Overview Presentation February 2021 Who We Are

• A broad, diverse coalition committed to bringing the benefits of to all of • All types: Hike / Bike / Walk / Run / Paddle / Ride • All 100 Counties Who We Are Coalition Leaders Advising Partners • The Conservation Fund + • North Carolina State Parks • Alliance • North Carolina Department of Transportation • Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail • North Carolina Outdoor Recreation Industry Office • Carolina Thread Trail • Legacy Trails • Triangle Trails Initiative • • • Blue Ridge Conservancy • Conserving Carolina • Friends of Valdese Rec • Foothills Conservancy The Great Trails State Coalition Builds & Expands Upon on NCDOT’s Plan The Plan The Coalition

Led by Led by broad- NCDOT & based coalition focuses on & focuses on shared use investment- paths ready trail connecting projects of all all 100 types counties throughout NC Source: ITRE & NCDOT https://itre.ncsu.edu/focus/bike-ped/sup-economic-impacts/

Next Steps $30M Non-Recurring & $15 Recurring to Leverage Federal Investment for Hard Surface Trail

• Request aligns with NCDOT’s Great Trails State Plan (plan adoption expected in Spring 2021) • Would help NC compete with other states for tourism dollars and health cost savings Next Steps $30M Non-Recurring and $15M Recurring for Shared Use Path Projects • To serve as local match to leverage new federal dollars, potentially up to $300M, with a sliding match scale based on economic tiers • Builds on NC DOT’s current Great Trails State Planning process • Create a “stand alone competition” path for projects to become prioritized in order to access Federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Funds. Next Steps $2M for Rural Trail Planning • Many rural NC communities need this type of “seed” funding to get their projects construction-ready through planning, feasibility, and preliminary design work • This is key to meeting many Federal requirements for construction funds, serving as a catalyst for rural economic development Next Steps $10M Non-Recurring & $5M Recurring for Natural Surface Trails • Hiking, Mountain Biking, Paddling, and Horseback • To support the authorized State Trails as well as local natural surface trails Next Steps Officially designate 2023 as NC Year of the Trail

• State resolution • Special programming throughout the year and throughout the State on all different types of trails, with promotions and sponsorship opportunities. • Statewide Greenways and Trails Conference? Next Steps

$250K for Visit NC • Funding would support development of a Great Trails State website help visitors search for trails and learn about nearby attractions, restaurants, and places to stay that they can enjoy on the same trip

Thank You! GreatTrailsNC.org

Overview Presentation February 2021