News

Ecusta Trail gets another huge federal grant

By Lightning Reports, Published: July 6, 2023

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration announced the award of $21.4 million to the NCDOT for the Ecusta Trail, which will connect the statewide bike route system with Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville.

The project includes construction and completion of the entire Ecusta Rail Trail, the 18.8-mile shared-use path on an abandoned railroad route that will connect the county seats of Henderson and Transylvania counties in Western North Carolina to Pisgah National Forest.

“Under President Biden’s leadership, we are delivering infrastructure improvements on Federal and Tribal lands that communities have needed for decades,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With today’s announcement, we’re making it easier for Americans to access some of our greatest natural wonders, and improving road safety in Tribal communities, which face some of the highest rates of traffic deaths in the nation.”

The new grant comes just weeks after the announcement that the trail would receive a $24.5 million grant from the U.S. transportation department’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Program.

"Henderson County and all the partners involved in the Ecusta Trail project are extremely thankful to have received both the NSFLTP and RAISE grants," Henderson County said in a statement. "We will continue working with our partners and the DOT on the best way to administer these grants."

The Ecusta Trail was one of seven projects to receive federal grants totaling $130.5 million under the highway administration's Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Transportation Projects Program. The grants announced Thursday, which recognize transportation projects of national significance that serve Federal and Tribal lands, are part of Biden’s Investing in America agenda to rebuild our infrastructure and deliver big wins for the American people.

“With this grant that is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we’re helping to deliver safe and reliable transportation investments that will help families and visitors explore key destinations in North Carolina such as Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway,” said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. “The Ecusta Rail Trail will provide an excellent opportunity for pedestrians, bicyclists and others to enjoy the great outdoors, while also providing climate-friendly connections to local communities and other destinations throughout the region.”

In addition to the grants announced today, FHWA also opened applications for the next round of funding under the Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Transportation Projects Program. More information about the availability of $88 million in FY 2023 funds can be found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Information on how to apply is available at Grants.gov.