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

For health and exercise
For recreation
Commute to work and/or school
Run errands and/or reach essential services
Other (please specify)
I do not use greenways and trails.
Closed to responses

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2. How frequently do you use trails and greenways in McDowell County?

Daily
A few times a week
A few times a month
A few times a year
Never
Closed to responses

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3. What activities do you participate in along trails and greenways in McDowell County? Select all that apply.

Walking
Biking
Running/Jogging
Hiking
Dog Walking
Rollerblading/Skating
Nature Viewing/Birding
Activities with Children/Family
Horseback Riding
Access to Blueways (water activity trailheads/launches for paddling, kayaking, snorkeling, etc.)
Other (please specify)
I do not use greenways and trails.
Closed to responses

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

Lack of safe biking and walking connections to and from existing trails and greenways
Poor maintenance conditions of existing trails and greenways
Unsafe street crossings and intersections
Motor vehicle traffic and/or speed
Lack of signage and wayfinding
Lack of parking at trailheads
Lack of nearby destinations
Personal safety concerns
Lack of interest
Other (please specify)
Closed to responses

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5. How frequently would you use the proposed segment of the Fonta Flora State Trail once it is constructed?

Daily
A few times a week
A few times a month
A few times a year
Never
Closed to responses

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6. What activities would you participate in along the proposed segment of the Fonta Flora State Trail once it is constructed? Select all that apply.

Walking
Biking
Running/Jogging
Hiking
Dog Walking
Rollerblading/Skating
Nature Viewing/Birding
Activities with Children/Family
Horseback Riding
Access to Blueways (water activity trailheads/launches for paddling, kayaking, snorkeling, etc.)
Other (please specify)
I do not use greenways and trails.
Closed to responses

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7. What are your five (5) most important routing preferences for the proposed segment of the Fonta Flora State Trail? Select up to five (5) routing preferences.

Route along or provide access to the Catawba River
Provide connections to schools along the corridor (West McDowell Middle School, McDowell High School)
Provide connections between existing greenways and trails
Provide access to parks and recreational areas (Greenlee Park)
Provide access to commercial areas along the corridor
Provide access to neighborhoods/residential areas
Provide a safe crossing of US-70
Adjacent to roadways along the corridor
Most direct route
Most cost-effective route
Other (please specify)
Closed to responses

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8. What is your primary mode of transportation for commuting to work and/or school?

Walking
Bicycling
Transit
Car (Drive Alone)
Carpool
Work from Home
Other (please specify)
Closed to responses

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

Walking
Bicycling
Transit
Car (Drive Alone)
Carpool
Work from Home
Other (please specify)
Closed to responses

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10. What do you think would increase trail usage or bring new users to the Fonta Flora State Trail?

Closed for Comments

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11. Please provide any additional comments or feedback for the Fonta Flora State Trail Feasibility Study.

Closed for Comments

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12. What is your home zipcode?

Closed to responses

STUDY OVERVIEW

The proposed segment of the Fonta Flora State Trail is a half-mile corridor in McDowell County connecting the existing Joseph McDowell Historical Catawba Greenway across US-70 to Roby Conley Drive. The proposed corridor may follow the Catawba River or Sam Phillips Dr from the Joseph McDowell Historical Catawba Greenway across US-70 to the proposed segment of the Fonta Flora Trail currently under design (EB-5916) from Roby Conley Drive to the existing trail segment at Greenlee Park. This trail segment is a critical missing link of the Fonta Flora State Trail network and will improve overall bicycle and pedestrian connectivity along the US-70 corridor in McDowell County. The Fonta Flora State Trail Feasibility Study will evaluate potential route scenarios along roadways and off-road corridors to determine the preferred route. The study will also develop cost estimates and an implementation plan to construct the trail.

Please check the Foothill Regional Commission's website for upcoming information on the Public Meeting for this project.

The project schedule is displayed below. Click to enlarge the image. 

ABOUT THE FONTA FLORA STATE TRAIL

Authorized in 2015 as part of the North Carolina statewide trail system, the Fonta Flora Trail will connect Morganton to Asheville via hiking and biking trails. The trail will traverse Lake James State Park, segments of Pisgah National Forest, and Fonta Flora County Park in Burke County. It will also connect to the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail and the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail (MST). When completed, the Fonta Flora State Trail will span over 100 miles and connect communities across three counties in Western North Carolina.

The Fonta Flora State Trail map is displayed below. The Feasbility Study's segment of interest is marked with a green star. Click to enlarge the map.

POTENTIAL FACILITY TYPES

Potential facilities that will assessed during the Feasibiltiy Study are provided below with corresponding photos and descriptions. 

 

PAVED TRAILS / GREENWAYS / SHARED-USE PATHS: Paved trail surfaces such as asphalt or concrete offer greater accessibility to accommodate users of all ages and abilities. Asphalt pavement tends to be the most popular and cost effective for paved trails. Concrete pavement is more durable, but costs more than asphalt pavement. This facility is typically 10-feet wide. 

 

SIDEPATH: A sidepath is a bidirectional shared-use path adjacent and parallel to a roadway. Sidepaths offer a low-stress experience for bicyclists and pedestrians along network routes with high-speed or high-volume traffic.