| Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Program Sees Infusion of Funds, Studies |
Ms. Huei Wei Chen, Chief Planner at the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), provided an update on the state’s Shared-Use Nonmotorized (SUN) Trail Program for the Senate Transportation Committee (Chair, Sen. DiCeglie (R-Indian Rocks Beach)).
SB 106, passed last year, prioritized the development of “regionally significant trails”—defined as trails crossing multiple counties; serving economic and ecotourism development; showcasing the state’s wildlife areas (including the Wildlife Corridor), ecology, and natural resources; and serving as main corridors for trail connectedness across the state. The bill also provided additional funding for the program, a one-time infusion of $20 million and an increase in the annual funding from $20 to $50 million.
This past year, FDOT worked on updating their inventory of trails within the system, adding pedestrian and bicycle counters as they make progress towards their final goal of 88 counters. Additionally, FDOT tracked several performance measures that included: modes of transportation used, duration of visit, frequency of visits, distance traveled each visit, and trail spending. Thus far FDOT has conducted 543 surveys and plans for more. As this program grows over the next few years through 2028, the department projects spending approximately $354 million on the SUN Trail Program. |
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