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How do you currently use greenways and trails in Johnston County? Select all that apply.

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How frequently do you use greenways and trails in Johnston County?

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What factors discourage you from using greenways and trails in Johnston County? Select all that apply.

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How would you use the proposed Neuse River Trail (connecting Clayton and Smithfield) once the trail is constructed? Select all that apply.

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How frequently would you use the proposed Neuse River Trail (connecting Clayton and Smithfield) once the trail is constructed?

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On average, what distance would you be willing to travel along the proposed Neuse River Trail (connecting Clayton and Smithfield) as a part of a trip or activity?

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What are your route preferences for the proposed Neuse River Trail (connecting Clayton and Smithfield)? Select all that apply.

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What is your primary mode of transportation for commuting to work or school?

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Now consider your desired commute in the future. Which modes would you like to use? Select all that apply.

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Please provide any additional comments or feedback for the Johnston County Neuse River Trail Feasibility Study.

Project Overview

The proposed Neuse River Trail is a 15-mile corridor in Johnston County connecting existing greenways in Clayton and Smithfield. The proposed trail is a critical missing link in the regional greenway network and is the identified corridor for gap segments of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and East Coast Greenway.  The Johnston County Neuse River Trail Feasibility Study will evaluate potential route scenarios along roadway corridors and the Neuse River to determine the preferred route. The study will also develop cost estimates and an implementation plan to construct the trail.

The project is led by Upper Coastal Plain Rural Planning Organization (RPO), Johnston County, and NCDOT Transportation Planning Division. Supporting agencies involved in the study are NC State Trails, Town of Clayton, Town of Smithfield, Town of Wilson’s Mills, Town of Selma, Friends of Mountains-to-Sea Trail, and East Coast Greenway Alliance. 

About the Mountains-to-Sea Trail

The Mountains to Sea State Trail (MST) is North Carolina’s flagship state trail. It stretches from Clingmans Dome on the Tennessee border to Jockeys Ridge State Park on the coast. The original route of the MST, which roughly follows the Neuse River from Wake County east to New Bern, is over 57% complete. The trail, from Johnston County east to Carteret County, has been envisioned as a multiuse path suitable for bicycles and pedestrians.  Connecting existing segments in Clayton and Smithfield will provide a route, completely off-road, from Hillsborough to Smithfield. 

About the East Coast Greenway

The East Coast Greenway is a 3,000-mile walking and biking route from Maine to Florida that connects major cities, small towns, and parklands along the Eastern Seaboard. In North Carolina, the ECG route passes through the cities of Durham, Raleigh, Fayetteville, and Wilmington and primarily follows the Neuse River and Cape Fear River corridors across the state. The ECG is currently 32% complete. The longest continuous stretch of completed trails is in North Carolina, which is comprised of the 72-mile span of greenways and trails through Durham, Wake and Johnston Counties. The proposed trail extension along the Neuse River aims to expand the connected greenway network in the region to over 90 miles, stretching from Durham to Smithfield.   

Project Schedule

Community Input Meeting

A community meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, from 5-7pm at the Smithfield Recreation & Aquatics Center. A virtual meeting option will be available as well.

The meeting will provide an opportunity for Johnston County residents and visitors to provide feedback on the recommended routes and design recommendation of the Neuse River Trail.

Additional details will be provided in advance of the meeting.

NCDOT will provide accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act to persons who need assistance to participate in this process. If you need assistance, please contact Carlos Moya-Astudillo via email at cemoya@ncdot.gov or call 919-707-0934 or James Salmons at jsalmons@ucprpo.org or 252-459-1545.