Our views on the Cross Charlotte Trail

You have probably come across several recent news stories related to the Cross Charlotte Trail, and we wanted to address how this relates to and impacts the Carolina Thread Trail.

This signature 31-mile greenway traversing Mecklenburg County is the epicenter of the Carolina Thread Trail and is critical to advancing regional trail development. The Cross Charlotte Trail is being completed through a partnership between the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

While the Cross Charlotte Trail is one part of the greater Thread Trail network of trails and greenways, we have a stake in ensuring this continuous greenway is built as promised and planned. Relying on the City’s leadership to complete the Cross Charlotte Trail, we have been very involved in trail development efforts in Lancaster County, SC, and Cabarrus County, NC, to ensure that the Cross Charlotte Trail will connect with other greenways at its endpoints in Pineville and the University City area of Charlotte.

We are concerned about the funding shortfall and are working closely with City Manager Marcus Jones and other stakeholders to offer guidance and advice to help find a solution. Below you will find the views and recommendations we issued to Mayor Lyles and the Charlotte City Council, which were acknowledged at the recent City Council meeting.

• We are pleased the City Council voted Monday to use the $36.8 million in approved bonds to construct the gaps in the Cross Charlotte Trail that have already been designed (South Charlotte Connector, Brandywine to Tyvola, and 7th to 10th Street Connector) allowing for a continuous 18-mile facility connecting Uptown Charlotte to the SC line at Pineville.
• We strongly encourage City leaders to continue pursuing the completion of the fully functional Cross Charlotte Trail. The 8-mile segment from Uptown to University City is the focus of the funding shortfall and the dollars needed to complete this section will take time and creative financing options. We believe it is essential to provide equal greenway facilities to all of our communities, including those north of Uptown, and not just those served by the completed South Charlotte section.
• We support the on-street network as a temporary measure so long as this does not become substituted for a final solution to the Cross Charlotte Trail. As a short-term solution, City officials recommended a network of bicycle lanes and sidewalks to create a continuous connection for bicycle and pedestrian mobility. While this provision is certainly important for improving non-motorized travel and choice, it does not provide the same level of functionality and comfort as the Cross Charlotte Trail.

For more background on the project, we encourage you to read this article in the Charlotte Observer and Sustain Charlotte’s explanation of the situation.

We will continue to keep you informed as we have more information!