Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Plans are in the exploratory stage for a possible multi-use connector trail from Tallahassee-to-Monticello, along the lines of the St. Marks Trail.
Jon Sewell and Kate Triplett, of the planning, surveying, engineering and consulting firm of Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., made a presentation on the trail at the Jefferson County Commission’s virtual meeting on Thursday evening, Sept. 17.
The two said they were in the preliminary stage of a study to determine the feasibility of a Tallahassee-to-Monticello trail along U.S. 90.
“We’re still early in the process,” Sewell said.
The proposed trail, he said, would be for multi use, meaning it would accommodate bicyclists, joggers, walkers and skaters.
The trail’s purpose, he said, was to connect the two communities via a 10-to-12-foot paved path that would extend from Pedrick Road at its westernmost point, to the Monticello Bike Trail at its easternmost.
The feasibility study, which Sewell said had its beginning in October 2019, will be followed by a phase 2, which will entail public participation and which is expected to begin sometime this fall.
The idea for the trail, Sewell said, is to provide a safe, continuous, multimodal facility between the two communities; expand on the growing SUN Trails Regional Trail Network; provide new alternative transportation opportunities for residents, businesses and visitors along the U.S. 90 corridor; and spur economic development activity.
Sewell offered that people could well travel to the area for daytrips to enjoy the trail, and as part of the outing, frequent the local shops and restaurants and even stay overnight at the local lodgings.
He noted that the Florida Legislature had developed a $50 million budget for the SUN Trails System and had recently added more money to the pot for the purpose of expanding multi-use trails across the state as a way to promote economic development and encourage healthier lifestyles for citizens.
The proposed U.S. 90 trail, he noted, was in fact part of the SUN Trails System and thus eligible for the funding.
Sewell said his team had thus far engaged with various groups and individuals who had a stake in the project, including the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the owners of the Hilltop Country Store (which could possibly serve as a natural rest stop and comfort station), and other potentially affected property owners along the proposed path.
Triplett touched on U.S. 90’s existing conditions, both positive and potentially challenging. The positives included the fact of an existing bicycle trail, the many trees along the corridor that provide shade, and the intangiblity of the corridor’s natural beauty.
The potential negatives, she said, included a four-lane bidirectional road west of Pedrick Road and a two-lane bidirectional road with paved shoulders from Pedrick east to Monticello, with motorists’ speeds varying from 35 to 55 mph.
The idea, she said, is to separate the two corridors, meaning that the trail would ideally meander through the trees in areas away from the road.
The challenges that would make the trail construction difficult or even unfeasible, she said, included the crepe myrtles, which needed to be preserved; the right-of-way acquisition in key locations; and identifying places where the trail might have to cross from one side of U.S. 90 to the other.
The identified areas where specific challenges existed, Triplett said, included the I-10 interchange, Hilltop Country Store, Lake Miccosukee and downtown Monticello.
The two said that the next step in the process was to finalize the feasibility study, identify the environmental and other barriers, and offer alternative solutions to the barriers.
Then would come the public outreach phase, where they would seek public input on the proposal, its desirability and do-ability.
Based on the results of the two phases, Sewell said a final project recommendation would be developed and presented to the Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency (CRTPA), the metropolitan planning organization that is charged with coordinating the planning within the capital region, which includes Jefferson County.
The CRTPA, the two said, would have the final say over the project.
Sewell said he didn’t like to give timelines for completion of such projects, given the many variables that could affect the outcome. The aim, however, was to finalize their report by the end of this year or early next year.
The design phase, he said, would then take another nine to 12 months, adding that all of it was contingent on securing the funding. He then stated that the construction phase could take a year or longer.
All told, Sewell said, three years or longer was a reasonable time to expect for completion of such a project. But that again was contingent on the funding being in place, he reiterated. And, of course, if desire for the trail was strong enough, there was always a possibility that it could be accomplished much faster.