With work now underway on a roundabout at East Rocky River and Davidson-Concord roads, town and county officials said this week a second project in Davidson also could be in line to receive federal stimulus funds.
The West Branch Rocky River Greenway, which has long been planned through and beyond the River Run neighborhood, could be built with $1.1 million in stimulus funds available through the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
Town Planning Director Kris Krider delivered that news at Tuesday night’s monthly meeting of the Davidson Town Board.
He said the proposed 1.2-mile Greenway section runs from River Ford Drive near the 13th tee of River Run Country Club and along the West Branch of the East Rocky River into an area now under development south of the river, known as River Run Phase 5.
Mr. Krider has been following progress on — and lobbying for — the potential funding as a member of the Technical Coordinating Committee, a subcommittee of MUMPO.
County plans call for an “enhanced trailhead” at River Ford Drive and would include paved trails and a boardwalk.
County Greenway Planner Maya Agarwal said Wednesday the project is currently ranked No. 2 on a list of stimulus-ready projects that has been endorsed by the Mecklenburg-Union Metropolitan Planning Organization, or MUMPO.
MUMPO’s endorsement next goes to the DOT, which has the final say on which projects get funded, Ms. Agarwal said. NCDOT is now reviewing the project to determine if it’s “shovel-ready enough” for stimulus funding. “We hope to get a clearer answer on whether NCDOT will provide funding in October,” she said in an email Wednesday.
This proposed section of biking and walking trail would not connect directly to other existing greenways in and around Davidson, at least not yet. But it would be linked to the existing Southeast Greenway via sidewalks and bike lanes on neighborhood streets in River Run.
The West Branch Rocky River Greenway also one day could connect with a planned trail through a proposed park and nature preserve on land Mecklenburg County owns along the West Branch of the East Rocky River (the so-called West Branch wetland). Other local greenway connections could run north, to the town’s Fisher Farm Park, and east, to trails being developed in Cabarrus County, Mr. Krider told DavidsonNews.net.
Voters in November 2008 approved a $250 million county parks and rec bond package that includes $1.395 million to extend the local greenway system another 1.1 miles, to the 200-acre town-owned Fisher Farm Park off of Shearer Road. While voters authorized the bonds, the project is on hold, along with most other local bond-financed projects, because of the tight credit market.
The roundabout at East Rocky River and Davidson-Concord Roads is being built with $600,000 in federal stimulus funds through the N.C. DOT. Work started Monday, and East Rocky River is now closed at the intersection. DOT says the roundabout work could take 2 1/2 months.
