Difference between revisions of "American Tobacco Trail"

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(→‎crossing I-40: how to get across I-40 on Fayetteville Rd.)
(→‎Sections: pedestrian bridge is now complete)
 
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[[page type::article]]
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[[town::US/NC/Durham]]
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[[category:US/NC/Durham/trails]]
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[[File:2008-08-19 ATT 100 4221.web.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The [[American Tobacco Trail]] facing north near [[US/NC/Durham/roads/Fayetteville|Fayetteville Road]]]]__TOC__
 
==Navigation==
 
==Navigation==
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[[category:Durham, NC]][[Earth]]: [[United States]]: [[North Carolina]]: {{instate|Durham|NC}}: [[American Tobacco Trail]]
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[[Earth]]: [[United States]]: [[North Carolina]]: {{instate|Durham|NC}}: [[American Tobacco Trail]]
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==Overview==
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===Connections===
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The [[American Tobacco Trail]] (ATT) is a series of connected bike-and-pedestrian pathways running north-south through [[Durham, NC]] and forming an essential part of the planned [[East Coast Greenway]]. The term "American Tobacco Trail" also often refers specifically to the [[#South Durham]] section, which was the first completed stretch of the ATT.
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* '''North''': through [[/downtown|downtown Durham]] to [[South Ellerbee Creek Trail]]
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==Nomenclature==
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* '''South''': currently ends about half(?) a mile north of the north end of the [[New Hope Valley Railway]]
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There seems to be some disagreement as to whether "American Tobacco Trail" refers to the entire planned 22 miles of north-south trail in the area, or just the section south of Durham ("South Durham section"). Most of the quasi-official documents found thus far seem to consider this the name of the entire trail, so we are going with that convention for now.
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===Sections===
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==Sections==
 
 
''going from north to south''
 
''going from north to south''
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* [[West Ellerbe Creek Greenway]]
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* '''[[/downtown|Downtown section]]''': south from Trinity Ave., through downtown Durham on sidewalks and back-streets, and connecting to the South Durham section
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** '''Phase II''' (to be completed): from Westover Park (between Guess Road and Maryland Ave.), under [[I-85]] alongside Club Blvd., and (eventually) up to [[South Point on the Eno]].
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* '''[[/south Durham|south Durham]]''' (6.5+ miles): south from underneath the [[Durham Freeway]] ([[NC-147]]) bridge to just north of [[I-40]]
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** '''Phase I''': north from Trinity Ave. through most of Watts-Hillandale, to Westover Park
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* '''[[/I-40|I-40]]''': pedestrian bridge now complete!
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* '''Downtown section''': south from Trinity Ave., through downtown Durham on sidewalks and back-streets, and connecting to the South Durham section
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* '''[[/south of I-40|south of I-40]]''': south from Massey Chapel Road
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* '''[[#South Durham]] section''' (6.5+ miles, plus additional sections) (a.k.a. the American Tobacco Trail): south from underneath the [[Durham Freeway]] (147) to just north of [[I-40]] where Fayetteville Road crosses over.
 
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* '''The [[#South of 40]] section''': south from Massey Chapel Road
 
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===South Durham===
 
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[[Image:000 0070 2007-08-01 abandoned log cabin just off ATT.web.jpg|thumb|Abandoned log cabin in the woods about 1/4 of the way from the Cornwallis Rd. intersection to the MLK intersection, off the west side of the trail.]]
 
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This is a converted former railroad right-of-way beginning at the south edge of downtown Durham and stretching to a "temporary end" just across NC-54 and I-40 from [[Southpoint Mall]]).
 
  
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Intersections (from memory):
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==About==
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* '''Enterprise St.''' in [[Forest Hills]]; not busy
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The [[American Tobacco Trail]] (ATT) is bike-and-pedestrian pathway running from the south edge of downtown [[Durham, NC]] and forming an essential part of the planned [[East Coast Greenway]].
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* '''Otis St.''' (neighborhood through-street, but usually pretty quiet)
 
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* '''Fayetteville Rd.''' (busy; traffic light and pedestrian crossing light/button)
 
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* '''Riddle Rd.''' (more fast than busy; button activates flashing yellow light to warn drivers)
 
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* (street behind school; not too busy, but vehicles do come along regularly)
 
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* '''Cornwallis Rd.''' (much like Riddle Rd.)
 
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* '''Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway''' (very busy; the crossing signal will "forget" your button-press if you do it too early in the cycle, so keep trying. The Hypertwins think that the city should put in a pedestrian/bike crossing a little way uphill of [[Cardinal Self-Storage South|Cardinal Self-Storage South]] instead of making everyone cross at the intersection.)
 
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* '''Fayetteville Rd.''' (again) (busy; traffic light, pedestrian crossing light/button makes tone when it's safe to cross)
 
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* several suburban offshoot streets, mostly not too busy but with no signals
 
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To reach the current "temporary end" of the trail 6.5 miles south of Durham, you have to turn right several yards short of the end of the straight-ahead part of the trail (which mainly goes to the small ATT parking area at the shopping center entrance off Fayetteville Rd.) to get to the final section of trail. The turn is not clearly marked as being the official continuation of the Trail; you have to look closely at the signpost (which is on the left, opposite the turnoff) and notice the little arrow pointing to the right.
 
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This (currently final) stretch runs around through [[Southpoint Crossing]], a gated community and shopping center (the trail runs behind the shopping center with a hill separating it from vehicular traffic) and over to NC Highway 54, a busy road with 5+ lanes.
 
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Plans are underway to build a bike/pedestrian bridge over I-40 to connect with the [[#South of I-40]] section; in the meantime, there is a quite workable detour for safely [[#crossing I-40]].
 
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===crossing I-40===
 
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====Fayetteville Road====
 
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The "obvious" way across [[I-40]] is to get onto [[US.NC.Durham.roads.Fayetteville|Fayetteville Road]] and cross with the traffic. This is tricky, as there are no apparent sidewalks and it is a busy street. One rider reports that you can get across by turning right on 54, crossing at the next street (Rollingwood), then "cutting through the Harris Teeter shopping center and then turning right onto Fayetteville Rd. to cross I-40. That crossing looks like a monster but it is actually quite safe if you take it in pieces. The intersection is so complex that there are plenty of islands in which a cyclist can wait for a favorable traffic pattern. From there I take Fayetteville south past [[Southpoint Mall|the mall]] which is busy but four lanes wide so cars can pass me if they need to, or sometimes I go through the mall parking lot. Past the mall it's a short scoot to Massey Chapel on the right", which leads to the next segment of the ATT.
 
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====Highway 751====
 
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''this detour was discovered independently by {{thehypertwins}} on 2007-08-01, though apparently [http://blogs.newsobserver.com/joemiller/index.php?title=bridging_the_att_in_durham_minus_the_bri&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 others] have discovered it as well''
 
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It is also possible to cross at the next bridge to the west (Highway 751), which has a sidewalk. The way to get there is relatively pleasant (sidewalks available most of the way) and does not involve riding with any busy traffic:
 
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* Turn right on [[NC 54]] (stay on the sidewalk, if you value your life)
 
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* At the next street ('''Rollingwood''' on your right, '''Highgate Drive''' on the left, across the street), cross 54 (there's no crosswalk or pedestrian signal, so you have to wait for the traffic light and watch for vehicles turning from the cross-street -- but there is a sidewalk on Highgate.)
 
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* Continue down Highgate for a couple of bends. Parts of it have no sidewalk, but it's pretty wide and uncongested (at least, it was at around 11pm on a Wednesday).
 
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* Turn left on '''Audubon Lake Drive''' (if you get back to 54, you've gone too far)
 
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* '''Point of interest''': it looks like the path to the future [[ATT I-40 bridge]] will start from the corner of Audubon Lake Drive and Shearwater Drive; satellite photos on Google show traces of something there, and up close it looks like possibly the remains of an old farm or service road which continued through where I-40 is now.
 
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* At some point -- the traffic circle is probably a good place -- get onto the left-hand sidewalk.
 
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* Continue on [[Southpoint Auto Park Boulevard]] through a lot of soon-to-be-developed wasteland (all with very nice sidewalks)...
 
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* '''Point of interest''': Just past the first of the car dealerships, and past a small lake, there is an old [[Trice Plantation Cemetery|family graveyard]] under a small grove of magnolias at the top of a hill, with graves dating back to the mid-1800s. (There is also a paved footpath beginning right next to the graveyard; it goes down to the lake and around it, and emerges just to the west of the car dealership. It appears both fairly new and not well-maintained, as there was a large tree-branch blocking the graveyard entrance and a lot of leaves on that portion of the trail.)
 
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* Continue past both of the mondo new car dealerships and out to '''Hope Valley Road''' ([[NC 751]]). The car traffic picks up a bit as you get into car dealer territory; also there were people mowing with rider mowers and blocking the sidewalk when we were there... hopefully that's not the norm.
 
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* Turn left onto 751 / Hope Valley Rd. Again, I advise using the sidewalk even though it is not marked for bicycle use; it does not seem to be used by pedestrians, and if the police give you a hard time for riding on the sidewalk, tell them I said it's ok. ^_^
 
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* This takes you across I-40, including the westbound exit ramp and the eastbound on-ramp. I have to assume you know how to handle yourself in weird car-bike situations, but do be careful. The good thing is that the sidewalk continues across the bridge and all the way to '''Renaissance Parkway''', which is the entrance to the [[Southpoint Mall]] area and is also lined with sidewalks and what looks like an actual bike trail on the far (south) side.
 
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* I haven't yet mapped out how to get to the trailhead of the next ATT segment, but it can't be difficult; the only question is whether it can be accessed from Renaissance parkway (several promising-looking trailish things on the Google map make me think so) or whether you have to stay on 751 until [[Massey Chapel Road]], the official start of the segment.
 
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===South of 40===
 
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This stretch begins a block south of [[Southpoint Mall]] on Massey Chapel Road and continues unpaved for 13 more miles through the northeast corner of [[Chatham County, NC|Chatham County]] (eventually to be paved) and into [[Wake County, NC|Wake County]]. It is effectively broken into 3 sections, however, by the absence of bridges at Northeast Creek and Panther Creek; both crossings currently have undecked railroad trestles which are in the process of being re-decked for ATT usage.
 
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The trail's southbound terminus is currently on New Hill / Olive Chapel Rd., 22 miles south of Durham. "A 20-mile multiuse trail" beginning at this point and continuing on south "is in early discussions. It would extend to [[Harris Lake County Park]] and on to [[Raven Rock State Park]] on the [[Cape Fear River]]. Its working name: ATT South", according to the map accompanying a [http://www.newsobserver.com/707/story/657194.html 2007-08-02 article] in ''[[The News & Observer]]'' (p.5E).
 
  
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* [[:Category:US/NC/Durham/ATT|ATT Category]]: images of the ATT
 +
==Nomenclature==
 +
There seems to be some disagreement as to whether "American Tobacco Trail" refers to the entire planned 22 miles of north-south trail in the area, or just the section south of Durham (referred to as the "South Durham section" of the ATT, when ATT is presumed to mean the whole thing). HTYP prefers to designate the "American Tobacco Trail" as referring only to the section of trail south of Durham, as this matches signage on the trail as well as most maps.
 
==Future Plans==
 
==Future Plans==
 
The ATT is an essential part of the [[East Coast Greenway]], a connected series of bike/pedestrian paths which will eventually the entire length of the United States east coast from [[Maine]] to [[Florida]]. "East Coast Greenway" signage is already in place along the South Durham section and possibly other completed portions of the ATT.
 
The ATT is an essential part of the [[East Coast Greenway]], a connected series of bike/pedestrian paths which will eventually the entire length of the United States east coast from [[Maine]] to [[Florida]]. "East Coast Greenway" signage is already in place along the South Durham section and possibly other completed portions of the ATT.
 
==Businesses==
 
==Businesses==
 
Useful businesses located near the trail:
 
Useful businesses located near the trail:
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* [http://www.eastcoastchinesefood.com/ East Coast Chinese Food]: inexpensive family-run Chinese food made to order, located (of all places) inside the Kroger in the shopping center at the end of the ATT. Very good, especially for the budget-minded. Lunch specials are cash-only, but there is an ATM about 20 feet away. They are informal and don't seem to have any problem serving sweaty, greasy bikers hot off the trail. Downside: the shopping center, despite their location right next to the ATT, does not seem to have a bike rack. We chained our bikes to the same chain used to secure a shaded picnic table outside Kroger, where they were kept under passive/unofficial observation by Kroger employees on break or waiting for their rides. --[[User:Woozle|Woozle]] 17:16, 1 June 2007 (EDT)
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* [[Southpoint Crossing]] is a small shopping center (which now has a bike rack over near the Quizno's) located where the ATT currently ends on the north side of I-40:
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* [http://www.ttbikes.com/ Tobacco Trail Bicycle Rentals]: at [[Solite Park]] just off the ATT where it intersects with Fayetteville Road
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** [http://www.eastcoastchinesefood.com/ East Coast Chinese Food]: inexpensive family-run Chinese food made to order, located (of all places) inside the Kroger. Very good, especially for the budget-minded. Lunch specials are cash-only, but there is an ATM about 20 feet away. They are informal and don't seem to have any problem serving sweaty, greasy bikers hot off the trail.
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** Quizno's
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* <s>[http://www.ttbikes.com/ Tobacco Trail Bicycle Rentals]: at [[Solite Park]] just off the ATT where it intersects with Fayetteville Road</s> gone
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
 
===Reference===
 
===Reference===
 
* {{wikipedia}}
 
* {{wikipedia}}
 
* [http://www.triangletrails.org/ATT.HTM official ATT page] at the [[Triangle Rails to Trails Conservancy]] web site
 
* [http://www.triangletrails.org/ATT.HTM official ATT page] at the [[Triangle Rails to Trails Conservancy]] web site
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===Blogs & Commentary===
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* [http://www.durhamnc.gov/departments/works/project_am_tob_trail.cfm American Tobacco Trail Project - Phase E Pedestrian Bridge Over I-40]: "This project includes the completion of the American Tobacco Trail from NC 54 to the Chatham County Line and will include a bridge across I-40 west of the [[I-40]]/[[US/NC/Durham/roads/Fayetteville|Fayetteville Road]] interchange. The trail will be paved and will include several signals at roadway crossings along the route."
 
* [http://www.nicomachus.net/bikes/att/ nicomachus.net ATT Archives]: photos and text, with a few reader comments
 
* [http://www.nicomachus.net/bikes/att/ nicomachus.net ATT Archives]: photos and text, with a few reader comments
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===Articles===
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===to file===
 +
* '''2014-03-26''' [http://wunc.org/post/how-dangerous-american-tobacco-trail-really How Dangerous Is The American Tobacco Trail, Really?]
 +
* '''2008-07-29''' [http://blogs.newsobserver.com/joemiller/east-coast-greenway-decides-on-triangle-route East Coast Greenway decides on Triangle route]
 +
* '''2008-04-28''' [http://www.bullcityrising.com/2008/04/american-tobacc.html American Tobacco Trail design update set for Tuesday night]
 
* '''2007-08-03''':
 
* '''2007-08-03''':
 
** [http://www.newsobserver.com/print/friday/wup/story/658346.html The American Tobacco Trail]: "Where it is and where it's going"
 
** [http://www.newsobserver.com/print/friday/wup/story/658346.html The American Tobacco Trail]: "Where it is and where it's going"
Line 80: Line 49:
 
** [http://www.newsobserver.com/707/story/657267.html Spine of the greenway]: "The American Tobacco Trail is on its way to connecting the Triangle"
 
** [http://www.newsobserver.com/707/story/657267.html Spine of the greenway]: "The American Tobacco Trail is on its way to connecting the Triangle"
 
** [http://www.newsobserver.com/707/story/657194.html American Tobacco Trail]: brief article with photo essay
 
** [http://www.newsobserver.com/707/story/657194.html American Tobacco Trail]: brief article with photo essay
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* '''2004-02-20''' [http://www.newsobserver.com/lifestyles/tio/story/406690.html It's not easy getting green]: greenway systems in {{instate|Cary|NC}} and {{instate|Chapel Hill|NC}}, and their plans for eventual hook-up with the ATT
 
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===News===
 
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* '''2007-06-06''' [http://www.bullcityrising.com/2007/06/act_now_help_co.html Act now: Help connect the North-South & W. Ellerbe Creek Greenways]
 
 
* '''2006-09-07''' [http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/483365.html Catch up on rail-line trail]
 
* '''2006-09-07''' [http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/483365.html Catch up on rail-line trail]
 
* '''2006-09-06''' [http://www.newsobserver.com/news/durham/story/483095.html Durham bridge will be removed]: it has apparently been decided to remove the "crumbling, unsafe" Apex Street bridge (closed to automobile traffic in 2001 because of safety concerns) over the ATT and replace it with a pedestrian ramp down the eastern side, thus giving the residents of "historically black, low-income" St. Theresa's neighborhood easier foot-access to both the trail and [[Forest Hills Park]]. (The bridge is on the ATT stretch between Enterprise and Otis streets.)
 
* '''2006-09-06''' [http://www.newsobserver.com/news/durham/story/483095.html Durham bridge will be removed]: it has apparently been decided to remove the "crumbling, unsafe" Apex Street bridge (closed to automobile traffic in 2001 because of safety concerns) over the ATT and replace it with a pedestrian ramp down the eastern side, thus giving the residents of "historically black, low-income" St. Theresa's neighborhood easier foot-access to both the trail and [[Forest Hills Park]]. (The bridge is on the ATT stretch between Enterprise and Otis streets.)
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* '''2004-02-20''' [http://www.newsobserver.com/lifestyles/tio/story/406690.html It's not easy getting green]: greenway systems in {{instate|Cary|NC}} and {{instate|Chapel Hill|NC}}, and their plans for eventual hook-up with the ATT
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==Maps==
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===Photos===
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[[Image:2007-ATT-1.png|200px]]
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* [http://picasaweb.google.com/bullcitybiker/ATTCrossings?feat=embedwebsite# ATT Crossings]: visibility issues where roads cross the ATT
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[[Image:2007-ATT-2.png|197px]]
 
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[[Image:2007-ATT-3.png|200px]]
 
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[[Image:2007-ATT-4.png|200px]]
 

Latest revision as of 18:51, 10 April 2014

The American Tobacco Trail facing north near Fayetteville Road

Navigation

Earth: United States: North Carolina: Durham: American Tobacco Trail

Connections

Sections

going from north to south

About

The American Tobacco Trail (ATT) is bike-and-pedestrian pathway running from the south edge of downtown Durham, NC and forming an essential part of the planned East Coast Greenway.

Nomenclature

There seems to be some disagreement as to whether "American Tobacco Trail" refers to the entire planned 22 miles of north-south trail in the area, or just the section south of Durham (referred to as the "South Durham section" of the ATT, when ATT is presumed to mean the whole thing). HTYP prefers to designate the "American Tobacco Trail" as referring only to the section of trail south of Durham, as this matches signage on the trail as well as most maps.

Future Plans

The ATT is an essential part of the East Coast Greenway, a connected series of bike/pedestrian paths which will eventually the entire length of the United States east coast from Maine to Florida. "East Coast Greenway" signage is already in place along the South Durham section and possibly other completed portions of the ATT.

Businesses

Useful businesses located near the trail:

  • Southpoint Crossing is a small shopping center (which now has a bike rack over near the Quizno's) located where the ATT currently ends on the north side of I-40:
    • East Coast Chinese Food: inexpensive family-run Chinese food made to order, located (of all places) inside the Kroger. Very good, especially for the budget-minded. Lunch specials are cash-only, but there is an ATM about 20 feet away. They are informal and don't seem to have any problem serving sweaty, greasy bikers hot off the trail.
    • Quizno's
  • Tobacco Trail Bicycle Rentals: at Solite Park just off the ATT where it intersects with Fayetteville Road gone

Links

Reference

to file

Photos

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