Defund the Trail Project

Be Heard!

There is a false narrative that The Durham to Roxboro Trail Plan is “a community lead initiative.” We all agree a walking trail and bike path are good things, but this potential site:

CAN NOT be designed for safety of trail users and nearby residents because of distance between access points and lack of site lines;

CAN NOT be safely patrolled and enforced because of Police and Sheriff staffing issues and budgets, and;

WILL CREATE environmental destruction and contamination of removal of old creosote rail ties to our protected watershed and the construction process over
reservoir waterways.

COMMUNITY SOLUTION– Defund this project.

If strongly desired, construct a pathway in the Highway easement along Hwy 501 for the biking and walking to Roxboro where it can be visible to all safety patrols,
and safely out of traffic and away from private property owners. Connect to current bus line at Old Northern High school – achieving the desired effect without creating Risk and Vulnerabilities to Durham and Person County citizens.

As citizens, we don’t get to vote directly for or against the Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail Plan. The only way to make an impact is by letting our county commissioners, city council, and most importantly – our state senators and federal representatives know where we stand. They are the ones who can cast votes and influence funding decisions on our behalf.

TAKE ACTION!

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Take Action!

Please make phone calls and email these representatives so they know how many of us are concerned and opposed to this project.

The Honorable Secretary, Sean Duffy,
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590

The Honorable, Senator Tom Tillis
310 New Bern Ave Suite 122
Raleigh, NC 27601
919-856-4630 (phone)
919-856-4053 (fax)

The Honorable NC House of Representatives for Durham and Roxboro, Ray Jeffers
16 West Jones Street, Room 1319
Raleigh, NC 27601-1096
919-715-0850

The Honorable, Senator Ted Budd
333 Fayetteville Street Suite 1504
Raleigh, NC 27601
984-349-5061

The Honorable, Durham Chair of Soil and Water Conservation Durham District, Talmage Layton
200 East Main Street
Durham, NC 27701
919-560-0000

The Honorable, Durham City Manager, Bo Ferguson
101 City Hall Plaza Annex
Durham, NC 27701
919-560-4455

The Honorable, Durham Director of Parks and Recreation, Wade Walcutt
101 City Hall Plaza Annex
Durham, NC 27701
919-560-4455

The Honorable, Durham Deputy City Manager, Jina Propst
101 City Hall Plaza Annex
Durham, NC 27702

919-560-4455

The Honorable, Roxboro City Manager, Brooks Lockhart
105 South Lamar Street
P.O. Box 128
Roxboro, NC 27573
336-599-3116

The Honorable, Roxboro Assistant City Manager, Tommy Warren
105 South Lamar Street
P.O. Box 128
Roxboro, NC 27573
336-599-3116

The Honorable, Roxboro Director of Parks and Recreation, John Hill
303 South Morgan Street
Annex Building
Roxboro, NC 27573
336-597-1755

The Honorable, Person County Soil and Water Conservation, Nancy McCormick
304 South Morgan Street
Roxboro, NC 27573

336-599-0284

The Honorable Secretary, Sean Duffy,
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590

The Honorable, Senator Tom Tillis
310 New Bern Ave Suite 122
Raleigh, NC 27601
919-856-4630 (phone)
919-856-4053 (fax)

The Honorable NC House of Representatives for Durham and Roxboro, Ray Jeffers
16 West Jones Street, Room 1319
Raleigh, NC 27601-1096
919-715-0850

The Honorable, Senator Ted Budd
333 Fayetteville Street Suite 1504
Raleigh, NC 27601
984-349-5061

Commissioner Nida Allam, Chair
Office Phone: (919) 560-9302
Cell Phone: (984) 227-9462
nallam@dconc.gov
Mailing address:
Administration Building I, 2nd Floor,
200 E. Main Street, Durham, NC
27701

Commissioner Wendy Jacobs
Office Phone: (919) 560-0031
Cell Phone: (919) 418-3169
wjacobs@dconc.gov
Mailing address:
Administration Building I, 2nd Floor,
200 E. Main Street, Durham, NC
27701

Commissioner Mike Lee, Vice Chair
Office Phone: (919) 560-0032
Cell Phone: (984) 314-6165
mikelee@dconc.gov
Mailing address:
Administration Building I, 2nd Floor,
200 E. Main Street, Durham, NC 27701

Commissioner Michelle Burton
Office Phone: (919) 560-9303
Cell Phone: (984) 314-7587
mlburton@dconc.gov
Mailing address:
Administration Building I, 2nd Floor,
200 E. Main Street, Durham, NC 27701

Commissioner Stephen J. Valentine
Office Phone: (919) 560-9301
Cell Phone: (984) 314-7582
svalentine@dconc.gov
Mailing address:
Administration Building I, 2nd Floor,
200 E. Main Street, Durham, NC 27701

At their upcoming November monthly meetings, the Durham County Commissioners and the Durham City Council are expected to include this project on their agendas. Now is the time to make your voice heard—reach out to your elected representatives to share your concerns and urge them to DEFUND the Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail project. Your voice matters, and staying silent effectively signals support for moving the project forward.

Our Community Goals

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We are committed to preserving the peace, privacy, and safety of our community and the family farms that surround this trail corridor. While we support walking, biking, and recreation, the current proposal places the trail directly through backyards, across farmland, and alongside livestock areas — disrupting private sanctuaries and splitting properties in half.

We believe there is a better solution: rerouting the trail along the highway right-of-way, where it can still serve the public without intruding on residents’ homes and agricultural operations.

Back in the 1880’s, when the Norfolk Southern Railroad was asking for the easements and rights to the land now under the tracks, the landowners were told that if the railroad abandoned the operations, the land would revert back to the original land owners. Now, this proposal as a Public Trail is an unexpected change and represents a major shift from what was promised and how families have built their lives and property. The New Federal Trails Initiative has abruptly changed that promise and now gives the railroad companies rights to sell the Railroad land and thus benefit the companies even greater.

Our goal is simple: protect the tranquility and privacy of our homes and farms while still supporting safe and accessible recreation for everyone.

Proposal issues...

No Vehicle Control: 14’ asphalt road allows cars, ATVs, dirt bikes; no enforcement or penalties.
Unknown Budget Costs: The plan hasn’t made public a budget proposal yet at this late in the project – Person County estimated in in 2024 their costs for 16 miles to be $56.5 million. Our 18 miles additionally cross rivers and wetland areas.
Continuing Maintenance costs: will be the burden of the County Tax payers.
No Patrols: No regular sheriff or police presence on the current American Tobacco Trail — only 911 after-the-fact response.
Property Exposure: Homes and farms left vulnerable with no theft deterrents or safe design.
Limited Benefit: Few residents would use the trail (survey shows low interest).
No Transit Solution: Won’t meaningfully help people commute to Durham/Roxboro; local parks are already underused.
Environmental Risks: Construction over 4 rivers that feed our reservoirs for drinking water. Removal of old rail road ties releases Creosote into our water system.