With his signature on the state budget, Florida Governor Rick Scott approved $15.9 million in funding for the Coast to Coast Connector project in the 2014-15 fiscal year. The money has been allocated to 11 trail segments in nine counties in various phases of development:
Feasibility Study or Right-of-Way acquisition Phase
- Sumter County: South Sumter Connector Gap ($350,000)
- Lake County: South Lake Gap ($1.5 million)
Project Development and Environmental Study (PD&E) / Design Phase
- Pasco County: Starkey Gap ($460,000)
- Hernando County: Good Neighbor Gap ($1 million)
- Lake/Sumter Counties: South Lake Gap ($1.3 million)
- Orange County: Orange Gap, segment 1 ($530,000)
- Orange County: Orange Gap, segment 2 ($1.1 million)
- Seminole & Volusia Counties: Seminole/Volusia Gap ($100,000)
- Brevard County: Space Coast Gap, local segment ($100,000)
Design/Build and Construction Phase
- Pinellas County: Starkey Gap ($3.9 million)
- Brevard County: East Central Gap ($5.6 million)
Now that the funding is allocated, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is working with those Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and other agencies directly responsible in defining each project tasks. Once completed, FDOT will seek bids and select the project consultants as the FDOT is responsible for ensuring all tasks are completed, on time and within budget.
The $15.9 million is a solid start. You can expect the Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation (FGTF) to press forward and seek out additional funding from FDOT, businesses and local partners – reinforcing this universal, positive connection between well-designed, active trails and the economic and environmental health of communities. For more information and a detailed breakdown of each segment and funding allocation, please click HERE.
