The Florida Department of Transportation has awarded $44,345,430 to 45 projects across the state, and Pinellas County received $7,062,488 of that total.
The majority of the money earmarked for Pinellas, $5.7 million, will go toward the second phase of the
Pinellas Trail Loop from
John Chestnut Park to Enterprise Road in Palm Harbor. The rest, almost $1.4 million, will go toward the
Ream Wilson Clearwater Trail from the
Courtney Campbell Causeway to Bayshore Boulevard.
The money comes from the state's Shared Use Nonmotorized or
SUN Trail program, which was established in 2015 and is meant to help Floridians enjoy safe, recreational opportunities. The SUN Trail network consists of the developing statewide system of paved, multi-use trails for bicyclists and pedestrians, physically separated from vehicular traffic.
The projects span 21 counties throughout Florida and include the construction of 11 separate trail segments, which will add or improve approximately 20 miles of trail to Florida’s trail system. Another 34 projects will be in various pre-construction phases of work, such as feasibility study, environmental review and design.
Pinellas was the only county in the Tampa Bay area to receive funding.
"Combining multiple trail projects into an integrated statewide system requires coordination and a concerted effort," says Robin Birdsong, SUN Trail program manager. "The two projects in Pinellas County highlight how funding provided through the SUN Trail Program can help agencies leverage local funds, close trail gaps, and improve safety while enhancing multimodal transportation options."
The two Pinellas projects are part of five total projects that will help advance the
Coast to Coast Connecter a 250-mile trail system linking the Gulf and Atlantic coasts through Central Florida.
Seventeen other projects are part of the
St. Johns River Sea Loop, a 270-mile trail system that will link several communities, including St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, Titusville, DeLand and Palatka.
The other 23 projects are for individual trail segments throughout the rest of the state.
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