New fact sheet about the Trail to be used to advocate for funding assistance for its completion
Less than a week after Sarasota County staff released a fact sheet on the Legacy Trail, The Sarasota News Leader learned that the Trust for Public Land and CSX have agreed to a three-way split of the cost of an appraisal of the property needed for the North Extension of the Trail.
The appraisal is underway and is expected to be completed by late September or early October, Patrick Lui, the county’s bike and pedestrian coordinator, told the News Leader on Aug. 17.
The 7.5-mile extension would run from the terminus of The Legacy Trail in Palmer Ranch to Payne Park in downtown Sarasota. The proposed 2017 fiscal year budget for the county says that after the cost-sharing agreement was approved, the Trust for Public Land anticipated receipt of the appraisal within 60 days.
The Trust is a national nonprofit whose mission “is to create parks and protect land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come,” its website explains.
Additionally, the county’s proposed 2017 fiscal year budget document notes, “CSX has confirmed [its] desire in selling [the property] to the Trust for Public [Land] (TPL) and Sarasota County.”
As for the fact sheet: On Aug. 11, County Administrator Tom Harmer emailed the commissioners a copy of it, noting, “[W]e will be using [it] to help advocate for the Legacy Trail expansion projects.”
Harmer added, “The format is similar to that being used for River Road. We expect to share this with the state officials, our legislative delegation, cities, and other interested entities and parties. Each Commissioner will also receive hard copies for use. This is our first edition and information will be updated periodically.”
During an Aug. 17 telephone interview, Commissioner Christine Robinson told The Sarasota News Leader, “I think this will help us greatly in the future.”
Earlier this year, the commissioners had asked that such a fact sheet be created, modeled — as Harmer noted in his email — on a similar flyer about Sarasota County’s efforts to improve River Road. In both cases, board members talked of how being able to give the documents to state leaders and other interested parties should help them gain more support for funding assistance.
While work is underway on facets of the South Extension of the Trail, county staff has been trying to make progress on the 7.5-mile North Extension. During a March 31 joint meeting of the Venice City Council and the County Commission, Chief County Engineer Isaac Brownman estimated the cost for that leg is about $17 million. However, the fact sheet says, “Initial estimate based on 2008 appraisal is $29 million in partnership with the Trust for Public Land and CSX.”
The fact sheet points to the Florida Department of Transportation and the state’s Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network as potential sources of funding for future projects designed to complete the Trail.
Robinson told the News Leader she expects The Legacy Trail to be among the topics the board discusses during its final budget workshop on Monday, Aug. 22.
Regarding the South Extension: The 2017 fiscal year budget document says, “As part of the River-to-River trail portion of the southern extension, the county is seeking public access across [a Florida Power & Light Co.] easement on both the county-owned Carlton Ranch and the Carlton Conservation Easement. {County] Real Estate Services [staff] and the Office of County Attorney are working with both FPL and the Carltons to obtain consent for this public access.”
Additionally, it notes, “The North Port Pedestrian Bridge over Myakkahatchee Creek is under construction and on schedule.” A ribbon-cutting ceremony for that $570,000 project is scheduled for Sept. 17, Assistant County Administrator Lee Ann Lowery reported to the commission on July 12.
North Port City Manager Jonathan Lewis has been providing county staff and the board members photos of the progress on that Myakkahatchee Creek bridge over the past several weeks, county emails show.
Additionally, a 10-foot-wide multi-use segment is planned along the southern border of Edmondson Road in Venice — from Pinebrook Road to Auburn Road. Construction on that leg is expected to get underway in November and be completed in May 2017.
Pointing out that completion of The Legacy Trail is one of the top three priorities of the County Commission, the fact sheet says more than 120,000 people use the Trail each year “for direct access to the City of Venice and its beaches …” After the Trail has been completed, the fact sheet continues, it will provide access as well to Pinecraft, which the sheet describes as “a large Amish/Mennonite community that uses bicycling and walking as its primary mode of transportation” and the city of Sarasota. Pinecraft’s primary borders in Sarasota are Bahia Vista Street and Beneva Road.
Additionally, the Trail has the potential to become a regional connection among Manatee, Sarasota, DeSoto and Charlotte counties, the fact sheet points out.
The county already has invested $40 million in the Trail, the sheet says.