Florida is trying to complete a multi-use trail that would link St. Petersburg with the Canaveral National Seashore on the state’s east coast; the Florida Department of Transportation is organizing public meetings for input on the segment of the trail in Pasco, Hernando and Sumter Counties. Jesse Blouin is an FDOT consultant project manager for the Coast-to-Coast Trail.
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“The Coast to Coast Trail is a 250-mile, multi-use trail that would connect St. Petersburg, the Gulf of Mexico area actually, all the way east for about 250 miles to Titusville, in and around the Canaveral National Seashore.”
And you’re specifically looking at the part that’s called the Sumter County Gap Study. Which is parts of Sumter, Hernando and Pasco counties?
“The Sumter county segment is approximately a 20-25 mile gap that would connect the Good Neighbor trail in Hernando county to the Southlake Trail and the Van Fleet trail in Sumter County.”
And you’re holding a series of meetings, coming up. If you could tell our listeners where those meetings are and how you’re going to get input from them.
“The Florida Department of Transportation takes public involvement very seriously. So, we’ve committed to do a series of three public meetings. We’re doing one meeting in Sumter county, that’s Wednesday, March 30th. It’s in Center Hill at the Center Hill Community building. These will all be from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. The presentation will begin at 5:30 pm. The other two meetings will take place on Thursday, March 31st. That’s at the Ridge Manor Community Center in Ridge Manor in Hernando county. And the third and final meeting will take place on Thursday, April 7th at Dade City Hall from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. as well.
“This is definitely a legacy project, obviously, given the length and the opportunities that it provides for economic development and opportunities throughout the study area.
“We’re all very excited about the project and really hope people will come out and provide their input and support at the public meetings.”
And if people want to find out more information, is there a website or a phone number?
“The website CFL Roads is FDOT District 5’s website that the public can use and visit. And if they just go under “Future Projects” and search by Sumter County they’ll be able to find out more information. And as we get a little closer to the meetings, we’ll have some information uploaded specifically regarding the meetings. Also, the FDOT or the Florida Department of Transportation project Manager, Heather Garcia. She can be reached by telephone at (386) 943-5077. Another option is to email any sort of comment to [email protected]”
