Legacy Trail gains momentum

More than 50 advocates for the Legacy Trail extension into downtown Sarasota showed their support at Wednesday’s Sarasota County Commission meeting in a direct way: the color yellow.

From Tour de Parks T-shirts to Friends of the Legacy Trail and bicyclist jerseys, the residents cheered as the board approved the Legacy Trail feasibility study and moved forward to the next step of purchasing 7.5 miles of railroad corridor for the addition.

The current trail, which opened in 2008, is 10.8 miles long and runs from Venice to Palmer Ranch. The additional section would connect the trail from Palmer Ranch Parkway downtown to Payne Park.

“It’s great,” said Bruce Dillon, vice president of the Friends of the Legacy Trail. “The county staff knows what it’s supposed to be after now.”

The board received a report on the final draft of the feasibility study of the Legacy Trail, complete with recommendations.
The feasibility study, which was submitted to county staff earlier this year, identified two methods of extending the trail to Payne Park. One, which the feasibility study recommends, is “rails to trails,” replacing the railroad with the trail, said Patrick Lui, the county’s bicycle and pedestrian coordinator.

Rails to trails would cost an estimated $16.8 million. The alternative, “rails with trails,” would leave the rails intact and build a trail alongside. The second option would cost more — $20.3 million — because it would not have the trail foundation already in place like rails to trails.

Both options would include a 14-foot-wide multiuse path with designated areas for bicyclists and pedestrians. About 2.6 miles of the extension would include a section of split trails to allow for more users.

The cost estimates are construction only, however; the county still has to purchase the land from CSX Transportation.

Lui said a ballpark figure for property purchase would be $8.85 million, a sum based upon the purchase price per mile the county paid in 2004 for the original trail, with adjustments for inflation.

“That’s a very rough estimate,” he said.

The next step for the trail is for the county to perform a $250,000 environmental assessment of the land, but CSX Transportation has told the county it will not allow access to the land until a purchase contract has been negotiated.

The board approved the study and moving forward to start negotiations with CSX, as well as to start looking into various funding sources.

 “I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say the Legacy Trail is a bad thing,” Commissioner Paul Caragiulo said. “How do we get this done? How do we find the cash?”

Commissioner Alan Maio reminded the board — and the public — of the mobility plan discussed at Tuesday’s meeting. If the mobility plan is ultimately approved, the fees accrued by new developments could be used to help fund the extension of the trail. Mobility fees aren’t restricted to roadway improvements in the same manner as road impact fees.

“This is a top priority,” Maio said. “But we’re updating the comprehensive plan and getting an in-depth look with impact and mobility fees. People who want (the extension) need to stay engaged. Don’t just scratch the surface — dig down into what we’re working on.”