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.

We’ve gathered community input, studied possible route options, and are now preparing to finalize the trail alignment and advance design.

Over the past year, the City held 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.

What’s Next

Upcoming milestones for the project include the following:

• July 17: The Parks Board will discuss public feedback and review the options.
• September 8: The Greenway Committee will review the recommended route.
• September 11: The Parks Board will review and consider the recommendation.
• October 7: The Raleigh City Council will review and consider the recommendation.

Why This Project Matters

Raleigh’s greenway system is one of the City’s most loved amenities. 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, equity, transit access, and park service.

The trail will put nearly 7,000 neighborhood residents within a short walk of the greenway and bring trail users closer to nearby parks, shopping, and future bus rapid transit stops. As the area grows, more than 10,000 residents will 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.

About the Project

The Big Branch Greenway Connector will stretch from the Crabtree Creek Trail to Cedar Hills Park. The project is divided into six segments, which will be built through a mix of City investment, private development, and future planning. 

• Segment 1A: Crabtree Creek Trail to Six Forks Rd (Parks Bond-Funded)
• Segment 1B: Six Forks Rd to Wake Towne Dr (Parks Bond-Funded)
• Segment 2: Midtown Multi-Modal Bridge (Raleigh Transportation)
• Segment 3: Midtown Multi-Modal Bridge to St Albans Dr (Private Developer)
• Segment 4: St Albans Dr to Hardimont Rd (Parks Bond-Funded)
• Segment 5: Hardimont Rd to E. Millbrook Rd (Raleigh Transportation)
• Segment 6: E. Millbrook Rd to Sandy Forks Rd (Parks Bond-Funded Study)

Once completed, the Big Branch Connector will link neighborhoods to key destinations like parks, schools, shops, and future transit stops. It also supports environmental goals by including stream restoration and green infrastructure improvements.