NCDOT Feedback on STIP

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is seeking input as they prioritize road projects for the next ten years. This is our best opportunity to influence the process and call for needed improvements like sidewalks, greenways, and bike lanes, while also speaking out against further highway expansions that are bad for our environment. See MountainTrue’s project priorities below and then use this interactive project map to tell DOT which projects you think they should prioritize and which ones you think they should not pursue.

Click Here for Project Map

MountainTrue Priorities for our Central Region:

Vote Yes!

Blue Projects:

US 70 (Tunnel Road) – 24 – Implement Road Diet to Improve Safety – Implement a road diet with intersection improvements on US 70 (Tunnel Road) from Beaucatcher Tunnel to US 74A (South Tunnel Road)
US 70 (Tunnel Road) – 11 – Access Management – Roadway improvements and access management to include complete streets elements.
US 25 (McDowell Street) – 26 – Upgrade Roadway – Upgrade roadway to improve safety, address congestion bottlenecks, and accommodate pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
Tunnel Road Sidewalks – 7 – Protected Linear Pedestrian Facility (Pedestrian) – Construct new sidewalks and fill-in sidewalk gaps from New Haw Creek Road to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
NC 63 (New Leicester Highway) – 11 – Access Management – Construct access management improvements.

Pink Projects:

Tunnel Road Sidewalks – 7 – Protected Linear Pedestrian Facility (Pedestrian) – Construct new sidewalks and fill-in sidewalk gaps from New Haw Creek Road to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Reed Creek Greenway Extension – 2 – Off-Road/Separated Linear Bicycle Facility (Bicycle) – Extend the Reed Creek Greenway from the existing Reed Creek Greenway termini near WT Weaver Boulevard to the planned Riverside Drive Sidepath on NC 251.
NC 251 (Riverside Drive) – 7 – Protected Linear Pedestrian Facility (Pedestrian) – Construct sidewalks along NC 251 (Riverside Drive) from future I-26 to Woodfin Ave.
Patton Avenue – 7 – Protected Linear Pedestrian Facility (Pedestrian) – Construct sidewalks from Old Haywood Road to Johnston Blvd along Patton Avenue.
Bent Creek Greenway (WNC Farmers Market to Asheville Outlets) – 2 – Off-Road/Separated Linear Bicycle Facility (Bicycle) – Construct a new multi-use path from the WNC Farmer’s Market to Asheville Outlets along NC 191
Bent Creek Greenway (Hominy Creek/WNC Farmer’s Market Segment) – 2 – Off-Road/Separated Linear Bicycle Facility (Bicycle) – Construct a new multi-use path from Hominy Creek Greenway to Hominy Creek River Park.

Green Projects:

NS AS Line (WNC Passenger Service) – 5 – Passenger rail service (line) – Upgrade rail infrastructure to support new intercity passenger service from Salisbury to Asheville on the AS Line. Project includes necessary infrastructure, stations, and passenger equipment to begin service with three roundtrips per day.

Hard No!

I-40 – 1 – Widen Existing Roadway – SR 1200 (Wiggins Road), Exit 37 to SR 1224 (Monte Vista Road). Add additional lanes.
I-40 – 1 – Widen Existing Roadway – Widen Roadway. (2 separate sections to vote on here between Candler and Clyde)

MountainTrue Priorities for our Western Region:

Vote Yes!

SR 1307 (Tusquittee Rd) – 16 – Modernize Roadway – Modernize roadway to standard lane and shoulder widths with sidewalk to Ritter Road and Greenway to the Hiwassee River. (Clay Co.) [This one is straight out of the Hayesville Moves Pedestrian & Bicycle Plan!]
SR 1363 Texana Rd – Linear Pedestrian Facility (Cherokee Co)
SR 1127 (Snowbird Road) – 16 – Modernize Roadway – Modernize roadway to standard lane and shoulder widths with pedestrian and bicycle facilities. (Graham Co)
Hwy 441 Between Whittier & Cherokee – Provide access management by upgrading the roadway from 5-lane to a 4-lane divided facility. Include bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. (Jackson Co)
SR 1364 (Fontana Drive) – 7 – Protected Linear Pedestrian Facility (Pedestrian) – Construct a sidepath connecting the high school to downtown. (Swain Co)
Richland Creek Greenway– North – 2 – Off-Road/Separated Linear Bicycle Facility (Bicycle) (Haywood Co)
Raccoon Creek Greenway – 2 – Off-Road/Separated Linear Bicycle Facility (Bicycle) (Haywood Co)
US 64 Multi-Use Path – 2 – Off-Road/Separated Linear Bicycle Facility (Bicycle) in Cashiers (Jackson Co)
US 64 (Franklin Rd) -7 – Protected Linear Pedestrian Facility in Highlands (Pedestrian). Construct sidewalk. (Macon Co)

Hard No!

US-64 between Peachtree and Hayesville: creating a 4-lane divided highway. This will destroy our rural character and is completely unnecessary. Making it 3-lane in places to allow for passing, maybe, but not 4-lane divided.

MountainTrue Priorities for the High Country:

Vote Yes!

US 221 Truck, US 321 Truck, NC 105 – 4 – Upgrade Arterial to Signalized RCI Corridor – Improve corridor by constructing median and RCI intersections. Also construct bicycle and pedestrian improvements
NC 163 – 16 – Modernize Roadway – Modernize roadway and construct multiuse path
New River Hills Road Multi-Use Path – 2 – Off-Road/Separated Linear Bicycle Facility (Bicycle) – Construct a multi-use sidepath along New River Hills Road from US 421 multi-use path termini and future committed project (EB-5983) termini to connect to the existing Boone Greenway termini at Casey Lane.
Middle Fork Greenway Sections 5B, 5C, 3A, and 1B – Off-Road/Separated Linear Bicycle Facility (Bicycle) – Construct greenway along US 321 to Watauga Medical Center

Hard No!

US 421 (Daniel Boone Parkway) – 5 – Construct Roadway on New Location – Construct freeway on new location south of the City of Boone (there are 2 sections to vote on here, one west of Boone and the other southeast of Boone)

MountainTrue Priorities for our Southern Region:

Vote Yes!

Greenway-Jackson Park to Blue Ridge CC 2 – Off-Road/Separated Linear Bicycle Facility (Bicycle)
Church Street and King Street 7 – Protected Linear Pedestrian Facility (Pedestrian)
Saluda Grade Rail Trail 2 – Off-Road/Separated Linear Bicycle Facility (Bicycle)
Above The Mud Greenway Connector 2 – Off-Road/Separated Linear Bicycle Facility (Bicycle)

Thank you for helping make our roadways safer for all users by supporting multi-modal transportation projects and opposing unnecessary highway expansion!

MountainTrue Advocates for Environmental Priorities During Raleigh Lobbying Trip

Photo: MountainTrue’s Legislative Advocacy Team sits down with Senator Tim Moffitt to discuss the specifics of a proposed Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) bill.

At the beginning of May, the MountainTrue legislative advocacy team embarked on a lobbying trip to Raleigh, marking our first visit to the NC General Assembly’s short session. This trip was instrumental in advancing our legislative agenda and fostering meaningful conversations with key lawmakers.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Representatives Dudley Greene, Jimmy Dixon, Jake Johnson, Jennifer Balkcom, Eric Ager, Ray Pickett, and Senators Warren Daniel, Kevin Corbin, Tim Moffitt, and Julie Mayfield. We also appreciate the staff of House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Burger for their valuable time and engagement.

Senator Kevin Corbin

Senator Kevin Corbin with MountainTrue High Country Director and Watauga Riverkeeper Andy Hill.

Senator Julie Mayfield

MountainTrue’s Legislative Advocacy Team with Senator Julie Mayfield.

Representative Jimmy Dixon

MountainTrue’s Gray Jernigan, Nancy Diaz, and Bob Wagner, posing for a photo with Representative Jimmy Dixon.

During our meetings, we discussed the various programs, projects, and policies that MountainTrue supports. We shared our legislative priorities for the session, receiving positive feedback and valuable insights from our legislators. Here are the key initiatives we are focusing on this year:

Helping Property Owners Reduce Stormwater Pollution

The Community Conservation Assistance Program (CCAP) is a vital initiative that allows local soil and water districts to assist property owners in reducing stormwater pollution. Unfortunately, the demand for CCAP exceeds its current funding. By advocating for dedicated funding for the CCAP program, particularly in the French Broad River watershed, we aim to significantly reduce stormwater pollution in areas frequently used for recreation.

Supporting Rural Families with Failing Septic Systems

MountainTrue has partnered with NC DHHS to administer funding for repairing failing septic systems in Western North Carolina. This partnership has inspired Buncombe County to launch its own septic repair program. We are pushing for grants to local health departments in WNC to enable other counties to establish their own programs, thereby improving public health and environmental quality in rural areas.

Expanding E. coli Monitoring in the French Broad River

By expanding the state’s real-time E. coli bacteria detection program in the French Broad River, we can provide the public with accurate and timely information about bacteria pollution levels. This expansion is crucial for ensuring the safety of the river, which is heavily used for recreational activities.

Securing State Trail Designations for Paddle Trails

We are working to secure State Trail designations for the First Broad River in Cleveland County and the Watauga River in Watauga County. These designations will accelerate the development of paddle trails, enhancing recreational and economic opportunities for local communities.

Advocating for Local Projects and Smart Infill Development

MountainTrue is actively seeking funding for several local projects, including dam removals, trails, and greenways throughout the WNC region. Additionally, we are advocating for legislation that mandates local governments to adopt ordinances permitting the construction of accessory dwelling units in residential areas. This initiative aims to promote smart infill development, address the housing shortage, reduce the climate impacts of commuting, and protect rural areas from sprawling development.

Stay Connected and Support MountainTrue

As the session progresses, we will continue to update you on our advocacy efforts and achievements. Your support is crucial in ensuring that WNC has a strong voice for the environment in the General Assembly. MountainTrue is proud to be the only environmental organization in WNC with a full-time presence in Raleigh, and with your continued support, we can make a significant impact.

Thank you for standing with us in our mission to protect and preserve the environment in WNC. Stay tuned for more updates and action opportunities!

Rein in Buncombe County Short-Term Rentals

This Monday, March 18th, the Buncombe County Planning Board will be discussing the issue of Short-Term Rentals (STRs) for the second time. MountainTrue strongly supports the proposed text amendments to regulate short-term rentals. Mitigating the loss of year-round housing to short-term rentals is a top priority for our residents.

In particular, we join our community partner, PODER Emma, in strongly supporting the proposal to prohibit short-term rentals in mobile home communities, as their residents are particularly vulnerable to displacement.

Take Action:

1. Monday, March 18: attend the Buncombe County Planning Board Meeting and let them know you want the regulation of short-term rentals in Buncombe County.

Buncombe County Planning Board Meeting
Date: Monday, March 18, 2024
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Where: AB Tech Ferguson Auditorium
Tech Dr, Asheville, NC 28801

2. Email the Planning Board and let them know you support the regulation of STRs in Buncombe County.

Take Action

Background:

It is no secret that Buncombe County, like the rest of the nation, is experiencing an acute housing crisis. More people are struggling to find an affordable place to live due to the cost of living and the dearth of housing options. There are an estimated 5,000 Short-Term-Rentals (STRs) in Buncombe County – that’s 5,000 potential homes that have been removed from the market.

During the county’s comprehensive planning process last year, thousands of community members voiced their concerns about STRs and their impact on affordable housing. It is clear that reducing the loss of year-round housing is a top priority for residents.

Buncombe County faces a significant housing gap, particularly for low-income individuals and families. The proposed text amendments offer a proactive approach to bolstering affordable housing options. Coupled with potential conversion incentives discussed by the Board of Commissioners, these measures have the potential to make a meaningful impact on our housing crisis.

By ensuring that short-term rentals are appropriately regulated and located, we can create more opportunities for long-term rental and owner-occupied housing in our county. MountainTrue recognizes the connection between the built and natural environment. With less long-term housing, people are pushed away from the schools, jobs, and services that they rely on. This increases miles traveled and destroys more habitats.

The steps that are being taken are crucial for increasing the housing stock in Buncombe County. We must ensure that short-term rentals are appropriately regulated and located. Please consider taking action: attend Monday’s listening session and email the Planning Board to express your support for the proposals. Thank you for your attention to this issue and making change in our community.

Tell Madison County to Oppose Dangerous Industrial Biomass Facilities

The Madison County Planning Board is expected to vote on whether to recommend changes to the county’s land-use code that would allow dangerous, industrial biomass facilities in Madison County. The proposed amendments to the county’s land-use ordinance open the door to industrial-sized biomass facilities that would emit more climate-changing carbon into the atmosphere, cause significant air pollution, and pose serious fire risks to nearby residents.

Take Action: Email the Planning Board and County Commissioners and let them know you want a clean and safe Madison County.

BACKGROUND:

In response to public feedback, the board has significantly revised the definition of what constitutes a large biomass facility, requires they obtain a special permit, and restricts their operations to industrial-zoned areas of the county. Here are the latest revisions to the definition of a “large biomass facility”:

“A facility that converts biomass sources into value-added products energy for public or private use. Biomass includes but is not limited to wood and wood processing waste, wood pellets, agricultural crops and waste materials, biogenic materials in municipal solid waste, animal manure, and human sewage.”

Large Biomass Facility:

Annual Biomass Throughput: A large biomass facility processes over 5,000 metric tons of biomass per year.
Energy Production: A large biomass facility generates over 10,000 MWh or more energy annually.
Number of Employees: A large biomass facility has over 50 employees
Capital Investment Threshold: A large biomass facility requires an investment of over $5 million.

This broad definition raises three key concerns:

Inconsistencies in Regulation: The definition of “large biomass facility” appears to include activities already separately defined and regulated within the ordinance, such as sawmills and certain manufacturing facilities. This inconsistency in regulation creates confusion for residents, business owners, and the County in determining which set of rules applies to specific activities.
Potential for Unintended Consequences: An overly broad definition could inadvertently allow certain activities, such as a sawmill evolving into a wood pellet production facility, to escape more stringent permitting requirements. This could occur because nonconforming land uses (i.e., land uses that pre-date an ordinance amendment that makes them newly “nonconforming”) are typically allowed to continue as long as they do not change their primary use or expand significantly. Therefore, a clearer definition is needed to prevent such loopholes.
Unfair Scope: The proposal’s distinction between “large” and “small” biomass facilities does not serve the public or the ordinance’s purposes. It would both allow industrial-scale facilities in residential areas while punishing truly “small” biomass land uses—especially under the currently overbroad definition of “biomass”—by requiring regular folks to go through an expensive and time-consuming set of rezoning and permitting processes. The ordinance should focus on making sure industrial biomass facilities are properly located without sweeping up landowners looking to make occasional, harmless use of collected waste materials. Failing to make this distinction may lead to unnecessary hostility towards environmental advocacy and regulation.

A More Refined Definition

To address these concerns and create a more precise and effective regulatory framework, we propose a more tailored definition of “large biomass facility.” Our suggested definition would:

Apply only to facilities that produce biomass products for specific off-site uses, such as electricity generation, heating, or transportation fuel.
Tailor the amendment so that if the facility combusts biomass on site, the definition applies only if any electricity generated is transmitted for off-site use.
Include wood pellet biomass facilities explicitly within the definition to ensure they are adequately regulated.
Maintain the broad definition of “biomass” while narrowing the scope of facilities that fall under this definition.

Additional Considerations

In addition to refining the definition of “large biomass facility” to help distinguish between different types of biomass-related activities, we support:

Requiring special use permits for biomass facilities,
Correcting what may have been a mistake in section 8.11.12 (“Noise”) that regulates facilities that generate noise pollution “up to 70 decibels.” We believe the county meant “more than 70 decibels.

ACTION: Support Road Safety in Downtown Asheville

Let the City of Asheville know that you support making College Street and Patton Avenue safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders.

Take Action to Support Complete Streets for Asheville

The City of Asheville is wavering in its commitment to complete streets and needs your support for the College/Patton project today. MountainTrue has long been a supporter of complete street projects that make moving through our communities safer, easier, and more environmentally sustainable. Our new program Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC also supports such projects as a way to mitigate congestion in our city centers as we make room for more residents there. City staff and traffic engineers have studied this project and responded to community concerns along the way. They have improved the design, consulted with emergency responders, and compared vehicular traffic patterns to other streets in town to demonstrate that this new design would not create the congestion that some opponents of this project fear. Their expert analysis and process have built upon multiple studies and plans that have recommended projects like this one since the 2009 Downtown Master Plan. However, our city’s leadership needs to hear from more voices that support turning College Street and Patton Avenues into complete streets with buffered bike lanes and high-visibility crosswalks. Take action today to encourage Asheville City Council to vote in support of the College/Patton project and make our downtown safer for all users.

Take Action

Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC advocates for more attainable housing that is built in places and at a scale that most benefits the health of our natural environment. We support attainable housing in and near our city centers because that is an efficient use of infrastructure, it decreases our overall carbon footprint, and also because we want our downtowns to be vibrant, thriving, inclusive places that all people in our community both can and want to access and enjoy. We believe that investments in infrastructure that make downtowns more pedestrian friendly, rather than vehicle oriented, pay off by activating our city center in a personal way and on a human scale. Bike lanes are a part of that landscape not just because they benefit bicyclists, but also because the less car-centric we make our downtown, the more people-centered it becomes. Complete street projects enable vehicle access and safer options for other road users, and, ultimately, we believe that complete streets in our city center will benefit businesses by making downtown a place that residents will want to spend more time and money in.

Join us in supporting complete street investments in downtown Asheville by supporting the College/Patton Project today. Click here to read our letter of support for the College Street and Patton Avenue Redesign Project.

MountainTrue’s Letter of Support for the City of Asheville’s College Street & Patton Avenue Redesign Project

photo credit: City of Asheville project page

October 2, 2023

This week, we sent the letter below to the members of Asheville City Council expressing our support for the College / Patton Project in downtown Asheville because we believe multi-modal transportation investments make denser residential development work best for our communities. You can read more about the project on the city’s website here.

Dear Asheville City Council,

City Manager Debra Campbell,

Director of Transportation, Ken Putnam

Assistant Director of Transportation, Jessica Morriss

Members of the City of Asheville’s Multimodal Transportation Commission

I write today on behalf of MountainTrue and Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC asking you to support the College Street and Patton Avenue redesign project.

We took to heart Council member Mosley’s reflection of concern and even anger on behalf of the Black community regarding bike lanes during the August 22 council discussion on this project. The prospect of supporting what feels to some members of our community like “white encroachment in Black neighborhoods” is not a position we take lightly. While we believe that this redesign project would increase safety for all travelers through our downtown—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike—we also take seriously the prospect that such a change may make some members of our community feel even less welcome or included, especially those Council member Mosley spoke on behalf of who are “most vulnerable among us.”

Additionally, we take seriously the concerns of downtown business owners who are currently beset by a host of challenges and stressors and who feel like the timing of this project is not right. For those owners in particular who have invested in and committed to downtown Asheville even since the years when downtown was nearly deserted and sorely neglected, we regret that the timing of this project feels like a threat rather than a support.

While we do not take these concerns lightly, Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC advocates for more attainable housing that is built in places and at a scale that most benefits the health of our natural environment. We support attainable housing in and near our city centers because that is an efficient use of infrastructure, it decreases our overall carbon footprint, and also because we want our downtowns to be vibrant, thriving, inclusive places that all people in our community both can and want to access and enjoy. We believe that investments in infrastructure that make downtowns more pedestrian friendly, rather than vehicle oriented, do pay off by activating our city center in a personal way and on a human scale. Bike lanes are a part of that landscape not just because they benefit bicyclists, but also because the less car-centric we make our downtown, the more people-centered it becomes. Complete street projects both enable vehicle access in addition to providing safer options for other road users, and, ultimately, we believe that complete streets in our city center will benefit downtown businesses by making downtown a place that residents will want to spend more time and money in.

When vulnerable members of our community and business owners feel that complete street projects like College/Patton go against their interests, we take time to step back and question our assumptions. It is true that the most vocal and visible champions for bicycle infrastructure in our community are white. It is also true that the challenges of both implementing this project and then adjusting to the new road design would be most immediately felt by the business owners whose businesses are located within the project footprint. Yet it is also frequently true that unwanted or even feared changes, once experienced, prove to be appealing and beneficial in unexpected ways.

We respect our city staff and traffic engineers who have studied this project and responded to concerns along the way. They have improved the design by increasing loading zone space and decreasing impacts to drivers by moving the bike lanes to the left side of traffic, instead of the right. They have consulted with and received support from emergency responders in our community. And they have compared vehicular traffic patterns to other streets in town to demonstrate that this new design would not create the delays or congestion that some opponents of this project fear. We trust their expert analysis and their process, which has built upon multiple studies and plans that have recommended projects like this one since the 2009 Downtown Master Plan.

Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC advocates for housing that is financially attainable and responsibly located. We also advocate for transportation investments that make our community more affordable and make denser patterns of development work best for all members of our community. And we do that advocacy as thoughtfully and respectfully as possible, trying to honor all the different lived experiences that will be impacted by the changes we promote. We seek to listen, understand, learn, and partner with individuals and groups who want Asheville and WNC to be the best they can be. It is from this place that we ask for your support of the College/Patton project in the hopes that it ultimately proves to be more beneficial to our community than harmful and in the hopes that all members of our community, from the most vulnerable to the most privileged, find themselves able to access and enjoy our city center as neighbors welcoming more neighbors.

Sincerely,

Susan Bean, Housing & Transportation Director for MountainTrue

Click here to take action in support of complete streets for Asheville