D. The Built Environment

D.

THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

The opportunities and constraints found within the built and human environment are critical for determining suitable trail locations, ideal user experiences, necessary permitting requirements, and construction costs.

This section highlights five (5) built environmental features and their implications for developing trail segments for the MST between Burch Station and Pilot Mountain State Park, including: 1) General Land Use & Population Centers; 2) Transportation; 3) Utilities; 4) Existing Trails and Parks; and 5) Historic Resources. The portion of land in Surry County that lies between the Mitchell River and Pilot Mountain State Park is mostly used for agricultural and low density residential. However, the town of Elkin is located approximately 5 miles west of Burch Station, the western terminus of the planning section, and the Town of Pilot Mountain is located 3 miles north of Pilot Mountain State Park, the eastern terminus of the planning section. Additionally, the Town of Dobson is located approximately 8.5 miles north of Burch Station. While outside of the trail corridor, these towns are significant centers of the built environment within the area.

GENERAL LAND USE & POPULAT i ON CENTERS

TRANSPORTAT i ON

There are several traffic corridors near the study area, but the most immediate are Hwy 268 which connects Elkin to Pilot Mountain and Hwy 601 which connects Mt. Airy to Yadkinville. In addition to these roadways, there is an active rail line that follows the Yadkin River.

Plans for future transportation development include the 2012 Surry County Comprehensive Transportation Plan and the 2022 NC State Transportation Improvement Plan Bridge Replacement Schedule. Improvements from these plans that are relevant to the study area include a bridge replacement on Hardy Road where it crosses Hogan Creek and a bridge replacement on Quaker Church Road where it crosses the Ararat River.

UT i L i T i ES

There are several Duke Power right-of-ways that stretch across the study area in different directions. While most of these right-of-ways cross topography that is not ideal for trail development, these corridors could provide a path through areas that have unwilling landowners.