Federal Government Review Delays Ecusta Trail by Six Months

Brevard --  According to Brevard City Manager Wilson Hooper, the review of the Ecusta Trail grants is not related to safety or feasibility concerns. Instead, it appears to reflect broader federal budget priorities.

Hooper noted that the grants include elements, such as bicycle infrastructure, that the president has previously objected to on fiscal grounds. The administration has signaled a desire to reevaluate funding for certain types of transportation projects, particularly those not directly tied to automobile infrastructure or traditional highway systems.

Brevard Ecusta Trail Advisory Board News: Brevard ETAB – Brevard ETAB – 3-31-2025

On Wednesday, March 26, members of the Brevard Ecusta Trail Advisory Board (ETAB) received an update on the two federal grants – RAISE and NSFLTP – the city had received for the trail, but have been frozen by the Trump administration.

Brevard City Manager Wilson Hooper said he received an email via former state representative Chuck McGrady, an advocate for the trail, from the DOT stating that both grants are “under review at the federal level.”

Hooper said the grants do contain some of the things the president objects to, “like bicycle infrastructure.”

Hooper said he is “not sure” what that means for the grants going forward. “I don’t know if this grant will survive the review. I don’t know if it will have parts of it that are clawed back by the feds or what,” said Hooper.

Hooper said he wanted to talk about a strategy for lobbying those in Washington or anyone else who might help in keeping the grants.

Chris Burns, RTAC’s representative on the ETAB, said he spoke with Congressman Chuck Edwards, who told Burns that “I fought like hell to get these grants and I will fight like hell to make sure that we keep them.”

Burns said he would not say the grants are “under scrutiny” because the president may object to certain things, but they are “under scrutiny as are lots of things where money is being spent.”

Burns said he had seen information from the Rails To Trail Conservancy, but “we have gotten no guidance from anyone that we should slow down in any way whatsoever” and they should keep moving forward.

Lonnie Watkins, who is overseeing the project in coordination with the NCDOT, agreed and said they should “keep on spending the money.”

Watkins said some of the NSFLTP grant money has already been spent on construction in Henderson County and that the design money for the Transylvania County section also has been spent.

Hooper said the remaining money for design will come from local funds.

He said regardless of what happens with the two federal grants, they should finish with the design phase so that the city will at least have the plans “on the shelf.”

ETAB Co-Chair Aaron Baker, who is also a Brevard city council member, said the freezing of the funds nationwide affects all businesses and wanted to know if there is any inclination as to when a decision would be made about the funding.

“Right now we don’t have a clear answer as to when we’re good or we’re not good,” said Baker, who asked Watkins when they might get an answer.

“I have no idea,” said Watkins, who suggested the board continue moving forward on its present course. He suspects they may have an answer when they request to draw funds for construction, which is about 6-7 months away.

Hooper asked Burns if it would help to reach out to other members of North Carolina’s delegation, particularly the state’s two senators.

Burns said he could not speak for the senators, but they usually follow the lead of the district congressman. He said the RAISE grants went through the Appropriations Committee, of which Edwards is a member.

He added that the NCDOT and others working on these projects have a good reputation of being financially responsible, which is also a benefit.

Baker said he thought it might be a good idea to contact the senators’ offices since they do not have the insight Edwards has

“I don’t think we want half a trail,” said Baker.

Burns said Tillis has been a “major supporter” of trails throughout the state.

After discussing the federal grants, ETAB members tweaked some of the rules for the trail.

While the ETAB rules had a speed limit of 15 mph, Burns said Henderson County does not have a speed limit.
“That would be an inconsistency,” said Burns.

ETAB members agreed the rules need to be consistent across both counties.

The members agreed to drop the speed limits, for now, and agreed to a rule stating people should follow “all posted regulatory signs.”

ETAB Co-Chair Mac Morrow, who also sits on the Brevard City Council, said enforcement of things such as speed limits could be difficult.

After the board unanimously passed the rules, Burns said Henderson County commissioners are pushing their planning board to come up with regulations to address public parking lots. Some property owners along the trail are planning to offer paid parking on their property.

Baker said such regulations might be more challenging on the Brevard end of the trail because Henderson County has county-wide zoning but Transylvania County does not.

The next meeting of the ETAB will be held Wednesday, April 23, at 3:30 p.m. in the Brevard City Council chambers.

WNCTimes

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