News

Transportation advisers endorse Mud Creek greenway study

By Bill Moss, Published: December 30, 2017

The Henderson County Transportation Advisory Committee, which endorsed a study of a Mud Creek greenway last week, learned that the project could get a boost from the city of Hendersonville.

Henderson County Commissioner Bill Lapsley brought up the study at the TAC meeting, saying he wanted the countywide transportation advisers to be aware of the proposed bike-ped path. The path would trace a city sewer line easement from the new Publix and follow Mud Creek to Erkwood Drive. Hendersonville, Flat Rock and county officials proposed the Mud Creek option after they persuaded the NCDOT to remove bike lanes from the Kanuga Road widening project.

“Hopefully you will support that effort when it comes before the MPO in January,” he said.

The Board of Commissioners agreed on Dec. 4 to apply for a $40,000 grant, requiring a $10,000 county match. The request goes next to the French Broad Metropolitan Planning Organization, a regional body that sets transportation priorities for Henderson, Buncombe, Haywood and Madison counties. Instead of just hearing about the greenway project, the TAC decided to formally endorse the study.

Hendersonville City Councilman Steve Caraker said the city plans to replace the sewer line along that part of Mud Creek, meaning “we can basically prepare a greenway bed” while installing the new pipe.

MPO transportation planner Tristan Winkler updated the TAC on bike-ped studies currently under way in Hendersonville, Laurel Park, Flat Rock and Henderson County.

“How’s all this getting put together?” TAC Chair Renee Kumor asked. “Is there an overall grand plan?”

No one had an answer.

Greenway studies are the first step of a long process, Winkler said.

“Here’s the whole stretch. It’s going to cost X number of millions of dollars but here’s some of the ways we can maybe break it up,” he said.

If the NCDOT OKs the greenway study, money would come after next July 1 in the 2018-19 fiscal year.