Project Overview 

The City of Raleigh is moving forward with a major new greenway trail project. The Big Branch Greenway Connector will expand our greenway system by more than three miles, creating a safer and more connected way to walk, run, or bike through Midtown and nearby neighborhoods.

This project will close a critical gap in Raleigh’s greenway network and strengthen connections between neighborhoods, parks, and transit. The Big Branch trail will extend this network into a fast-growing area that currently has limited access to parks and trails. 

This connector is the top-ranked trail in Raleigh’s 2022 Greenway Master Plan and a key recommendation in the 2020 "Walkable Midtown: The Midtown - St Albans Area Plan." It was prioritized based on factors like population, transit access, and park service.

More than 7,000 residents live within a half mile of the proposed route. As the area grows, more than 10,000 residents benefit from this greenway access. The project also supports environmental health. The City will restore parts of Big Branch Creek and add features to manage stormwater and protect the stream. 

This project builds on decades of planning to create a more connected Raleigh for everyone. We are excited for this project to move into the permitting and construction phase. Construction is scheduled for completion in late 2028. 

Thank you for your input 

In 2024 and 2025, the City completed public outreach for four segments of the Big Branch Connector. Hundreds of residents shared ideas at open houses, pop-up events, and through online surveys. In the most recent survey, over 1,600 people gave feedback on possible routes for Segment 1. View the survey results here. We’ve gathered community input, studied possible route options, selected final alignments, and are now working through detailed design.