2023 RAISE Grant

The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, or RAISE Discretionary Grant program, is one of the biggest federal transportation grants. Awarded projects are chosen through a rigorous merit-based process designed to select projects with exceptional benefits that promise to achieve significant local or regional impact.

The Ecusta Trail: An Engine for Rural Mobility and Economic Recovery project will construct nearly 19 miles of shared-use path along a former rail line that will connect Brevard and Hendersonville, and many communities in Transylvania and Henderson Counties in between. The project will enhance equitable mobility for the region, providing access to public investments and community assets via a safe, sustainable, and active route of transportation for walking, bicycling, and micromobility.

Grant Administration

The City of Brevard will be working in coordination with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to draft and sign the grant agreement with USDOT. The City will also sign an agreement with NCDOT to act as the grant administrator and manager on behalf of the City. Only after these agreements are executed can construction begin.

As the grant progresses, all reports, updates, and other documentation will be made publicly available on this page as required by the grant program. For information about the trail and it's design and construction progress, visit the Ecusta Trail project page.