The city of Brevard is moving along with plans for the Ecusta Trail, despite federal grants of about $45 million for the project undergoing review from the Trump administration.
City Manager Wilson Hooper said the U.S. Department of Transportation is looking into the
grants because the trail contains bike infrastructure.
“However, with that said, we're moving full speed ahead with the design of our section of the trail, and Henderson County is actually moving ahead with construction of one of their two sections of the trail,” Hooper said.
The 19-mile trail will connect Brevard and Hendersonville by turning a former rail line into a mixed-use paved trail. Hooper said the trail will provide recreational opportunities for people to walk and ride their bikes, as well as economic opportunities throughout the region.
“It connects folks with the community college campus here in Brevard, the hospital campus here in Brevard, eventually it'll take people right into downtown,” he said. “So our three most important job related centers, they'll all have access or be close by the trail when it's completed.”
Hooper said he is hopeful the cities will receive the federal money, especially because local Republican politicians, including Congressman Chuck Edwards, support of the project.
