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Planning Study & Economic Impact Analysis custa Rail Trail Planning Study & E Economic Impact Analysis ECONSULT March 2012 CORPORATION® Member of the Econsult/Fairmount Group Prepared by Acknowledgements CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE: TOWN OF LAUREL PARK: PROJECT CONSULTANTS Mayor Barbara Volk Mayor and Commissioners Alta/Greenways Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Collis Town Manager Seamon Whiteside + Associates Council Member Steve Caraker Parks and Greenways Board Econsult Council Member Jerry Smith HENDERSON COUNTY TRAVEL & TOURISM Council Member Ron Stephens Bo Ferguson, City Manager FRIENDS OF THE ECUSTA TRAIL, INC. Sue Anderson, Planning Director NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF City of Hendersonville Planning Department TRANSPORTATION CITY OF BREVARD: Mayor and City Council City of Brevard Planning Department Table of Contents INTRODUCTION OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS Tourism Impact 5-4 Overview 1-1 Overview 3-1 Direct Use Impact 5-5 Project Purpose 1-1 Opportunities 3-1 Health Care Cost Reduction Impact 5-7 History of the Rail Line 1-1 Challenges 3-2 Environmental Impact 5-8 Planning Context 1-2 Market Analysis 5-9 Summary and Cost-Benefit Recreational and Cultural Resources 1-2 LEGAL OWNERSHIP EVALUATION Analysis 5-14 Overview 4-1 EXISTING CONDITIONS Establishment of the Rail Corridor 4-1 ECOMMENDATIONS Overview 2-1 Use of the Rail Corridor 4-3 R Overview 6-1 Physical Features 2-1 Current Property Information Alignment 6-1 Natural Features 2-1 along the Corridor 4-6 Structural Improvements 6-2 Cultural and Historic Resources 2-17 Land Acquisition Strategy and Costs...4-7 Costs 6-4 Destinations and Connections 2-18 Phasing Plan 6-5 Infrastructure 2-21 ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS Summary of Estimated Costs and Rail Line Structural Assessment 2-24 Overview 5-1 Benefits 6-26 Environmental Issues 2-61 Economic Impact from Upfront Trailhead and Support Facilities 6-26 Conclusion 2-61 Construction 5-2 Property Value Impact 5-2 Table of Contents Continued IMPLEMENTATION CONCERNS & APPENDIX D: DESIGN GUIDELINES APPENDIX J: LETTERS OF STRATEGIES RESOLUTION Overview 7-1 APPENDIX E: ESTIMATED COSTS Action Steps 7-1 Conclusion 7-9 APPENDIX F: REFERENCE APPENDIX A: LEGAL OWNERSHIP DOCUMENTS ANALYSIS DETAIL APPENDIX G: FUNDING SOURCES APPENDIX B: ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS DETAIL APPENDIX H: OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE APPENDIX C: INTERSECTION TREATMENTS APPENDIX I: PERMITTING adjoining the corridor, and retain and attract new Contents: Overview businesses and residents. This report provides a comprehensive overview Overview of the potential conversion of an inactive Norfolk Project Purpose Southern (NS) Railroad line to a multi-use trail History of the Rail Line between Hendersonville and Brevard, North The rail corridor is situated in the Blue Ridge History of the Ecusta Rail Line Carolina called the Ecusta Rail Trail. The name Mountains of western North Carolina, between Ecusta was chosen to honor the history of the the cities of Brevard and Hendersonville, near the Planning Context region, and comes originally from the Cherokee state’s border with South Carolina. The 20-mile 1 Indian word for rippling water. The purpose of long railroad line was constructed in 1894 by the Recreational and Cultural Resources the study is to identify the feasibility of converting Hendersonville and Brevard Railway, Telegraph the NS railroad line into a proposed 20-mile, and Telephone Company. Beginning in 1939, the multi-use trail through the process of federal railroad supported the Ecusta Corporation, which railbanking. Railbanking is the process by which operated a paper mill until 2002 at the western a railroad is preserved for future rail use through end of the line and played a significant role in conversion to a trail in the interim. The railroad the development of the region through the 20th line, if converted to a trail, serves as a shared use century.2 The rail line passes through Henderson path for pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians County and Transylvania County, connects separated from motorized traffic. Hendersonville and Brevard, and passes through Laurel Park, Etowah, Horseshoe, and Pisgah Forest. Project Purpose Although trains are not currently operating along The City of Hendersonville received a grant from the rail line, the railroad right-of-way (ROW) is the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) owned by Norfolk Southern Corporation. The to fund the study, and it has been working with line has not been utilized for freight service since neighboring jurisdictions and other project the Ecusta plant closed in 2002. With the recent stakeholders to recognize the value of a rail- approval of the plans for Davidson River Village to-trail conversion to the community as well on the Ecusta site as a residential, commercial, and as the region. Letters of resolution supporting green space village, it is less likely that there will the project can be found in Appendix J of this be an industrial user that requires rail service.3 report. The trail, once constructed, will serve Given current economic conditions, however, as a sustainable transportation corridor, provide the redevelopment of the Ecusta site is not fully recreation opportunities for residents and visitors, known at this time, and it is not clear whether rail improve quality of life, increase property values service to that site will be necessary as part of the redevelopment. Introduction 1-1 Planning Context Recreational and Cultural Henderson County and Transylvania County are Resources situated within the Asheville-Brevard Combined Situated within the mountains, Henderson and Statistical Area. Henderson County is located Transylvania Counties’ geographical features within the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area, attract those who are interested in a variety of and Transylvania County is located within the activities. Historic downtown Hendersonville was Brevard Micropolitan Statistical Area. U.S. Census entered into the National Register of Historic Bureau data indicate that the 2010 population of Places in March of 1988. The historic community Henderson County was 106,740 (a 19.7 percent of Flat Rock has been called “the Little Charleston increase since 2000). The 2010 population of of the Mountains,” and the entire community is Transylvania County was 33,090 (a 12.8 percent included in the National Register of Historic increase since 2000).4 Henderson County’s Places. Flat Rock Playhouse, founded in 1952, is The rail line passes through several scenic parts of population is projected to increase to 123,135 a popular destination. Most of the storefronts Henderson and Transylvania Counties. by 2019, and Transylvania County’s population is in Brevard’s downtown area are historic, and projected to increase to 36,753 by 2019. 5 many have been restored to recapture the town’s charming atmosphere.6 Raleigh Asheville Charlotte Map 1.1 – Active NC Rail-Trails and Projects by county Mountains Triangle Charlotte Piedmont Triad Coastal Henderson and Transylvania Counties 1-2 Introduction Map 1.2 – Study Area Overview Introduction 1-3 Map 1.3 – Study Corridor Overview 1-4 Introduction Henderson and Transylvania Counties’ location provides residents with significant recreational Notes amenities as well. Tranyslvania County was 1. Wilma Dykeman, The French Broad (New York: Rine- recently named “America’s Best Kept Secret” for hart, 1955). mountain biking by Bike Magazine. Numerous 2. “Ecusta Trail History,” http://www.ecustatrail.org. recreational opportunities are available 3. “Ecusta Trail History.” 4. “State & County QuickFacts: North Carolina,” last within a short distance from the downtown modified January 17, 2012, http://quickfacts.census. Hendersonville and Brevard areas. The Green gov/qfd/states/37000.html. River offers whitewater kayaking, and Rumbling 5. “Annual County Population Totals, 2010-2019,” last Bald Mountain offers a wide variety of bouldering modified September 1, 2011, http://www.osbm. state.nc.us/ncosbm/facts_and_figures/socioeco- and traditional rock climbing. The French Broad nomic_data/population_estimates/demog/countyto- River and its tributaries are a popular location tals_2010_2019.html. for local fly fishermen.7 DuPont State Forest is 6. “Heart of Brevard Historic District,” http://www. popular with walkers, hikers, equestrians, and visitnc.com/listings/view/48765/heart-of-brevard- mountain bike enthusiasts. Pisgah National Forest historic-district. 7. “Henderson County Things To Do”, http://www.caul- draws campers and hikers to enjoy its well-known derrealty.com/henderson_county_things_to_do.htm. waterfalls. These many destinations - along with Chimney Rock State Park, Lake Lure, and the Blue Ridge Parkway - provide numerous boating, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, fishing and camping opportunities to residents and visitors. The rail line in Hendersonville currently gets a sig- nificant amount of pedestrian traffic due to the fact that the railroad ROW offers connection to several local destinations. Introduction 1-5 This Page Intentionally Left Blank Contents: Transylvania County is currently unzoned along Overview Overview this corridor, so information is not shown for areas This section outlines the physical inventory for outside of Brevard in that county. The majority Physical Features the rail line corridor. The inventory includes of the corridor runs through land designated the features that were studied that will inform a for residential use, with a few sections running Natural Features comprehensive recommendation for a preferred through light commercial areas and one small trail alignment
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