Jim Wise, a long time Durham columnist, presents a short history of efforts to plan and then obtain funding and permits for the bridge to be built over I-40 over the next 12-15 months. The 2006 petition asking for expedited action by Durham was sponsored by TRTC.

In early May, TRTC was one of three organizations to receive a generous grant from proceeds of the 2010 marathon. TRTC received $20,000, the Wounded Warrior Project received $10,000 and $5,000 was awarded to the Red Cross to be directed to the Haitian relief fund. TRTC was involved in trail preparation for the event and intends to continue as an active supporter of the event in 2011. We plan to use the funds over the next two years for ATT trail enhancements and for surface upgrades at areas such as the Eagle Spur trail.

Clean Energy-Durham is sponsoring a "get out and walk around the downtown" event on Sunday May 23rd from 2 to 6 pm. One mile of city streets near downtown will be opened to biking, walking and playing. Come enjoy the safety and fun of open streets, and participate in free dance and aerobics classes, play catch in the old ballpark, and more. Please see the Summer Streets site for more on this and their other upcoming events.

We were busy last week. Cole Concrete took advantage of the nice weather and completed the grading, concrete pouring and bollard installation. This 115' walkway is just north of Mile 1 on the ATT and now provides a smooth connection to Lawson Street and the NCCU area for walkers, cyclists and wheelchairs. Local residents started using it immediatly and see it as an asset to their community. At our May 1st workday we prepared the side areas for grass and gave the sturdy 6" bollards an initial coat of paint. Over the next few weeks we'll be doing a bit of clean-up and landscaping. Here is a glimpse of this new connector where it comes into the trail.

Chatham County and the City of Cary will hold a Grand Opening on Saturday June 5th from 10 to noon at the Pittard Sears Road access. (The rain date and time is Sunday, June 6th from 2 to 4.) The event will be held along the trail south of Pittard Sears towards the Panther Creek bridge. Parking will be along Pittard Sears Road and in a nearby development being constructed on the west side of the trail at this intersection. All trail users are invited. The event will include refreshments and remarks by TRTC and local and State staff who worked to make this section happen. Congressman David Price and the press will be invited. Information tables/booths by groups are encouraged. For further information please contact Cary's Festival Coordinator Joy Ennis.

On April 3rd we held a successful workday to cut up and remove some fallen trees and do a bit more on general trash removal in the wooded area bordering South Street. See workday PIC of volunteers. Our efforts to get the ATT connector built are moving well. (As reported earlier, funding we obtained under the Adopt-A-Trail grant program will be used to build a 115' connector trail from the ATT to South Street). We are evaluating proposals for grading and paving and expect to have the contractor work completed by mid-May.