Ok - that makes more sense. - I was thinking for ridding up or down, it would get a bit close to the railing.
Though those steps do look hella fun to ride down on a Mt. Bike.
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The latest I’m hearing from the Greenway Committee is that everything should be completed by the end of summer. Not exactly sure what that means, but hopefully by August/September.
Members of the Greenway Committee are planning a large grand opening event for this greenway connection that will likely take place in September/October. Stay tuned for more info as we get closer to the end of summer.
For those who may not be aware, once this connection is opened we’ll be able to ride on greenways between Umstead and Anderson Point Park and points beyond.
Greenway Committee meetings are open to the public. The committee meets the second Monday of each month in the Raleigh Municipal Building Rm 303, located at 222 W. Hargett Street at 4 p.m.
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I get it, the duration of closures sucks. And the greenway alerts page often does not seem to reflect reality. I’ve brought this up with Greenway Committee and other members have said the same. City Staff are now sharing a spreadsheet with the committee with all current and planned closures and we’re reviewing it at each meeting.
Detours on greenways are challenging because of where greenways are - along stream corridors and/or utility corridors. Essentially they piggyback on land that is already being used for something else - either by mother nature or public utilities. I know that’s an excuse, but it’s also reality.
You’re right about accommodations being made for car traffic but not for pedestrians/cyclists. We don’t have resilient, flexible active transportation networks that can adapt to flooding or construction work. But we do have zillions of roads that allow for cars to be rerouted. I’ve included resilience and adaptability as values that should be upheld in the values statement that will serve as a “preamble” to the city’s forthcoming Active Transportation Plan.
The lack of communication about closures is baffling. Many times greenway closures open ahead of schedule, but no announcement is made. I’ve told city staff they need to celebrate their triumphs, i.e., share good news when it comes along. I think they get it now that people are paying attention.
Here’s an upcoming closure we need to keep an eye on, it’s not near downtown, but . . . the Neuse River trail is to be closed between Auburn Knightdale Rd to Battle Ridge Rd from Fall 2024 to 2028 (not a typo). The reason is extension of I-540. NC DOT says they are going to provide a parallel trail in the vicinity of the closure. We need to make sure that actually happens - and not in the final year of construction.
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The next CAMPO meeting agenda includes an interlocal agreement for final design & NEPA documentation funding for the Triangle Bikeway project. Glad to see this moving forward.
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This is one of the things I am most excited about. It would actually make my commute out to RTP feasible on a bike / e-bike, since we aren’t getting commuter rail, this is my next best option to ditch the car for my commute.
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Thanks for your feedback. I understand that Greenways are often built in sewer right of ways, and sometimes big long projects are needed to repair sections. I guess my gripe is the lack of marked detours and communication.
I clicked your greenways alerts link and signed up for the text alerts. There are detour maps available there, but this information should be posted on the trail as well. Riding NRT at 401, there is zero indication that a detour is even available, or for how long the project is scheduled for. There are zero detour sings posted, either on the trail or on the roads the detour takes. I have ridden that section many times recently, and I had no idea there was even a detour designate for this section. I usually just cut around the fencing (not totally safe either with the construction equipment, but a hell of a lot safer then taking Perry Creek and 401.)
I would also like to see detours safe enough that you would feel comfortable taking young kids or your dog on it. This detour is not. Both Perry Creek Rd and 401 are very heavy, high speed traffic, with narrow sidewalks. I would hesitate to take this detour on my own, much less with kids in tow.
In such cases I would like to see some kind of protection like Jersey Barriers put up (to make a physical barrier between the sidewalk and the road, and signal changes to make crossing 6 lane 401 safer.
For short term detours (weeks) this may not be feasible, but for a detour on the premier Greenway that is closed for about a year, it should be the bare minimum.
This would have been a much better ( and safer) alternative detour. And I think very feasible.
Regarding the upcoming detour for the Complete 540 nonsense, that one is going to hurt. I have looked at maps of the proposed routing, and this will plow through some of the most scenic portion of the NRT, where the trail veers away from the river and goes up through the meadows. Not looking forward to 540 destroying that. But I am glad there is a pan for a good detour. And we certainly need to ensure the detour is in place before NDCOT starts construction.
On another note, “Greenspace” app I have on my phone has not been updated with closures in years, and does not match the closure map on the website. Can you bring this to the appropriate persons attention please? Thanks. It would be nice if this app also shows the detour route.
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I think my takeaway is that the Greenway Committee needs to look at proposed greenway detours with greater scrutiny and bring a user’s perspective to the discussion. My sense from hearing staff discuss closures and detours is that they often don’t know the area and don’t have personal user experience on the impacted sections of greenway.
We can also push for better detour signage that includes wayfinding elements.
I think the Greenspace app was developed/maintained by a private company. If they’re not updating I don’t know that the City can do anything about that. But I will ask about it.
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Photos from today’s rainy bike commute. I ended up using the greenway for the vast majority of the commute since I figured the greenway would be clear. Gorman street did have a really big water area where water was splashing up onto the cycle track from passing cars. As I was passing by McDonalds near Crabtree, I saw the street lights flicker and then go out. Luckily the area under Blue Ridge Rd wasn’t flooded.
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It would be nice to see bike traffic signals at popular or high crash intersections.
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Just gonna leave this here.
Anyone listen in on the 15th Campo meeting? Interested on any updates on the triangle bikeway!
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Haven’t posted for a bit, but found that the Crabtree Creek West Trail is basically open. I believe the photos are from last week. I’ve already ridden on this section quite a bit and have to say that this section of Raleigh is awesome. With this being completed, Raleigh has about a 12 mile bike loop that includes great destinations of Crabtree Mall, Umstead State Park, and NC Museum of Art. I would still love a greenway type sidepath on the North or South side of Lake Boone all the way from the greenway to Blue Ridge Rd. There’s so many apartments and trail riders that would be able to take advantage of this.
East of Duraleigh Rd:
This is the pedestrian bridge that connects Picardy Drive to Lindsay Drive.
West of Duraleigh Rd to Umstead:
Umstead:
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I rode this exact loop yesterday and it’s all but open (still have “trail closed” signs up, but the entire section is passable.) Looks like only stripping and some fencing are left. They did a nice job with this trail.
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I’ve been doing a lot of greenway riding with our 4 year old since he started pedaling last month. It’s really been a game changer to me on the viability of bike lanes (and even protected bike lanes) as a safe option for vulnerable users. IMO I’m now even more in favor of above-the-curb multi use paths and/or wide sidewalks as the default option for bike/ped infrastructure, with bike lanes and/or bollards only really being utilized if there is no viable above-the-curb option.
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Time to find the next thing to pick on. 
Ok ok. I’m happy that I now have a trail to go to Umstead. And this new section is awesome.
I actually biked across the bridge on Ebenezer heading North. It wasn’t bad since I had to make the right turn. On my last post above. I rode south (before this sign was up). It was a bit tougher since I had to make the left.
I’m curious what alternatives are being looked into. I’m sure there’s plenty of people who did this crossing which is probably what prompted this sign.
I won’t spam any more photos of this section of the Greenway, but I will say that all Trail closed signs, with the exception of one, have been removed. I’m not sure why the one was left as there’s absolutely nothing blocking now. There were quite a few trail users on this section.
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I assume they are mostly putting that there for liability reasons. I for one will continue to use Ebenezer. There is no alternative currently provided and my previous understanding of the timelines was 2027 to fix the bridge.
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I about saw someone hit by large truck. Pedestrian didn’t look and started running across the bridge. It isn’t safe and not sure why so long to fix that section of trail crossing the old original roadway.
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Took a ride out to Knightdale today. The Mingo Creek Trail has been extended from Smithfield Rd. to First Ave. It was blocked off in a section partially due to part of the trail sinking. I was really happy to see this connection as it is one that will more than likely see many trips from me now to go get some Prime. I’m still waiting for a Raleigh > Cary downtown greenway or bike lane connection (sharrows don’t count).
On a more Raleigh related note: While on this ride, we took the Crabtree Creek Trail east of Raleigh Blvd. It’s still technically closed, but I was told the paving had been done (which it was). I believe the sewer lines were being done, but I also believe part of the project was to realign the trail due to flooding. Based off what I saw today, I was disappointed because it was flooded in 2 sections where it was recently paved. In all fairness, the trail is not officially open, but I’m hoping they notice where it’s flooded and make improvements. Greenway Alerts page: See Between Mile Markers 5.25 and 6
Mingo Creek Trail
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It’s not direct, and a key section at Harrison ave is missing, but you can take Crabtree Creek to Umstead. Ride the gravel roads to Harrison Av & western, then black creek greenway into downtown Cary.
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I’ve done the section through Umstead and to towards downtown on the Greenway. I’m just looking for something a bit more direct. Realistically I could get there via Medfield Rd which is a neighborhood street.
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