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August 17, 2016
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THE TRAIL TRACKER Published by: Florida Greenways & Trails Foundation Advocating for and educating the public about Florida's emerging system of greenways and trails |
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| Where the River Meets the Sea Connecting the St. John's River-to-Sea Loop Trail |
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| SUN Trail: Top 10 Things You Need to Know |
It’s a big deal, Florida trail lovers. Here’s what you need to know about the state’s new SUN Trail program:
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| Unifying a World-Class Destination | |||
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| In The News |
| SUN Trail-oriented Development: Capitalizing on Florida’s newest attraction Orlando Business Journal, August 4 A whirring, clicking swarm is headed to Central Florida, and business owners and developers would do well to prepare for it. Excited bicyclists are getting ready to take advantage of Florida’s newly constructed pedestrian and bicycle trails, which will bring the Orlando area new business opportunities. A new style of development, known as “trail-oriented development,” takes advantage of new pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure to cater to those interested in incorporating a more active lifestyle into their everyday routines. That population is large and growing. According to the U.S. Census, bicycling is now the country’s fastest-growing method of commuting. Considering the SUN Trail program’s ultimate goal of creating a network of regional super trails crisscrossing Florida, developers and business owners can get a head start on the competition by planning now for the bicycle enthusiasts flocking to Florida’s newest amenity. A wise investment in Florida trails can transform our lives Orlando Sentinel, June 27 It’s trails’ role as change agent that gets government to invest in them. Trails are good for getting people out of cars for short travel. As the most recent (2010) National Household Survey of the League of American Bicyclists shows, half of all trips are three miles or less and 72 percent are driven. Private cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs account for 60 percent of trips a mile or less. Accordingly, we either keep adding road lanes that cost a Central Florida average of $13 million a mile or build trails that cost only a tenth of that. Even a small portion of these savings could supply the amenities to induce many more people to bike where they’re going. That’s why the 2014 Legislature authorized $125 million for a network of cycling and walking trails comparable to a road system across county lines. We are right to keep investing in trails because they drive our hopes. Trails in Volusia, Flagler to leap forward with state grant The Daytona Beach News-Journal, June 8 For supporters and local officials looking forward to completion of the 150-mile St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop trail, news that it landed a top spot in a state grant program and would be eligible for tens of millions in construction money is like switching suddenly from a tricycle to a 24-speed road bike. “It’s a windfall for Volusia County and the other coalition members,” said Tim Baylie, Volusia County’s director of parks, recreation and culture. “We’re doing cartwheels that we finally got this funding.” Over the life of the state Department of Transportation’s SUN Trails program, Baylie figures it could mean an estimated benefit to Volusia County of about $65 million. Where we stand: Ease traffic with auto alternatives Orlando Sentinel, June 4 The popularity of recreational biking is well documented. Bike trails criss-cross Central Florida and the Coast to Coast Connector that will link St. Petersburg on the Gulf Coast with Titusville on the Atlantic side of the state is nearing completion. Even when biking is used solely for commuting or errands, it still has important side benefits. It provides exercise, relieves road congestion and has a positive impact on air pollution. There is no going back on mass transit in Central Florida. Road projects are nearly at their limit to ease congestion between growing suburbs and urban employment centers. And quality of life issues are important to new employers and residents. Florida cycling, walking trails blossom Orlando Sentinel, April 9 Progress in building trails for cycling and walking in Florida has been sporadic and sometimes nonexistent for years. But now with $25 million rolling into a state program every year, trail activity has blossomed so that wish-list maps depicting state-crossing and multicounty-loop routes stand to become reality even within this decade. As Florida assembles segments to complete the nearly 250 miles of its Coast to Coast Connector from the Atlantic Ocean past Orlando to Tampa Bay, an even more adventurous route inked on state planners’ mapping appears increasingly doable. Though no schedule has been set, bike riders and hikers one day be able to trek more than 800 miles from Pensacola to Key West, with the choice of hugging either Florida’s west or east coast. |
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 The Florida Greenways & Trails Foundation is a Citizens Support Organization of the Office of
Greenways & Trails
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2016 
