Let’s get this going!!! 

The completion of the Greenway Trail to the ASU campus has been bogged down for years now, and while everyone is enthusiastic about getting it done--it isn't getting done. I know the extension of the greenway has hit some roadblocks, but we need to roll up our sleeves and get to work on finding an alternative route that reaches campus! Maybe this route won't be perfect, but hopefully it will suffice until we can get the dream route in place. Maybe a route across the Boone Mall parking lot could be a possibility. The Mall might be receptive: they have done a great job rehabilitating the mall and allowing a bike path across their property might help attract even more business.

I would also like to see a new branch of the Greenway Trail being planned on the northern end of town--going from the industrial park to the campus. A lot of growth has occured in this area and I think a new branch of the Greenway would be beneficial.

The Greenway not only needs to connect to ASU so more students can use it, it should also be designed and built to promote connectivity between neighborhoods, schools, and commercial districts. More people would use alternative transportation if it were safe and pathways led to places they needed to go--and if the weather was better in the winter.

We should also request that the NC Department of Transportation install bike lanes that connect University Village and Farthing St. to Hardin Park and the new high school when they are designing the new 421--what a great way for students to get to school!

Ways to get the Greenway Trail Accomplished

I think most everyone would like to see a Greenway System throughout town. Right now we are only partially there. Sure we can apply for grants and other funding sources, but even if we were awarded the money, do we have the trail system planned out and do we have the proper right-of way agreements across people’s private land to put this system into place? From my standpoint, we need to first map out a workable trail system. We probably need to come up with a few alternative routes in case one does not work. Then we need to get permission from the landowners whose land we hope to use. It would be nice if these landowners gave the town right-of-ways, but that may not be economically feasible. So in return, if the landowners would give the town an easement for the right-of way, the town would either give them a tax credit or give them more permissive use of their land (e.g. allow the landowner to increase their building densities or decrease the parking or landscaping requirements). In the end, the citizens benefit from the Greenway and the landowner benefits from either reduced taxes or greater economic potential. As for funding sources, the town should still pursue grants, but if that is not enough, we need to look elsewhere. Some other “elsewhere’s” could include: setting up a donation fund or sponsoring an event such as a race that would raise money for the Greenway. No matter how it works out, I just hope that one day Boone will have a Greenway System that runs throughout the town: one that all people (residents, students and visitors) can enjoy and one that might just help reduce the traffic on our roadways.
 
Simply Put:
Get ‘er done!