Urban areas across the country are repurposing abandoned railway corridors to create more walkable trails that keep communities connected, promote accessibility and support multi-modal transportation.

The Durham Rail Trail refers to a 1.7 mile-long stretch of inactive railroad right-of-way that runs from the area around Avondale Drive and Trinity Avenue and circles around downtown near the Durham Amtrak Station. It ends two blocks from the American Tobacco Campus and Durham Bulls Athletic Park, the northern end of the American Tobacco Trail (ATT).

In August 2018, Durham City Council adopted a master plan for a trail in the Rail Trail corridor and the City of Durham purchased the Rail Line corridor in September 2018 using a combination of federal funds and local match funds.

Once completed, the Durham Rail Trail will connect Downtown Durham, the Innovation District, the Central Park and DIY Districts, the Trinity Park, Pearl Mill Village, Old North Durham and Duke Park neighborhoods and the Avondale Drive-Trinity Avenue business district. The trail will also feature amenities like outdoor furniture, signage, public art, etc.

For more information on this project, check out the City’s Durham Rail Trail Website.