THE IMPACT OF GREENWAYS in the TRIANGLE
How the East Coast Greenway Benefits the Health and Economy of North Carolina’s Triangle Region
PREPARED BY:
COMMISSIONED BY SPONSORED BY TABLE OF CONTENTS OF TABLE
04 COVER LETTER
05 EAST COAST MAP
06 TRIANGLE MAP
08 INTRODUCTION
12 METHODS
HEALTH + 14 ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
ECONOMIC 18 BENEFITS BENEFITS
TRANSPORTATION + 22 ACCESS BENEFITS
26 SOURCES
2 Cover: The Reedy Creek Trail section of the East Coast Greenway (ECG) in Raleigh (by NCDOT/WalkBikeNC). This page: The White Oak Greenway section of the 3 ECG, at Bond Park in Cary. COVER LETTER COVER
SMART INVESTMENTS IN A HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
As a native of the Triangle who made possible thanks to passion- generously gave us the resources brought our headquarters here ate volunteers, visionary elected to look more deeply at our impact in 2011, it is with great pride that leaders, generous supporters, as we gear up for much more. I share this impact report. The and expert professionals in the Thank you to everyone who Triangle deserves the limelight as public and private sectors. has made connecting to the a national leader in the East Coast The data throughout this report outdoors accessible to hundreds Greenway effort. And we want put together by Alta Planning + of thousands of people. Together everyone to know that community Design show that further invest- we can make the Triangle a leaders’ smart investments in ment in safe biking and walking global model — helping to spur public infrastructure are making infrastructure is warranted. inspired investments throughout a tremendous positive impact Returns have been strong, yet North Carolina, the Southeast, improving local quality of life, we have a long way to go to and beyond in the years ahead. public health, and the economy become the healthy and sustain- throughout central North Carolina. To a healthy & sustainable future, able region that is our exciting As I bike and walk on the potential. Greenway to work and after hours Many companies in the Triangle with my family, I see the miles are supportive of greenway of smiles that are the fruit of our development. To make this report labor. I see people of all ages and Dennis Markatos-Soriano possible, Glaxo Smith Klein colors, on bikes and scooters, Executive Director, East Coast rose to the occasion. GSK has pushing strollers and pulling Greenway Alliance supported our Greenway devel- trailers, enjoying this linear park opment efforts in the past and
4 EAST COAST MAP EAST COAST
ME Calais Bangor Augusta
Portland NH Portsmouth
MA Boston NY Hartford
New Haven CT Providence NJ RI PA New York
Philadelphia Wilmington MD Baltimore Washington DC Annapolis DE Fredericksburg
VA Richmond The EAST COAST in the GREENWAY Norfolk TRIANGLE NC Raleigh
Fayetteville New Bern
Wilmington SC Myrtle Beach
Charleston
GA Savannah
Brunswick
Jacksonville St.Augustine FL
Melbourne
Miami
Key West
5 TO OXFORD NC AND VIRGINIA
ELLERBE CREEK TRAIL FALLS LAKE ORANGE DUKE COUNTY UNIVERSITY DURHAM
DOWNTOWN TRAIL TRIANGLE MAP TRIANGLE
NCCU
DURHAM COUNTY
CHAPEL HILL
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK
AMERICAN TOBACCO TRAIL
RDU UMSTEAD STATE PARK TRAIL
The EAST COAST UMSTEAD MORRISVILLE STATE LAKE PARK in the CRABTREE GREENWAY PARK REEDY CREEK TRAIL TRIANGLE BLACK CREEK GREENWAY connects communities in four NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART counties, serving as a nearly 70-mile trail “spine” that links to many other trail systems throughout the CARY region.1 It provides residents and WHITE OAK GREENWAY visitors a fun and healthy way to explore parks, downtowns, college campuses, museums, shopping, restaurants, breweries, and historic ROCKY BRANCH TRAIL BLUE SECTIONS = IN DEVELOPMENT sites. It also serves as an active transportation corridor, getting people to work and to transit connections from their own neigh- borhoods. With the trail nearly com- APEX pletely connected, residents of the Triangle are already experiencing improvements in their quality of life, including many health-, environmen- tal-, economic-, and transportation- related benefits. WAKE COUNTY CHATHAM COUNTY 6 HOLLY SPRINGS THE TRIANGLE REGION GAINS THE FOLLOWING FROM THE EAST COAST GREENWAY:
11,225,000 7,407,000 3,592,000 800 ESTIMATED MILES ESTIMATED MILES HOURS OF PHYSICAL TEMPORARY AND BIKED PER YEAR WALKED PER YEAR ACTIVITY PER YEAR PERMANENT JOBS
$1.5M $87M $1.8M $164M IN HEALTH AND IN ECONOMIC IN TRANSPORTATION IN ONE-TIME ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS PER AND ACCESS PROPERTY BENEFITS PER YEAR YEAR BENEFITS PER YEAR BENEFITS
OVER IN TOTAL $ BENEFITS 90 MILLION PER YEAR
REEDY CREEK TRAIL ZEBULON
NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART
MEREDITH COLLEGE KNIGHTDALE NC STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH WENDELL
SHAW ROCKY BRANCH TRAIL UNIVERSITY
WAKE LITTLE ROCK TRAIL COUNTY WALNUT CREEK TRAIL
JOHNSTON NEUSE RIVER TRAIL COUNTY GARNER
WAKE COUNTY
CLAYTON TO WILMINGTON NC 7 AND SOUTH CAROLINA INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION alignment, approximates the For the purpose of this report, corresponding reduction in the ECG in the Triangle starts at This report contains an analysis vehicle trips and vehicle miles the Ellerbee Creek Trail north of the estimated quanti- travelled (VMT), and assesses the of Downtown Durham and ends fied benefits resulting from potential health-, environmental-, nearly 70 miles later along the implementation of the East economic-, and transportation- Neuse River Trail in the Town of Coast Greenway (ECG) in the related benefits. In total, it is Clayton. Research Triangle region of estimated that this section of the North Carolina. The analysis ECG generates $90,323,000 in estimates the number of annual health, environmental, bicycle and pedestrian trips economic, and transportation that take place near the trail benefits.
What Does It Connect?
6 CITIES & TOWNS
DURHAM MORRISVILLE APEX CARY RALEIGH CLAYTON
5 UNIVERSITIES
DUKE NORTH CAROLINA MEREDITH NC STATE SHAW UNIVERSITY CENTRAL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY
x8 x9 x8 27 PARKS
8 PARKS IN 9 PARKS IN 8 PARKS IN LAKE CRABTREE UMSTEAD DURHAM CARY RALEIGH PARK STATE PARK
5 MAJOR TRAIL SYSTEMS
DURHAM CARY RALEIGH NORTH THE NORTH BIKE & HIKE BIKE & HIKE CAPITAL AREA CAROLINA CAROLINA NETWORK NETWORK GREENWAY STATE BIKE MOUNTAINS- SYSTEM ROUTES 1 & 2 TO-SEA TRAIL
8 The Black Creek Greenway section of the ECG, at Bond Park in Cary. 9 INTRODUCTION Background & Context: How the Triangle Region Compares
The Research Triangle of North Accompanying this stunning Carolina (Raleigh- Durham- population and economic growth, Chapel Hill) has been one of there has been increasing the fastest-growing metro- public support for shared-use politan areas in the country. Its greenways. In numerous surveys population increased seven-fold conducted in the Triangle, invest- between 1970 (317,563) and ment in greenway expansion and 2014 (2,132,523).2 The area has improvement has consistently experienced a corresponding topped the ranking of citizen economic boom, thanks largely to preferences for government the three renowned universities expenditures.3 The widespread at each corner of the Triangle: support for greenway trails has NC State University in Raleigh, also been reflected in voter Text and information on this Duke University in Durham, and approval of virtually all bond page and the opposite page the University of North Carolina referenda to fund more greenway is adapted from, “Booming at Chapel Hill. The many research trails. City governments and the Greenway Trails in North institutions and high-tech firms in two metropolitan planning orga- Carolina’s Research Triangle”, the area have attracted highly- nizations in the area (CAMPO and by John Pucher, Professor educated professionals from DCHC MPO) have also dedicated Emeritus, Rutgers University. all over the world, so that the increasing amounts of their Triangle currently has the highest capital budgets for greenway ratio of doctorates per capita in trails. The NC Department of the United States. Transportation has contributed to funding, often derived from RICHMOND federal funds for pedestrian/ bicycling projects.
RALEIGH-DURHAM KNOXVILLE
CHARLOTTE
MEMPHIS
ATLANTA
10 NUMBER OF BICYCLE COMMUTERS IN THE SOUTHEAST U.S. Sources: 2000 US Census and American Community Survey, 2017 US Census Bureau; collected by John Pucher.
2000 2011-15 % INCREASE
1,214 829 128% 113% 148% 493 MEMPHIS KNOXVILLE 489 CHARLOTTE 363 231
3,919
2,863
2,382
1,048 173% 1,185 105% 2,163 81% ATLANTA RICHMOND RALEIGH-DURHAM
The result of increased funding Given the polycentric, decen- important, they preserve green and staffing for greenway tralized nature of the Research space adjacent to waterways and planning and construction is one Triangle, it is crucial to provide tributaries, protect aquatic and of the largest greenway networks regional connections between edge habitats, and prevent devel- in the country. The cities of the greenway networks of indi- opment of ecologically sensitive Raleigh, Cary, and Durham have vidual cities. The most important lands. The greenways provide a the most greenways, but virtually of these connecting routes is series of linear parks throughout every community in the Triangle the East Coast Greenway (ECG), each city, providing recreational has one or more greenways, and which connects the Triangle opportunities for residents all of them have ambitious plans Region to the rest of the East and visitors. Many greenways for future growth. Coast via the 3,000- mile ECG include playing fields, picnic route that runs from Maine to areas, boating facilities, fishing The increase in recreational Florida. Of all metropolitan areas spots, bird watching, nature trails, cycling on greenways has helped the ECG route runs through, the outdoor sculpture, and community generate more on-road cycling as Triangle has the most complete centers. well, and growing public support stretch (95%) of off-road, shared- for more on-road cycling facilities. With widespread public support, use trails. In 2000, there were less than 10 it seems certain that the Research miles of on-road bike lanes in the Triangle greenways are typically Triangle will continue to have one Triangle, but by 2017, total center- paved trail corridors of protected of the most extensive and best- line mileage of bike lanes had greenspace, running along integrated greenway systems in grown to more than 100 miles, rivers, creeks, and lakes. They the country, supplemented by mostly in Durham, Chapel Hill- were developed as part of flood a growing network of on-road Carrboro, Cary, and Raleigh.4 management plans, but equally cycling facilities.
11 METHODS
METHODS This impact analysis utilizes a standard methodology for cal- culating health-, environmental-, economic-, and transportation- related benefits. All projections are based on trail usage estimates from Evaluating the Economic Impact of Shared Use Paths in North Carolina (2016), by the Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE).5 ITRE’s estimates are then extrapo- lated through the use of various multipliers derived from national studies and quantified in terms of monetary value where appropriate.
How the Impacts Are Calculated
A series of over 50 factors developed from various studies around the U.S. and peer- reviewed journal articles were used to convert the estimated number of bicycle and walking trips into dollar figures.
Limitations of the Analysis
The primary purpose of the analysis is to enable a more informed policy discussion on whether and how best to invest in an expanded East Coast Greenway in the state of North Carolina. Even with extensive primary and secondary research incorporated into the impact analysis model, it is impossible to accurately predict the exact impacts of various factors. Accordingly, all estimated benefit values are rounded and should be considered order of magnitude estimates, rather than exact amounts.
12 “Greenways highlight the best we have to offer as a vibrant, growing community. Supporting economic development, promoting active lifestyles, providing transportation options, allowing a connection with nature and giving us the opportunity to connect with our neighbors. We love our greenways as a representation of the active, loving, caring community we are.”
- Sig Hutchinson, Chair, Wake County Board of Commissioners
A trail count station along the American Tobacco Trail section of the ECG, as part of a statewide and multi-year study by ITRE. 13 HEALTH + ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS ENVIRONMENTAL + HEALTH
HEALTH + ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
The implementation of a well- miles of bicycling per year and The benefits of the greenway to designed, connected trail system an estimated 7.4 million miles of environmental health and protec- in the Research Triangle region walking and jogging per year, tion have not been quantified as encourages a shift from energy- spurring over 3.5 million new part of this report but can be the intensive modes of transportation hours of physical activity per subject of future study. Examples such as cars and trucks to active year and removing over 1.1 million of such environmental benefits modes of transportation such as pounds of pollutants from the include reductions in vehicle bicycling and walking. While many atmosphere per year. emissions, water regulation, of the active living-related benefits carbon sequestration, carbon This boost to wellness is of a trail network are difficult storage, waste treatment, wildlife estimated to save over $1.4 to quantify – such as improved protection, and protecting people million in healthcare-related costs mental health, educational growth, and property from flood damge.14, 15 per year. In addition, studies show connection to nature, and sense Anecdotally, we also know that that increased physical activity of place6, 7 – a growing body of by connecting people to nature, helps seniors stay mentally fit,11 literature links parks and trails the East Coast Greenway inspires reduces the risk of coronary heart to increased physical activity, appreciation and better steward- disease, and even decreases decreased healthcare costs, and ship of the environment while also the amount of insulin needed by improved air quality.8, 9, 10 improving our mental, physical, people with Type I diabetes.12 and spiritual health. The ECG dramatically shapes the When combined with a healthy ability of residents in the Triangle diet, increased physical activity to get out and live more active, has been shown to reverse the healthy lifestyles. It helps to course of Type II diabetes.13 generate an estimated 11.2 million
14 “Greenways throughout Wake County are truly for everyone. I use the greenways almost every single day, and I see every conceivable age group, as many women as men, lots of different uses, every conceivable ethnicity and racial group, every income group. It is probably THE most important recreational/exercise/ sports resource in Wake County.”
- John Pucher, national leader on research for walking, bicycling, and urban transport, and resident of Raleigh.
The American Tobacco Trail’s portion of the East Coast Greenway serves as a healthy way to enjoy the outdoors 15 The East Coast Greenway in
WHY IT MATTERS the Triangle results in:
26% OF ADULTS IN NORTH CAROLINA HAVE NOT EXERCISED IN THE LAST MONTH 16
NORTH CAROLINA RANKS
32/50 STATES FOR CORE DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH 17
The White Oak Greenway section of the East Coast Greenway, at Bond Park in Cary. 16 the Trianglethe results in: The East Coast Greenway in $ MILES BIKED PER YEAR PER BIKED MILES 3,592,000 7,407,000 11,225,000 MILES WALKEDMILES YEAR PER PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF ANNUAL HOURS 1,141,000 1,141,000 COST SAVINGS ANNUAL HEALTHCARE 1,457,000 EMISSIONS PER YEAR PER EMISSIONS CO2 OF POUNDS FEWER CAROLINA ACROSS NORTH TRIPS 14,726 OF EQUIVALENT THAT’S THE MOON TO THE TRIPS ROUND 23 OF EQUIVALENT THAT’S THE HOUR) HOUR) (AT ~$50/ TRAINER APERSONAL WITH THOUSAND HOURS 29 OF EQUIVALENT THAT’S THE 17 HEALTHHEALTH + ENVIRONMENTAL + ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS BENEFITS ECONOMIC BENEFITSECONOMIC
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Economic benefits associated be estimated using the Bureau Lastly, with 68.2 miles of with the Research Triangle of Economic Analyses Regional existing trails in the Research sections of the East Coast Input-Output Modeling application Triangle sections of the ECG, Greenway fall into four catego- (RIMS II). In total, it is estimated that and assuming average capital ries: direct trail user spending, spending from trail users induces costs of $1,100,000 per mile of induced spending, one-time an additional $59,726,000 in trail, the total cost of the existing property value increases, and annual spending in the region. trail network can be estimated short-term job creation from at approximately $74,998,000. The same amenities that draw construction spending. The U.S. Department of tourists to the area also appeal Transportation estimates that for An analysis of current trail to residents looking to buy new every $98,000 in transportation- user spending patterns in the homes or open new businesses. related construction spending, ITRE study can be used as a Property value studies of similar there is one short-term job baseline for estimating trail trail systems show that nearby created (short-term defined as user spending across the ECG property owners have a minimum lasting for one year).22 Applying in the Triangle, which comes to increase of 4 percent in the value this value to the existing trail approximately $27,284,000 per of their properties when located network would result in the year. near a greenway trail.18, 19, 20, 21 If the creation of approximately 800 Research Triangle sections of the The spending from trail users short-term jobs. East Coast Greenway increased circulates through various property values of adjacent resi- industries in the regional dential units by 4 percent, home- economy. This process, known owners would have experienced as the “multiplier effect,” can a $163,657,928 one-time benefit from the ECG.
18 “Building our network of trails is an essential investment that enables the Research Triangle Park to remain globally competitive by allowing us to attract the type of workers that companies want with amenities professional workers demand.”
- Liz Rooks, Former Executive Vice President of the Research Triangle Foundation
Trails are considered an essential investment to the Research Triangle Foundation. 19 The East Coast Greenway in the Triangle results in:
HOW IT’S CALCULATED
The estimated one-time property value benefit of $164M is one of the largest benefits stated in this report, and like all estimates, it has its limitations. Still, it is based on observations made in supporting studies, and it is cal- culated using comprehensive data that is specific to the region and the ECG trail alignment. The calculation assumes trails and greenways, on average, are associated with a four percent increase in property value for residential properties within 0.25 miles of the trail network. This assumption is based on studies that have demonstrated a range of increases in property values, from 2% up to 20%. For example, a 2007 study from Asabere and Huffman analyzed 10,000 home sales and found that trails, greenbelts/greenways, and trails with greenbelts/greenways were associated with roughly 2, 4, and 5 percent price premiums, respectively. 18, 19, 20, 21
For this report, residential buildings and properties within 0.25 miles of the ECG alignment were researched using county GIS parcel data for Durham, Wake, Chatham, and Johnston counties. The grand total value of these proper- ties according to the county data is $4,091,448,197. If the Research Triangle’s sections of the nearly complete ECG increased property values of adjacent residential units by four percent, then homeowners would have experienced a $163,657,928 one-time benefit from the East Coast Greenway
Bikes mean business in Downtown Durham, where the East Coast Greenway runs through the heart of of the city. 20 the Trianglethe results in: The East Coast Greenway in $ ASSOCIATED WITH PROXIMITY TO GREENWAY THE ESTIMATEDIN VALUE ONE-TIME PROPERTY INCREASE 163,657,928 $ SPENDING PER YEAR PER SPENDING IN ESTIMATED INDUCED 59,726,000 $ SPENDING PER YEAR PER SPENDING ESTIMATEDIN TOTAL USER 27,284,000 800 THE TRAIL WAS BUILT TRAIL THE SHORT-TERM JOBS AS
ECONOMIC BENEFITS 21 ECONOMIC + TOURISM BENEFITS TRANSPORTATION + ACCESS BENEFITS ACCESS + TRANSPORTATION
TRANSPORTATION + ACCESS BENEFITS
On average, in North Carolina, cities, and per capita collisions road maintenance, and vehicle 193 bicyclists and pedestrians are between people driving, walking, operating costs, monetary values killed each year being struck by and bicycling decline as walking can be assigned to the transpor- an automobile.23 These collisions and bicycling increases.26 tation-related benefits. and fatalities disproportionately The ECG makes walking and In total, Triangle area residents affect low-income populations. bicycling in the Triangle easy are estimated to save $702,000 An analysis of 22,000 collisions and fun, which in turn helps per year in collision-related costs in America found that pedes- reduce the overall number of due to the ECG, with 1.4 million trian fatality rates in low-income pedestrian and bicyclist injuries fewer miles driven in a car each portions of metro areas are and deaths. year. This is estimated to save approximately twice that of more Utilizing the same calculations residents over $1,107,000 in con- affluent neighborhoods.24 for estimated annual bicycle and gestion, roadway maintenance, Fortunately, one study showed walk trips and reduction in annual and household vehicle operation that a pedestrian’s risk of being vehicle miles traveled (VMT) used costs per year. in a collision declines 34 percent in the health and environmental if walking and bicycling double in components, transportation- their community.25 Additionally, related cost savings can be American cities with higher per calculated. By multiplying the capita bicycling rates tend to amount of VMT reduced by have much lower traffic fatality established multipliers for traffic rates for all road users than other congestion, vehicle collisions,
22 “The greenway is one aspect of living in Raleigh that has increased my standard of living significantly. Please keep expanding, because I love to bike, but not on the road!” - PUBLIC COMMENT, WAKE COUNTY GREENWAY SYSTEM PLAN, 2016
Raleigh’s Rocky Branch Trail section of the East Coast Greenway, near NC State University. 23 WHY IT MATTERS
193 AVERAGE NUMBER OF BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS KILLED EACH YEAR IN NORTH CAROLINA [169 PEDESTRIANS AND 24 BICYCLISTS] 27
60% SHARED USE PATHS (LIKE THE ECG) REDUCE INJURY RATES FOR CYCLISTS, PEDESTRIANS, AND OTHER NONMOTORIZED MODES BY 60% COMPARED WITH ON STREET FACILITIES 28 $98,000 IN REDUCED CONGESTION- $8,220 $308 RELATED COSTS AVERAGE COST OF AVERAGE COST OF PER YEAR OPERATING A CAR OPERATING A BIKE PER YEAR29 PER YEAR30
East Coast Greenway heading to Downtown 24 Durham. the Trianglethe results in: The East Coast Greenway in $ 702,000 COSTS YEAR PER COLLISION-RELATED IN REDUCED $ AUTOMOBILES YEAR PER BY TRAVELLED MILES FEWER 1,402,000 COSTS YEAR PER OPERATIONVEHICLE IN HOUSEHOLD REDUCED 799,000
25 TRANSPORTATION + ACCESS BENEFITS SOURCES
1. “Designated Trails in North Carolina.” East Coast Greenway 17. Ibid. Alliance. Accessed Sep. 11, 2017.
20. Webel, S. “Trail Effects on Neighborhoods: Home Value, 5. “Evaluating the Economic Impact of Shared Use Paths Safety, Quality of Life.” National Trails Training Partnership. in North Carolina; Technical Memorandum: American
8. Han, B., Cohen, D., and McKenzie, T. L. “Quantifying the 23. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Fatality contribution of neighborhood parks to physical activity”. Analysis Reporting System (FARS). (American Community US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Survey 3-yr estimates for 2007, 2010, and 2013). Accessed Health. 1 July 2013. Web. 8 September 2015. Sep. 11, 2017.
27. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Fatality 12. “A Step in the Right Direction.” American Hiking Society. Analysis Reporting System (FARS). (American Community
26 American Tobacco Trail section of the East Coast Greenway. 27 PREPARED BY COMMISSIONED BY SPONSORED BY
SEPTEMBER 2017