side of the ATT. There is still some work remaining on the drainage basins and 1 small culvert but these should be done by late July. We're working to get signs to let trail users know of this new short cut to the restrooms. Take a look at some recent pictures of this fine new amenity.

(ATT south of NC 54 and bridge spanning I-40)

Durham's Public Works Department web site has reinstated their posting of summaries of the project's status. The final permits have now been obtained and the Request for Proposals were released in early June. Opening of the formal, sealed bids is now scheduled for July 13th and a contract should be signed by early Fall. Construction is expected to require 1 year.

In early February the State DOT installed numerous NO PARKING signs on both sides of O'Kelly Chapel Road adjacent to the ATT crossing as well as at the other two crossings. Chatham County has informed us that the State Highway Patrol is now enforcing these restrictions as of ~ February 22, 2011. With these restrictions now in place, users wanting to access this area of the ATT may want to consider parking at Herndon Park (at Scott-King Road) or west of the crossing on Pittard-Sears road. The short utility access driveway just east of the crossing on New Hope Church Road is no longer available for trail parking since the town of Cary has recently posted No Parking signs there. We understand that Chatham County is looking into the sign postings on Pittard-Sears and New Hope Church Rd.

The second Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon will be held on the ATT on Sunday March 20th. Again this year, TRTC will be a benificiary of race proceeds. This is a large event and volunteers are needed on race day and on the 18th and 19th. Several of us from TRTC will be helping out on race day. There are volunteer opportunities for individuals and for groups. If you are interested in volunteering, please click on the Volunteer tab for details.

The American Tobacco Trail and rail-trails across NC are featured in Rick Sullivan's story on "North Carolina Weekend". TRTC's Dave Connelly and Board members from NC Rail-Trails were interviewed for this show on the trail. The show debuted on UNC-TV Thursday, Nov. 4th at 9pm. NC Weekend was repeated over the next few days on both UNC-TV and UNC-EX. For those who missed these on air showings, please go to a VIDEO of the Rail-Trails segment.

Late in November 2010 we were pleased to receive a generous gift of $5000 from the Carolina Tarwheels Bicycle Club. We will be using this gift to help fund the construction of a path that will connect the ATT to existing restrooms and parking spaces in Herndon Park near Scott King Road; construction will be undertaken in 2011. The Tarwheels, who organize regular social rides around the Piedmont and use their yearly Bikefests to fund local bicycling-related causes, have donated to TRTC to help with other projects in the past. We very much appreciate their continued support.