BikeWalkLee: Support strong for trails… with or without rails

BikeWalkLee Column ‘Go Coastal’
The News-Press, June 30, 2022
by Ken Gooderham

Gulf Coast Trail (as planned)

When it comes to the south county rails-trails proposals, the public has spoken: They like trails with or without rails – but not next to roadways.

That was the result from the June 2 public meeting seeking comments on the three proposed alternatives to enhance bike/ped options between Alico Road and Bonita Beach Road, part of a project by the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

To recap: In March 2021, the MPO (partnering with the City of Bonita Springs and the Village of Estero) commissioned a study on the long-term feasibility of a public multi-use trail within the Seminole Gulf Railway corridor south of Alico Road or alternatively in the adjacent surrounding areas. The study is funded by a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation’s Sun Trail Program with local matches from the City of Bonita Springs and the Village of Estero.

Three alternatives were outlined:

• Alternative 1: Rail-to-trail, where the existing railway tracks would be replaced by a multi-use bike/ped pathway.
• Alternative 2: Rail-and-trail, where the path and the tracks would share the right-of-way.
• Alternative 3: Trail and roadways, where a bike/ped path would go along the road rights-of-way.

A public meeting to solicit input was held in Estero on June 2… and they got plenty of it. More than 100 people attended, along with comments submitted online and by mail. So far, the response has been:

• Alternative 1: 44
• Alternative 2: 20
• Alternative 3: 3
• Alternative 1 or 2: 9
• No choice: 22

A couple of things worth noting here:

That’s a pretty impressive turnout for a Thursday evening in early June – and with a tropical cyclone lurking offshore to boot. Congratulations to all those who took the time to share their opinions.

Second, the support for a dedicated path was very clear… or, rather, that lack of support for a roadway option was brutally evident (just 3 comments out of 98, and even those weren’t too enthusiastic).

Third, A lot of the comments pointed to successful trail projects elsewhere as a model worth emulating here – including the Legacy Trail in Sarasota County as a nearby example (check it out at https://www.friendsofthelegacytrail.org/map-page-2/).

 

Fourth, the option of keeping rails resonated with some (for its potential in future mass transit) and repelled others (more crowded and noisy, both for users and neighbors).

Finally, there was a widespread recognition of this offering a unique opportunity to improve our area (and its bike/ped choices) that should not be lost.

The MPO will be accepting comments on the proposals through late October, so there’s still time for you to add your thoughts to the mix. Details are at https://leecollierrailtrail.com/ and comments or questions can be submitted at info@LeeCollierRailTrail.com.

The Estero Council of Community Leaders has also developed a somewhat exhaustive look at the issue; you can check it out online at https://esterotoday.com/action-alert-bicycle-and-walking-paths-along-the-seminole-railway-through-estero/.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proposed trail alternatives 1, 2 and 3 (click to enlarge)

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EVENTS

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

• Priority Business Solutions Freedom 5K Run/Walk & Gunterberg Charitable Foundation Kid's Fun Run, Monday, July 4, 7 a.m., Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce.
• Tunnel to Towers 5K, Saturday, Sept. 10, FSW campus, Fort Myers.
• Downtown Dash 1 Mile Run, Friday, Sept. 16, downtown Fort Myers.
• Fort Myers Cops & Joggers 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, downtown Fort Myers.
• Cape Coral Fire Department Fueled by Fire 5K, Saturday, Oct. 15, Tarpon Point, Cape Coral.
• 10K F.I.S.H. race, Saturday, Oct. 22, Sanibel Island.
  

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

• 2022 Firecracker 5K, Monday, July 4, 7 a.m., Lake Park, Naples.
• Friends of Foster Children Forever Labor Day 5K, Monday, Sept. 6, Lowdermilk Park, Naples.
• Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, Saturday, Oct. 22, Naples to Sanibel and back.
  

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

• USA Independence Day 5K, Monday, July 4, 7 a.m., Hertz Arena, Estero.
• Naples Distance Classic Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples.
  

CYCLING

• July 5-9, 12-16 and 26-30: Wheel Lee Fun, 8-11:30 a.m. Help your kids learn bike safety and maintenance (and much more), with riders from learning to ride all the way to advanced. Three-one-week sessions 

The Caloosa Riders are offering member rides, but some are open to non-members (and it wouldn’t hurt you to join the club); check their ride calendar (caloosariders.org) for a description of the distance and speed, and to see if the ride is open to all.

SW Florida Critical Mass is offering their usual slate of family-friendly rides. Check out their line-up online (www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/) for details and times (and to make sure the ride is still rolling).

• SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers. 
• Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
• NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
• Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
• Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.
  

TRIATHLONS

• Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, July 17, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
• Siesta Sprint Triathlon, Saturday, July 30, triathlon, duathlon and swim/run, Siesta Key (Sarasota).
• Top Gun Sprint Triathlon, Saturday, Aug. 6, Pinellas Bayway, St. Petersburg (www.thunderboltmultisport.com/Events/Top-Gun-Triathlon or runsignup.com)
• Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Aug. 21, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
• Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Sept. 18, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
• City Island Tri, Sunday, Oct. 9, Sarasota (https://run941.com/ or runsignup.com)
  

 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RIDE

Have a favorite route you like to bike, or a unique walk you’d like to share with others? Tell us about it at info@bikewalklee.org, and maybe we can feature it in an upcoming column.

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Ken Gooderham writes this on behalf of BikeWalkLee, a community coalition raising public awareness and advocating for complete streets in Lee County — streets that are designed, built, operated and maintained for safe and convenient travel for all users: pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Information, statistics and background online at bikewalklee.blogspot.com.