Durham Open Space and Trails Commission (DOST)

Advocating outdoor recreation opportunities for Durham residents since 1983


DOST website

Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of questions we often field when tabling events such as Earth Day, the Festival for the Eno, and CenterFest.

American Tobacco Trail - in Durham County
  • When will the bridge over I-40 be built?
  • When will the trail connecting NC54 to Chatham County be built?
  • How will they surface the trail from NC54 to the Chatham County line?

    • American Tobacco Trail - in Chatham County
  • What is the status of the trail in Chatham County?

    • American Tobacco Trail - General
  • When did they start building the trail?
  • Why is it called the American Tobacco Trail?
  • How long will the ATT be when it's all connected?
  • Who is the Triangle Rails to Trails Conservancy (TRTC)?
  • When are they going to fix the crossing at MLK Parkway and Fayetteville Street?

    • All other trails in Durham County
  • When will the trail to West Point on the Eno be built?
  • What is the status of the Third Fork Creek Trail?
  • The new NC147 pedestrian bridge is in place.  When will it be open for pedestrians and bikers?
  • What is happening with the abandoned railroad in downtown Durham that goes under Mangum Street?
  • What is happening with the abandoned railroad corridor that goes from Durham up to Person County (that runs through Treyburn and along US501)?
  • The trail that goes from Club Boulevard to Murray Avenue (i.e, the one near the dinosaurs) is in really bad shape. What is being done about it?

    • Bike Lanes
  • Where are the existing bike lanes in Durham?
  • Are there any new bike lanes planned for Durham?

    • The Stimulus Package
  • Are federal stimulus dollars being spent on any trails/bike lanes/sidewalks?
  • Why were these particular projects chosen?

    • When will the bridge over I-40 be built?
  • This has been the most asked question the past few years. This is being led by the city of Durham's Public Works Engineering department, and is part of Phase E.
  • The department has already been working on getting local and state approvals for the design and site plan. Hopefully those will be secured by the end of 2010.
  • They hope to advertise the project for construction in the Fall of 2010.
  • Construction is slated to begin in late 2010, to be completed by end of 2011. It may be likely that this timeline will slip into 2012.

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    When will the trail connecting NC54 to Chatham County be built?

    Same timelines as the bridge, as it is part of Phase E. The proposed route is depicted in this PDF map from the City.

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    How will they surface the trail from NC54 to the Chatham County line?
  • This is also part of Phase E- total distance is about 3.8 miles.
  • The plan is to pave a 10-foot wide trail from NC54 to Scott King Road, which would match the current cross-section north of NC54 (3.2 miles).
  • DOST and TRTC also asked for a combined asphalt/granite screenings surface (dual surface trail) from the Chatham county line to Scott King Road (about six-tenths of a mile), as this surface type is being built in Chatham county. The city asked for a secondary design to include this surface type, and will bid it out with the dual surface and without it. Costs and bids will dictate which is actually built.
  • DOST asked for a dual surface trail from Massey Chapel Road to Scott King Road, but the city said there wasn't funding for it.
  • TRTC, DOST and others would like there to be a parking lot at Scott King road, which could service equestrian users. However, part of the reason for having a granite screening surface is to accommodate joggers and walkers, not just horses.

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    What is the status of the trial in Chatham County?
    The Chatham County section of the Trail was completed in the Spring of 2010 and is open for users.  The surface includes a paved lane for bike riders and walkers and a gravel/screenings path for joggers and horses.  The entire section from the Wake County Line to the Durham County Line is open.  Be careful as you cross the roads in this section.  These road are rural country roads and several crossings are close to curves.  Be sure to stop and look in both directions before crossing. 

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    When did they start building the trail?
  • The half-mile section behind the Kroger/Southpoint Crossing shopping center up to Dunhill Drive in Durham was actually the first to be built, and that was in 1998.
  • The first major section to be built was in 2000 between Morehead Avenue and Cornwallis Road in Durham. Wake County completed its first section in 2003.

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    Why is it called the American Tobacco Trail?

    The trail mostly uses the old railroad corridor that stretched from Bonsal to downtown Durham. The rail line serviced the American Tobacco Company's factory in Durham, and was the source of the name.


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    How long will the ATT be when it's all connected?
  • The trail will stretch from Morehead Avenue in Durham all the way to the trailhead near New Hill-Olive Chapel Road in Wake County, which will be 22 miles. This does not include the Riddle Road Spur.
  • Note that the trail system north of Morehead Avenue in Durham is not the ATT; that is the city's North/South Greenway system.

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    Who is the Triangle Rails to Trails Conservancy (TRTC)?
  • They are the non-profit incorporation that advocated for the purchase of the old rail corridor, and its conversion to a trail, since the late 80s.
  • Once the corridor was purchased, the group has monitored the development of the trail and has lobbied to keep the project moving forward.
  • TRTC coordinated thousands of volunteer hours and a DOST grant to begin cleaning and clearing the old rail corridor in southern Durham county, opening it for trail use years before the city could do so.
  • TRTC has also coordinated a significant effort to open the trail up in Chatham County.

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    When are they going to fix the crossing at MLK Parkway and Fayetteville Street?

    The roadwork is associated with the new Lowe's that is opening on the corner (they are widening Fayetteville to include more turn lanes). The work should be wrapping up in July; the crossing signal and crosswalk should be restored then.


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    When will the trail to West Point on the Eno be built?
  • Another question that is asked a lot. The connecting trail would be the Lower Warren Creek Trail, which would be part of Durham's North/South Greenway system. It could pick up from the current Upper Warren Creek Trail, which ends at Horton Road.
  • Unfortunately there is no money allocated for design or construction.
  • Also, significant pieces of the corridor haven't been secured. The fate of a large tract south of the park, the Black Meadow Ridge, hasn't been settled yet. The city of Durham has been in discussion with NC's Parks Department about the possible purchase of the tract by NC Parks. As part of the deal, NC parks would also buy West Point on the Eno, currently a city park.
  • If NC Parks buys both Black Meadow Ridge and West Point on the Eno, hopefully the state would allow a trail corridor(s) through it. There are two possible routes.
  • If NC Parks doesn't buy these pieces of land, then the current landowner of Black Meadow Ridge may elect to sell it for development. If developed, the developer would have to at least dedicate a corridor for the trail.
  • One route would pick up from the Upper Warren Creek trail and follow the creek for about a half mile. However, there is a landowner along this stretch who hasn't been in favor of a trail. The trail would then cut to the east and eventually connect with an existing footpath in the West Point Park. Given the terrain and stream crossings, it would be difficult to make this route multi-purpose/paved.
  • Another route would involve connecting to the Argonne Hills subdivision to the south, and following the sewer easement that parallels Roxboro Road. Unfortunately this would not connect directly to the Upper Warren Creek trail, but could allow a more direct bicycle route from Stadium Drive.
  • This trail is one of the top five trail projects that DOST would like to see completed (see the DOST PDF map of Warren Creek Trail).

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    What is the status of the Third Fork Creek Trail?
  • After several delays, construction began in the Spring of 2010.  The expected completion date is May 2011.
  • This project is now using 2005 bonds and some federal stimulus money to fill in the funding gaps.
  • Previous budget cuts had limited the project to the length between MLK Parkway and Woodcroft, as well as an eight-foot width.
  • With the supplemental funds, the project will stretch from Garrett Road Park on Garrett Road to Southern Boundaries Park north of MLK Parkway, and the trail will be ten feet wide. The total distance will be about 3 miles.
  • Please see the DOST PDF map of the Third Fork Creek for more details and the City Planning Site for updates and pictures.

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    The new NC147 pedestrian bridge is in place.  When will it be open for pedestrians and bikers?
  • The new bridge, which will be called the "R Kelly Bryant, Jr." bridge in honor of the longtime trail and civil-rights leader, is nearly complete. At present, the dedication and opening of this bridge is set for early September. The north end of the trail will open onto a wide sidewalk which parallels 147 and ends at Alston Avenue. On the south side of the bridge a ramp will enable bike riders to decend to Lakeland Street. One block from the ramp is Mathison Street. Turning left on Mathison will take you to the Bacon Street Spur, which parallels 147 running east to Bacon Street. The Trails Committee of DOST is working with several neighborhood groups to clean up this trail and construct a small bridge over some gullies. This is also the entrance for the Burton Park Trail which runs south into Burton Park and will eventually connect to the Rocky Creek Trail.
  • Previous Trails Master Plans showed a trail going over the old bridge. The current Master Plan does not, as it was approved when the old bridge was closed. DOST is in the process of updating the Master Plan, and this update will include routing either the Rocky Creek or Burton Park Trail close to or over the bridge.

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    What is happening with the abandoned railroad in downtown Durham that goes under Mangum Street?
  • This project was known as the 'Duke Beltline.'
  • Unfortunately the rail company that still owns it, Norfolk Southern, and the city could not arrive at a mutually agreeable price for this corridor.
  • The money set aside by the city for purchase of this rail corridor has since been reallocated to completing the Third Fork Creek Trail.
  • Two federal earmarks were set aside for purchase of this corridor. One of them has already been reallocated to completion of the ATT. Another earmark, which is solely for acquisition of rail corridor, hasn't been used. DOST is asking if there is a way to use this for acquisition of the Panther Creek rail corridor in eastern Durham County. (See the DOST resolution, here.)

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    What is happening with the abandoned railroad corridor that goes from Durham up to Person County (that runs through Treyburn and along US501)?
  • The city, county, and state were all interested in acquiring this corridor in 2005. Unfortunately the rail company that still owns it, Norfolk Southern, decided it didn't want to sell the portion that runs from Durham up to Timberlake in Person County. Hopefully Norfolk Southern will reconsider this at a later time.
  • Sections of this corridor from Timberlake to Roxboro reverted to local landowners.
  • The Beltline portion in downtown Durham was still for sale, but Norfolk Southern and the city of Durham could not agree on a price (see above).

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    The trail that goes from Club Boulevard to Murray Avenue (i.e, the one near the dinosaurs) is in really bad shape. What is being done about it?
  • The section from Club Boulevard to Lavender is part of the Northgate Park rehabilitation. That should be finished this year. This is the part of the South Ellerbee Creek Trail section of the North/South Greenway.
  • he section from Lavender to Murray will be resurfaced using federal stimulus dollars. That should commence next year. This is the part of the Ellerbee Creek Trail section of the North/South Greenway.

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    Where are the existing bike lanes in Durham?

    Be sure to check out this online mapping resource from Nichomachus.net, as well.

  • Academy Rd. from Pinecrest Rd. to Duke University Rd. (0.5 miles)
  • Campus Dr. from Duke East Campus to Duke University Rd. (1.5 miles)
  • Cornwallis Rd. from Miami Blvd. to Fayetteville Rd. (4.5 miles)
  • Duke University Rd. From Swift Ave. to Academy Rd. (1.1 miles)
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. from NC 55 to Hope Valley Rd. (4.0 miles)
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. from Hope Valley Rd. to University Dr (1.6 miles)
  • Revere Rd. From Sedwick Rd. to NC 54 (1.4 miles)
  • S. Roxboro from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to Juliette Dr. (0.8 miles)
  • Chapel Hill Road from Pickett Road to Anderson Street (0.4 miles)
  • Downing Creek Parkway from NC 54 to Barbee Chapel Rd (0.9 miles)
  • Elizabeth St from Main St. to Carlton St. (0.4 miles)
  • Erwin Road from Anderson St. to Pettigrew St. (0.5 miles)
  • Leon St from Duke to Haverford (0.6 miles)
  • Nichols Farm Road from Holloway Street to Holder Road (1.2 miles)
  • Sedwick Rd from Dedmon Ct. to Verna St. (0.5 miles)
  • Lawson Street from Bacon St. to Briggs Ave. (0.5 miles)

    • Total mileage- 20.4 miles

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    Are there any new bike lanes planned for Durham?

    Short-term plans for bike lanes

  • Anderson Street (Chapel Hill Road to Duke University Road)
    Comment: Half of neckdowns between Chapel Hill Road and Morehead Avenuewill be removed this summer. This section will be resurfaced and bike lanes will be striped. City investigating striping of bike lanes between Morehead Avenue and Duke University Road as part of annual resurfacing project.

  • Briggs Avenue (Lawson to Riddle Road)
    Comment: Bike lanes may be applied to this road this year. These lanes would connect existing bike lanes on Lawson with the Riddle Road Spur of the ATT.

  • Chapel Hill St. (Duke University Rd to Downtown Loop)
    Comment: Restriping project. Transportation staff is studying a combination of bike lanes and sharrows on this section. This road may be resurfaced in 2010. A portion of this section of Chapel Hill Street is part of a proposed streetscape project. Duke University Road from Swift to Chapel Hill St could also be considered.

  • Cornwallis Rd (Erwin Rd to University Dr) Comment: New construction, at least on some portions. Funding has been approved. Sidewalk should also be considered as part of the project. Next step is to execute a municipal agreement with NCDOT.

  • Fayetteville St (Cornwallis/Riddle Rd to Lawson St)
    Comment: Restriping project. City has acquired Safe Routes to School funding for striping of bike lanes from Cornwallis Street to Nelson Street. Community meetings on this change to be scheduled in 2009.

  • Lakewood Ave (Fayetteville St to Chapel Hill Rd)
    Comment: Restriping project. May wish to request that Transportation staff study feasibility of restriping or sharrows. Critical portion of project is from Fayetteville to University Drive. Volumes on the rest of the route (University to Chapel Hill) are lower and striped bike lanes may not be necessary. The Heritage Square site at the corner of Lakewood and Fayetteville is currently under review and may provide an opportunity to restripe that section.

  • Morreene Rd (Erwin Rd to Neal Dr.)
    Comment: New construction, at least on some portions. CMAQ funds have been set aside for this project. Sidewalk should also be considered as part of the project. Additional funds have been requested. Next step is to execute a municipal agreement with NCDOT.

  • Main St (Great Jones to Alston Ave)
    Comment: Restriping project. A portion of this section of Main Street is part of a proposed streestscpe project. Transportation staff have requested that bike lanes and sharrows be included as part of the streetscape project.

  • Main St (Hillsborough Rd to Great Jones)
    Comment: Restriping project. Bridge over Campus Drive in front of Duke East Campus will be replaced, and city has requested that the road be restriped to three lanes with bike lanes from Ninth Street to Morgan. Parts of this road may be resurfaced in 2010.

  • Old Durham/ Chapel Hill Rd (University Dr./Garrett to Orange County line)
    Comment: Feasibility study has been prepared. NCDOT has agreed to manage the design and construction of the project. 25 percent design plans are currently being reviewed. Public meeting in fall 2009. Project to include bike lanes and sidewalk.

  • Washington Street (Club Blvd to Trinity)
    Comment: City staff will hold neighborhood meeting in August to discuss striping of bike lanes. Striping slated to begin in September.

    • Longer-term plans for bike lanes

  • Broad St / Swift Ave (Duke University Rd to Guess Rd)
    Comments: Restriping project. May wish to request that Transportation staff study feasibility of restriping or sharrows.

  • Buchanan Blvd (Club Blvd to W. Chapel Hill St)
    Comments: Restriping project. May wish to request that Transportation staff study feasibility of restriping or sharrows.

  • Club Blvd (Acadia St to Geer St)
    Comments: Portions of project involve restriping, other portions are new construction. May wish to request that Transportation staff study feasibility of restriping or sharrows.

  • Club Blvd (Hillandale Rd to Washington St)
    Comments: Restriping project. May wish to request that Transportation staff study feasibility of restriping or sharrows. Neckdowns have been constructed at Oval Park and have been proposed between Hillandale and Broad as a traffic calming measure.

  • Club Blvd (Acadia St to Washington St)
    Comments: Restriping project. May wish to request that Transportation staff study feasibility of restriping or sharrows.

  • Erwin Rd (Cameron Blvd to Main St)
    Comments: Following resurfacing in 2007, bike lanes were striped between Anderson and Main, and wider outside lanes (12-feet) were striped between Cameron and Anderson. In order to add additional bike lanes between Cameron and Anderson would probably require construction. Duke University officials have expressed interest in a median to improve the appearance and function of Erwin Road.

  • Fayetteville St / Elizabeth Street (Lawson St to Holloway St)
    Comments: Elizabeth Street from Main to Holloway was restriped with bike lanes in 2006. May wish to request that Transportation staff study feasibility of restriping from Lawson to Main. A redevelopment of the Heritage Square site at the corner of Lakewood and Fayetteville is currently under review and may provide an opportunity to restripe that section.

  • Fulton St (Hillandale Rd to Erwin Rd)
    Comments: Restriping project. May wish to request that Transportation staff study feasibility of restriping or sharrows.

  • Mangum St (Markham Ave to Lakewood Dr)
    Comments: Restriping project. May wish to request that Transportation staff study feasibility of restriping or sharrows.

  • South Roxboro St (Lakewood Ave to Cornwallis Rd)
    Comments: Restriping project. May wish to request that Transportation staff study feasibility of restriping or sharrows.

  • US 15-501 (Orange County line to University Dr.)
    Comments: Sidepath project. There may be an opportunity to build a portion of the path (from New Hope Creek to Garrett Road) as part of the 15-501 bridge replacement project.

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    Are federal stimulus dollars being spent on any trails/bike lanes/sidewalks?

    The Metropolitan Planning Organization for Durham, Chapel Hill and Carrboro (DCHC MPO) has assigned stimulus money for the following projects in Durham:

    Trails:

  • Third Fork Creek Trail- construction of two ends of the trail. Garrett Road Park to Woodcroft Parkway on the south, and MLK Parkway to Southern Boundaries Park on the north. Will also pay for ramp from MLK to trail.
  • North/South Greenway Trail (from Lavender to Murray Drive). Resurfacing of the trail, which is in bad shape. Includes 2' gravel shoulders.
  • American Tobacco Trail (Morehead to NC54) and Riddle Road Spur- Resurfacing. Includes 2' gravel shoulders.
  • American Tobacco Trail- traffic signal where it will cross Renaissance Parkway at Southpoint Mall.

    • Sidewalks:

  • Garrett Road (west-side) from Hope Valley to Swarthmore
  • Hope Valley Road (west-side) from Garrett Rd. to Swarthmore
  • Dearborn Avenue (south-side) from Old Oxford to Ruth
  • Washington Street (west-side) from Glendale to Trinity Ave.
  • Hillandale Road (east-side) from Cammie to Peppertree
  • Hillsborough Rd/ Markham St (south-side) from 15-501 Bypass to Broad Street
  • University Drive (north-side) between two connections to Chapel Hill Road

    • Bike Lanes:

    The DCHC MPO has asked NCDOT to use stimulus funds to resurface the following streets. After resurfacing, the city and Durham Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) are asking that these are striped to include bike lanes:

  • West Main Street from Morgan to Ninth
  • West Chapel Hill Street from Duke to Kent (sections)
  • Several roads are being resurfaced- BPAC and the city will request bike lanes where possible

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    Why were these particular projects chosen?
  • One of the intentions of the stimulus package was job creation and stimulating the economy as soon as possible, so potential projects had to fit extremely tight timelines. All of the money allocated for these projects have to be spent or obligated by spring of next year, or the money will be lost.
  • The focus was on 'shovel-ready' projects, which usually means that all the land acquisition, planning, design and most of the permitting have already been secured. The projects listed above had already been designed and approvals already sought. Resurfacing projects do not usually require a design or lengthy approvals, and are usually ready to go.
  • Other planned trails were not eligible for stimulus funds because they haven't been designed yet or corridors haven't been acquired yet.

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