{"id":5832,"date":"2025-02-10T23:48:35","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T23:48:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/?p=5832"},"modified":"2025-02-11T00:02:21","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T00:02:21","slug":"improve-biking-connections-while-we-protect-our-streams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/2025\/02\/10\/improve-biking-connections-while-we-protect-our-streams\/","title":{"rendered":"Improve Biking Connections, While We Protect our Streams"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Bolin Creek Bikeway Extension.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 We want to improve biking connections, but not in riparian areas along stressed streams.\u00a0 The Town of Chapel Hill is asking for input on the proposed \u201cBolin Creek Greenway Extension\u201d route. The existing Bolin Creek Greenway <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">runs from the Chapel Hill Community Center and ends at Umstead Park. The planned extension will extend the Bolin Creek Greenway and add a connection to join the Estes Drive Bike Lanes. The Town suggests three options.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-08-at-2.16.11\u202fPM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5819\" src=\"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-08-at-2.16.11\u202fPM.png\" alt=\"Map of Estes Ext. Greenway Options\" width=\"1916\" height=\"808\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-08-at-2.16.11\u202fPM.png 1916w, https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-08-at-2.16.11\u202fPM-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-08-at-2.16.11\u202fPM-1024x432.png 1024w, https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-08-at-2.16.11\u202fPM-768x324.png 768w, https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-08-at-2.16.11\u202fPM-1536x648.png 1536w, https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-08-at-2.16.11\u202fPM-1080x455.png 1080w, https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-08-at-2.16.11\u202fPM-1280x540.png 1280w, https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-08-at-2.16.11\u202fPM-980x413.png 980w, https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-08-at-2.16.11\u202fPM-480x202.png 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1916px) 100vw, 1916px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>Bolin Creek Bikeway Extension.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 We want to improve biking connections, but not in riparian areas along stressed streams.\u00a0 The Town of Chapel Hill is asking input on the route for a proposed \u201cBolin Creek Greenway Extension\u201d. The existing Bolin Creek Greenway <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">runs from the Chapel Hill Community Center and ends at Umstead Park. The planned extension will extend the Bolin Creek Greenway and add a connection to join the Estes Drive Bike Lanes. The Town suggests three options.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><b>Why Route 1A (a side path along Umstead Drive) is the Best Choice<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Makes the most direct connection to Estes Drive Extension Bike Lanes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeps the stream corridor intact by allowing vegetation and trees to shade the stream and provide an undisturbed passage for turtles, birds and other species of wildlife.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It follows <\/span><b>existing infrastructure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, meaning fewer trees will need to be removed, preserving the already-limited canopy along the creek.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It keeps the path <\/span><b>away from the riparian buffer<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, protecting sensitive ecosystems and reducing the risk of further erosion and pollution.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is the <\/span><b>least expensive<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> option in terms of both construction costs and long-term maintenance, allowing the town to allocate funds for other critical environmental projects.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Building within 50 feet of a waterway violates the Jordan Lake Rules. Bikeways are allowed in\u00a0 riparian areas only if there are no other alternatives. Here, we have two viable alternatives, making Route 1A the compliant and responsible choice.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1B is similarly less expensive but will take out many trees. Alternate 2 will bring major disturbance to the stream buffer and wildlife corridor and will be the most expensive option.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Estes Drive Bike Lanes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0 The Estes Drive Bike Lane project is a separate project that will build new bike lanes the entire length of Estes Drive Extension from MLK Jr. Blvd. to the Chapel Hill limits at the railroad crossing. These off-road bike lanes and sidewalk amenities will protect bikers and walkers from the brisk traffic on Estes Drive Extension and provide a safe means of non auto connections between Carrboro and Chapel Hill. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ehq-production-us-california.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com\/af99df321c85ac0c01ea44d7d7ef69a866e368dd\/original\/1737571833\/3aa9cdc75e8548d093ca6a51080815b0_Estes_Drive_Handout_Final_Version%282%29.pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&amp;X-Amz-Credential=AKIA4KKNQAKIJHZMYNPA%2F20250210%2Fus-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&amp;X-Amz-Date=20250210T154347Z&amp;X-Amz-Expires=300&amp;X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&amp;X-Amz-Signature=7cc9ec16bd9261553d8c283c620cf0edcbb9b3f9e3cfe70f7cca294ee30ddd71\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Town presents five options for your input and you can view all five by clicking this link.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>We prefer Option 1 because:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The land disturbance is limited to one side of the road.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both a two-way bikeway and a Multi-use path on one side<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Less pavement overall<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lower costs<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-08-at-2.14.15\u202fPM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5820\" src=\"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-08-at-2.14.15\u202fPM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"730\" height=\"495\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-08-at-2.14.15\u202fPM.png 730w, https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-08-at-2.14.15\u202fPM-300x203.png 300w, https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-08-at-2.14.15\u202fPM-480x325.png 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 730px) 100vw, 730px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Finding Harmony Between Recreation and Conservation\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While a more scenic greenway route directly along Bolin Creek may seem like a good choice, the environmental damage caused by constructing a high-traffic paved \u201cgreenway\u201d to DOT standards along a <\/span><b>waterway<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> prone to <\/span><b>flooding, and <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">part of a<\/span><b> water supply watershed<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> feeding Jordan Lake, makes the creek route a bad choice. Paving next to a creek would destroy the wooded area near the creek that shades it during hot summers and provide unfragmented safety for wildlife.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><br style=\"font-weight: 400;\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4308.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5823\" src=\"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4308.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4308.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4308-1280x960.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4308-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_4308-480x360.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1600px, 100vw\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"reorderable-list-item-content-jur0gme\" class=\"styles-item-de7817ad\" data-fusion-type=\"unwrap\">\n<section id=\"block-jur0gme\" class=\"container styles-container-35f2fca3\" data-fusion-type=\"unwrap\">\n<table id=\"divider-jur0gme-hr\" class=\"css-63oe3q\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" data-fusion-type=\"_divider\" data-fusion-class=\"\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"css-1pj8n87\">\n<table class=\"css-1otteov\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"css-12t3g77\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"reorderable-list-item-content-8ucg9fi\" class=\"styles-item-de7817ad\" data-fusion-type=\"unwrap\">\n<section id=\"block-8ucg9fi\" class=\"container styles-container-35f2fca3 hover styles-hover-5e44bede\" data-fusion-type=\"unwrap\">\n<table class=\"css-63oe3q\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<div id=\"text-8ucg9fi\" class=\"css-llx5ne\" data-fusion-type=\"text\" data-fusion-class=\"\">\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\">Call to Action<span style=\"caret-color: #3366ff;\">:<\/span><br \/>\nTime is Short. <\/span><\/strong><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong>Take the Survey by the end of February 11th!<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>We need your help to ensure that our voices are heard. Please take a few minutes to complete both town surveys before the\u00a0<strong>February 11 deadline.\u00a0<\/strong>Voting for 1A will help safeguard Bolin Creek\u2019s natural beauty and ecological integrity for our future.<\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.chapelhillnc.gov\/bolin-creek-greenway-extension\/surveys\/bolin-creek-greenway-extension-survey\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Take the Bolin Creek Extension Survey Here<\/a><\/h4>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.chapelhillnc.gov\/estes-drive-extension-bicycle-and-pedestrian-improvements\/surveys\/bolin-creek-greenway-extension-survey1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Take the Estes Drive Bikeway Survey Here<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>Let\u2019s work together to ensure that our greenways enhance our community without sacrificing the natural landscapes that make Chapel Hill special. Help us protect Bolin Creek\u2014choose Route 1A!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bolin Creek Bikeway Extension.\u00a0 We want to improve biking connections, but not in riparian areas along stressed streams.\u00a0 The Town of Chapel Hill is asking for input on the proposed \u201cBolin Creek Greenway Extension\u201d route. The existing Bolin Creek Greenway runs from the Chapel Hill Community Center and ends at Umstead Park. The planned extension [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[45,29,79,135,189,27,177,248,215,159],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-5832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-birding","category-bolin-creek","category-bolin-creek-watershed","category-bolin-creek-wildlife","category-chapel-hill-stormwater-management-program-master-plan","category-friends-of-bolin-creek","category-greenways-see-damage-from-floods","category-new-greenway-routes","category-pavement-next-to-creeks","category-stream-buffers-chapel-hill"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5832","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5832"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5832\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5836,"href":"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5832\/revisions\/5836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5832"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bolincreek.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=5832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}