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)

 ●●●

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.

# # #

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.

BikeWalkLee: Share your thoughts on south county trail

BikeWalkLee Column ‘Go Coastal’
The News-Press, June 2, 2022
by Ken Gooderham

Gulf Coast Trail (as planned)

A new bike trail is coming to southern Lee County… and officials want your thoughts about where and how it should run.

The Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is holding a public meeting tonight (June 2) at 6 p.m. to hear your thoughts on where and how a north-south multi-use trail should go.

The MPO has developed three alternatives for public consideration, all running from roughly U.S. 41/Michael C. Rippe Parkway and Alico Road south to roughly Bonita Beach Road and Old U.S. 41. Eventually, this trail will continue into northern Collier County.

The three options are:

1. A rail-to-trail path that follows the Seminole Gulf right-of-way… replacing the existing tracks with a trail.
2. A rail-and-trail alternative that also follows the railway right-of-way, but puts the path next to the railbed (and keeps the tracks intact).
3. A path that instead uses existing road rights-of-way running east on Alico to Three Oaks Parkway, south on Three Oaks to eventually turn westward and tie into Broadway, south on Sandy Lane and Via Coconut Point to eventually tie in to Old U.S. 41 at Strike Lane and ending at Bonita Beach Road (approximate directions… go to the meeting to get the specifics).

This input is part of a feasibility study commissioned by the MPO (along with the City of Bonita Springs and Village of Estero) to look at putting a multi-use path in the railroad right-of-way vs. using road rights-of-way instead. The study is funded by a Florida Dept. of Transportation SUN Trail grant, with matches from the two municipalities.

Getting a new multi-use path in southern Lee County is good news by itself (hey, getting one anywhere is welcomed), as this growing area of the county is underserved by true paths separate from the roadways.

But the better news is that this will eventually be part of the much larger Gulf Coast Trail, a 336-mile-long corridor running from Pinellas to Collier. The trail will incorporate existing and proposed pathways to link the seven Southwest Florida counties, and will also connect into the statewide SUN (Shared Use Non-motorized) Trail network that will eventually run from the Panhandle to the Keys (and coast to coast).

If you have an opinion about the most appropriate route for the proposed trail, this is your time to speak up. But even if you simply support the idea of the trail regardless of route, might be good idea to share that with the MPO as well. Interest at any level is better than apathy when it comes to keeping projects such as this on track.

The public meeting will be held at the Estero Recreation Center, Estero Rooms 103 A & B, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Boulevard, Estero (off Corkscrew Road west of Via Coconut Point). The meeting starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, with the formal presentation at 6:30 p.m.

Can’t attend? Don’t worry… comments are being accepted into October and can be emailed to info@LeeCollierRailTrail.com

More information is available at https://leecollierrailtrail.com/ or https://leempo.com/. Complete meeting details are at https://leempo.com/wp-content/uploads/Lee-MPO_Rail-Trail-Newsletter-FINAL.pdf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 ●●●

EVENTS

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

• 2022-23 FMTC Annual Meeting & Membership 5K Fun Run, Sunday, June 5, 6:30 p.m., Eastwood Golf Course, Fort Myers. Kindergarten through fifth grade, limited space.
• 2022 S.H.A.R.C Youth Running Camp, June 6-10, 8-11 a.m., Bishop Verot High School track, Fort Myers.
  
• 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.
  

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.
  

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

• Sunday, June 4: First Annual CRBC Pride Ride, 40+ mile ride from Bike Bistro to northern end of Captiva and back, starts at 7:30 a.m. Variety of speeds accommodated, including a no-drop ride that includes a “Ding” Darling loop. Donations welcomed to support Equality Florida and Cape Coral Pride.
• 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

• Naples Fitness Challenge, reverse sprint triathlon, Sunday, June 5, Naples (thefitnesschallengetriathlon.com/)
  
• Heartland Triathlon, sprint and Olympic tri, duathlon and aquabike, Sunday, June 5, Sebring (heartlandtri.com/).
• Fort Desoto Triathlon Series Race #1, Sunday, June 19, Olympic & sprint triathlon, Fort Desoto Park, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/). Also July 17, Aug. 21 and Sept. 18.
  
• Siesta Key Sirens & Merman Triathlon, Sunday, June 26, Siesta Key (run941.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.

# # #

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.

BikeWalkLee's Letter to Estero Council on Estero Parkway Options

On May 29th, BWL issued an action alert re: Estero Council's upcoming June 6th decision on the Estero Parkway design.  On June 1st, BWL sent a letter to the Estero Village Council with its comments on the Estero Parkway Options (see below).  Communicate your preference to Estero Council members in several ways:  complete the ECCL survey by Monday, June 4th (Estero residents only); attend the June 6th Council meeting (starting at 9:30 a.m.) to speak during public comment period; and/or write, call or meet with Estero Council members before June 6th. For background on the two options, click here.  Click here for letter to Council from Dr. Margaret Banyan, author of the FGCU Estero Infrastructure Study, requested by Estero Council in 2015. Click here for Streets Alive of SWFL's letter to Council, both in support of the complete streets approach (Option 2).

 

June 1, 2018

Village of Estero Council

9401 Corkscrew Palms Circle 
Estero, FL 33928

 

Dear Mayor Boesch and Council Members:

 

BikeWalkLee is a volunteer countywide coalition advocating for complete streets. With Lee County being ranked as the most dangerous area in the country for pedestrians, it is clear that our roadways are “dangerous by design” and local governments must begin to design our streets for safety, which is what the complete streets approach is all about. 

 

As the Village Council gets ready to vote on the final design for Estero Parkway, BikeWalkLee would like to communicate its strong support for Option 2—the 2-lane “complete streets” option.  Our overriding priority is safety and Option 2 is the only option before you that is designed to make the roadway safer for all users—pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike.  Option 2 also best supports the new FDOT Complete Streets Implementation Plan and the Village’s original vision of Estero Parkway as a signature project that will serve as a model street for the Village.

 

Streets play an enormous role in determining a place's quality of life.  While people may not know the term "complete street", they know the characteristics of their favorite streets-- streets with tree canopy and attractive landscaping; safe, comfortable and shady places to walk and bikes buffered from traffic; moderate traffic speeds, safe ways to cross the street, and inviting places to be for all kinds of uses.  The holistic and integrated planning of a roadway (the entire right-of-way public space) is context sensitive and reflects balance among the needs of the various users.  Again, we believe that Option 2 best balances the needs of all users.

 

The roundabouts in Option 2 are key components to slowing down the traffic and making the roads safer for everyone.  Research has proven that roundabouts are safer—there is a 35% overall decrease in crashes; a 76% decrease in injury crashes; and a 71% to 81% decrease in fatal/incapacitating crashes for single lane roundabouts. As then FDOT District 1 Secretary Billy Hattaway told the MPO Board and the Bonita Springs City Council in 2015, there is often opposition to roundabouts from businesses and the public before installation.  According to Hattaway, 75% of the public is opposed to roundabouts before installation, and as soon as the roundabouts go in, it flips to 75% support of them. FDOT promotes the use of roundabouts and has developed an informational guide for cars, pedestrians, and bicyclists about roundabouts: FDOT Brochure: A guide to Roundabouts (One-Lane)

 

Option 1—the 4-lane option will essentially make Estero Parkway another highway in Lee County…one designed to prioritize and move vehicles as fast as possible.  Research has proven that speed kills, especially for vulnerable road users.  Not only will the “highway” with virtually no traffic calming features be less safe, it ignores the needs of those bike riders (whether children, seniors, or others) that are not comfortable riding on the road.  Only installing narrow sidewalks (as called for in Option 1) means that the needs of these types of bike riders and their safety are not being addressed.  As the Village continues to grow and change demographically, if Option 1 is adopted, in a few years the Village will inevitably face citizen demands for a wider path so it can be used safely by both walkers and bikers.  It’s much more cost effective to install wider paths now.  According to the MPO, the costs of retrofitting will be 5 to 10 times the cost of doing it right the first time….something that many communities throughout Lee County have learned the hard (and expensive) way.   Finally, Option 1 is essentially “more of the same” which means that the Village will lose its once in a lifetime opportunity to create the promised model street that could help define the Village as a walkable/bikeable/livable community that is a place where people want to live, work, and play. The option that is chosen for Estero Parkway will help define the future of Estero.

Thank you for considering our views.  We appreciate the efforts that the Village has made to consider a range of options and to invite public participation throughout the past 2+ years. We hope as leaders that you will take all of this into consideration and choose Option 2 in order to do what is best for the safety of all residents now and well into the future.

 

Sincerely,

 

Darla Letourneau and Doug Saxton
on behalf of BikeWalkLee

 

cc: Steven Sarkozy, Village Manager
      David Willems, Public Works Director

 

Related Links:

Dr. Margaret Banyan's June 4, 2018 letter to Estero Council in support of Complete Streets Option
(author of FGCU Estero Infrastructure Study, requested by Estero Council in 2015)

BWL's June 1, 2018 letter to Estero Council re: comments on Estero Parkway Options

Streets Alive of Southwest Florida's June 5, 2018 letter to Estero Council in support of Complete Streets Option 2.

 

 BWL Blog May 29, 2018: Action Alert: Estero Council decision on Estero Parkway design on June 6th

FDOT Brochure: A guide to Roundabouts (One-Lane)

FHWA brochure concerning roundabouts and 1st responders

 

 

Action Alert: Estero Council decision on Estero Parkway design on June 6th

Next week the Estero Village Council will make an important decision on the design of Estero Parkway that will help define the future of Estero.  Do you want it to be another 4-lane highway (Option 1), or a 2-lane complete street (Option 2)?  Time to weigh in with members of the Estero Village Council.

Background
Even before Estero was incorporated, discussions were underway about the need make Estero Parkway safer for walkers and cyclists.  In order to ensure that Estero Parkway was redesigned as a signature project that would serve as a model street for the Village, the Council took responsibility from the County for this road, along with $2.2. million from the County towards this project.  Since 2015, the Village has been looking at various options, holding workshops, and now they are at the final decision point for the design of this important project.

At the June 6th Village Council meeting, the Council will vote on which of two options to approve:
Option 1, which we call "Estero Highway" option--a 4-lane road with bike lanes and only a narrow sidewalk and no roundabouts. 
Option 2, which we call "Estero Parkway" option--a 2-lane road with bike lanes, a shared use path, and roundabouts, i.e., a model complete street, which makes the roadway safer for ALL users. 
BWL strongly supports Option 2.  This complete streets design will be much safer for all road users--pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.  It is the best option in support of the new FDOT Complete Streets Implementation Plan and the Village's original vision of Estero Parkway as a signature project that will serve as a model street for the Village.

Below is an Action Alert sent out by the Estero Council of Community Leaders (ECCL) requesting Estero residents to read the analysis of the options, complete the survey by June 4th about which Option you prefer, and to encourage citizens to attend the Council's June 6th meeting to speak.

Note that the ECCL Board voted unanimously in favor of Option 2--the complete streets approach.
 

LINK TO SURVEY 

We need your opinion about

how the Village should improve Estero Parkway

ECCL SURVEY
MAY 29, 2018

What’s at Stake: The Village Council will be deciding on improvements to Estero Parkway in June

What you can do: Read the comparative analysis and complete the survey, which the ECCL will present to councilmembers

When: before June 4, so we can present the information to the councilmembers before their June 6 meeting.

Last Wednesday the Village’s Estero Parkway transportation consultant briefed the Village Council on two alternative comprehensive roadway improvement options. The Council Chambers were crowded, largely by residents of the Cascades who are strongly opposed to constriction of a roundabout at their entrance.

Next week, on Wednesday June 6, the Council will conduct the first of two meetings required for them to make this important decision that will likely influence the way all Estero roadways are improved.

The ECCL Board believes that the members of the Village Council need to know which improvement option all the residents of Estero prefer inasmuch as this decision will ultimately impact traffic safety in their area as well.

Thus we ask you to review this 13 page comparative analysis of the options, complete the following survey by June 4, and click the link to forward it to us for use at the June 6th Council meeting.


BWL Key Links: BWL 3/14/17 letter to Estero Village Council re: Estero Parkway Conceptual Design 


Tetra Tech PowerPoint Presentation to Estero Council 3/15/17: Estero Parkway Improvement Implementation

 Estero Infrastructure Inventory, by FGCU to Estero Council, 1/20/16

 
BikeWalkLee Blog March 17, 2017: BWL Comments to Estero Council on Estero Parkway Improvement Implementation Plan

BWL Blog Jan. 31, 2016: FGCU Infrastructure Study of Estero lays foundation for creation of walkable/bikeable community

Bonita-Estero Trail segment restored to FL Greenways and Trails Map

All the hard work to get the Bonita-Estero Trail segment restored to the Florida Greenways and Trails Map paid off.  On Jan. 11th the Florida Greenways and Trails Board, part of Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and its Office of Greenways and Trails (OGT), met to make final decisions on what to include in the FL Greenways and Trails Plan Maps, and voted to restore the Bonita-Estero Trail, based on the strong community support.  Why is this important? Because being a "Priority Trail" gives you priority for SUN Trail funds. Below is the Estero Council of Community Leaders News (1/15/18), with thank you's posted from ECCL, the Lee MPO, and BikeWalkLee.  A special thanks to Bonita Deputy Mayor, Peter O'Flinn, Estero Village Council member, Nick Batos, and Don Scott, Lee MPO Executive Director, for their leadership, AND thanks to all the residents and advocates who sent letters in support. YOU made a difference!

Background

Since BikeWalkLee's inception in 2009, it has been a strong supporter of the vision of a connected and integrated statewide trail system throughout Florida. [BWL 2016 Letter ] While a statewide trail map was developed in 1998, the initiative gained momentum beginning in 2014 when the State Legislature provided annual funding ($25 M/year) for the SUN Trail program that uses the Florida Greenways and Trails Plan and maps to prioritize funding for the system. This Plan and maps (last updated in 2015) will guide implementation of the connected statewide trail system from 2018 through 2022. Since 2015, the Lee MPO has proposed several new segments for the trail, which need to be incorporated into the updated maps.

The revised statewide trail maps contained in the draft FGTS update, released in September 2017, deleted the Seminole Gulf Railroad right of way corridor between Bonita Springs and Estero that has been on the FGTS map since the beginning as the primary spine for the Southwest Coast Connector (aka Gulf Coast Trail) in Lee County.  

Related BikeWalkLee Blog Posts:

Oct. 17, 2017: Public comments needed in support of Bonita-Estero Trail in Seminole Gulf Railroad corridor

Sept. 19, 2017: Updated Action Alert: Support Seminole Gulf Railroad corridor trail between Bonita Springs and Estero

March 1, 2017: Estero-Bonita holds first joint workshop on SUN Trail Program  

Feb. 13, 2017: Gulf Coast Trail: Dream Trail Closer to Reality (NP 2/12/17)

Dec. 21, 2016: Regional cooperation links us to our neighbors and the rest of the state--Moser 12/21/16 column 

Public comments needed in support of Bonita-Estero Trail in Seminole Gulf Railroad corridor

 If you haven't acted already,  please provide comments to the State on its draft FL Greenways and Trails System Maps, urging the state to restore the Bonita-Estero Trail to priority status. Last week the Estero Council of Community Leaders (ECCL) heard a presentation by Bonita and Estero Council members urging citizens to support this effort.  Click here to see the PowerPoint presentation about the Bonita-Estero Trail and to see a sample comment letter.  Below is an excerpt from ECCL's latest newsletter reporting on this meeting.

For background information, see BikeWalkLee's earlier blog posts on the topic:

• 9/19/17: Updated Action Alert: Support Seminole Gulf Railroad corridor trail between Bonita Springs and Estero--Ask State to restore trail to Priority Florida Greenways and Trails Map

• 10/5/17: New Schedule for Florida Greenways and Trails Plan Workshops

The ECCL Report: October 2017
Executive Summary: 164th meeting of the Estero Council of Community Leaders

SUN TRAIL/ RAIL CORRIDOR - Nick Batos and Peter O’Flynn

The Florida SUNTrail Path Network was the subject of the first joint meeting between the Estero and Bonita Springs councils. This statewide system has been designed with regional connectors from coast to coast and throughout the state. The Florida legislature has committed about $100 million to this system of bike and walking trails. The Gulf Coast connector runs from St. Petersburg to Naples. The Seminole Gulf Railway right of way could be used to connect Estero to this massive trail system.

“The councils collaboratively decided this should be a priority,” stated Bonita Councilman Peter O’Flynn.  However, the state has now made the Coastal Loop, which runs along Fort Myers Beach down to the Bonita Beach area, the main Gulf Coast connector. The Bonita-Estero Trail, which runs along the rail corridor through Estero, has been downgraded from a priority trail to an “opportunity trail.”The Coastal Loop bypasses Estero.

The ECCL is asking its members to send a letter to the Florida Department of Environmental Protections’s Office of Greenways and Trails urging the state to restore the Bonita-Estero Trail to priority status. More information and a sample letter may be found here.

NEW Schedule for Florida Greenways and Trails Plan Workshops

 In BikeWalkLee's 9/19/17 Action Alert blog, we reported that the OGT workshops would be rescheduled due to Hurricane Irma.  This week, the new schedule has been released (see below).  If you're interested in seeing the Seminole Gulf Railroad corridor trail between Bonita Springs and Estero restored to the official Trail Map, please plan to attend one of these workshops (closest is in North Port on Oct. 26th) or submit comments to OGT.  Instructions are found in our Sept. 19th blog post.

Office of Greenways and Trails: October 3, 2017
DRAFT 2018-22 Florida Greenways and Trails System (FGTS) Plan & maps available online HERE.

Public Workshops Re-scheduled

The FGTS Plan establishes the vision for implementing a connected statewide system of greenways and trails for recreation, conservation, alternative transportation, healthy lifestyles, a vibrant economy, and a high quality of life. The Office of Greenways and Trails (OGT) is updating the FGTS 5-Year Plan and holding 14 public open houses throughout the state.
The purpose of these meetings is to receive public input on the proposed update to the draft written 2018-2022 FGTS Plan and Land and Water Opportunity & Priority Maps.

Please plan to join us at a location close to you. If you are unable to participate in person, there is a comment form online which you can submit by e-mail or conventional mail.

Comments accepted through December 15, 2017.

The Open House schedule:

Thursday, October 26 – North Port  (closest)
Morgan Family Community Center
Meeting Room A/B
6207 West Price Blvd.
North Port, FL 34291
4:00-7:00 ET

Monday, November 6 – Miami Lakes
Miami Lakes Optimist Park Clubhouse
6411 NW 162 Street
Miami Lakes, FL 33014
4:00-7:00 ET

Monday, November 6 – Tallahassee
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Douglas Building
Conference Room A
3900 Commonwealth Boulevard
Tallahassee, FL 32399
4:00-7:00 ET

Tuesday, November 7 - Sebring
Bert J. Harris, Jr. Agricultural Center
Conference Room #2
4509 George Boulevard
Sebring, FL 33875
4:00-7:00 ET

Wednesday, November 8 – Port St. Lucie
St. Lucie Transportation Planning Organization
Coco Vista Center
466 SW Port St Lucie Blvd. #111
Port St. Lucie, FL 34953
4:00-7:00 ET

Wednesday, November 8 - Dunnellon
Historic Train Depot
12061 S. Williams Street
Dunnellon, FL 34432
4:00-7:00 ET

Thursday, November 9– Temple Terrace
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Southwest District
13051 N Telecom Parkway
Temple Terrace, FL 33637
4:00-7:00 ET

Tuesday, November 14 - DeBary
Debary Hall
198 Sunrise Boulevard
DeBary, FL 32713
4:00-7:00 ET

Wednesday, November 15 - Palatka
Ravine Gardens State Park
1600 Twigg Street
Palatka, FL 32177
4:00-7:00 ET

Thursday, November 16 - Jacksonville
Ed Ball Building
Conference Room 851
214 N Hogan Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
4:00-7:00 ET

Monday, November 20 – Live Oak
Suwannee River Water Management District
Suwannee Room
9225 County Road 49
Live Oak, FL 32060
4:00-7:00 ET

Monday, November 27 – Port St. Joe
St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve Center
3915 State Road 30-A
Port St. Joe, FL 32456
4:00-7:00 ET

Monday, December 4 - Milton
Blackwater Heritage State Trail
Visitor Center
5533 Alabama Street
Milton, FL 32570
4:00-7:00 CT

Related BWL Blog:
9/19/17: UPDATED Action Alert: Support Seminole Gulf Railroad corridor trail between Bonita Springs and Estero--Ask State to restore trail to Priority Florida Greenways and Trails Map

Public input requested on Estero Parkway Improvement project

Do you want to make Estero Parkway a model complete street that demonstrates how one roadway can be redesigned to make it safer for all road users, esp. pedestrians and cyclists? If so, we need you to participate NOW in the Estero Parkway Improvement project getting underway in the Village of Estero, first by completing the Village's online survey about some of the options.

The Village of Estero is moving forward with plans to improve safety on Estero Parkway for all modes of transportation including vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians and are looking for your input. On May 22nd, the Village website posted the following message.

You can help design an improved Estero Parkway
The Village has developed a new webpage dedicated to the Estero Parkway Improvement Project so that you can be part of the planning process.

You may use this page to fill out the Resident Input Survey, prioritizing your selections for layout of the road, bike paths and landscaping. (link to Survey)

In addition, you may read about previous meetings where the project was discussed, see dates of upcoming meetings, review public presentations and, once the project has started, review the timeline for project completion.

Estero Parkway was selected as the Village’s first capital improvement project due to safety concerns with this heavily traveled road which has deteriorating pavement, missing sidewalks and a lack of bike paths.

Before starting this important project, the Village wants to hear how residents would prioritize the improvements to this major roadway.

The Village wants to make sure the community is engaged in the overall planning process as this project will set a precedent for upcoming projects

If there is any information you would like to see included regarding this project, please call 239-221-5035 or send an email to publicworks@estero-fl.gov.

Background

In March, at a Village Council workshop, council members reviewed the staff's proposed approach for developing the Estero Parkway Improvement project. BikeWalkLee sent a letter to the Village Council recommending a holistic complete streets approach for planning Estero Pkwy improvements, rather than the staff's proposed approach of treating as separate projects--the road, the off-road bike/ped facilities, and beautification ((landscaping, signage, and lighting). To create a complete street, all these components are part of the whole and must be designed together.

Here are a couple of key excerpts from the BWL letter:

"To create a "complete street" all these components are part of the whole and must be designed together. For example, roadway medians and landscaping designs are tools for traffic calming, not just aesthetics. In order for landscaping to enhance the safety of the roadway for all users, the choice of type of vegetation and its location need to be safety-driven. To determine the best mix of tools for traffic calming, all the tools--hardscape, streetscape, and landscape--must be considered together throughout the design process. "

" Streets play an enormous role in determining a place's quality of life. While people may not know the term "complete street", they know the characteristics of their favorite streets-- streets with tree canopy and attractive landscaping; safe, comfortable and shady places to walk and bike buffered from traffic; moderate traffic speeds, safe ways to cross the street, and inviting places to be for all kinds of uses. The holistic and integrated planning of a roadway (the entire right-of-way public space) is context sensitive and reflects balance among the needs of the various users."

See BWL's extensive blog with links from the March Council discussion.

Although no formal action was taken by the Council, the implementation plan as presented at the March meeting has proceeded, meaning that the 3 components of the project (road, off road bike/ped, and beautification) are not being designed together. At the May 17th Council meeting the project consultant made a presentation on only the road project, including various options for the width of travel lanes and bike lanes. BikeWalkLee is pleased to see that Alternative 3 (11 foot travel lanes and 7 foot bike lanes) reflects FDOT's new Complete Streets Policy.    (See consultant presentation)

BWL’s Estero rep Doug Saxton sent an email to the Village Council and Village Manager on May 22nd (link email) articulating our concerns and questions about how this project is being designed and asked that there be an opportunity for an evening public interactive workshop to get input on the various alternatives under consideration.

BWL's Doug Saxton at Village Council

Below is a key excerpt from the letter:

While we are pleased to see the Village following FDOT's new complete streets design standards for bike lanes, a complete streets approach would be holistic--considering how all the pieces interact (roadway, shared use path, landscaping, traffic calming, etc.) and choosing the package that best meets the goals of safety for all users and for connectivity purposes. If Alternative 3 is chosen as the choice for resurfacing and striping of the road, what is the impact on that choice for the options to be considered for the shared use path? Does it rule out the option of a linear park? Does it imply less landscaping buffer, etc.? Does it preclude roundabouts? What options does it foreclose with respect to crosswalks and traffic calming treatments? If the iterative planning approach isn't modified, can this roadway decision be modified once the alternatives for shared use paths are considered? And same question regarding landscaping? Will there be an opportunity to make this a model complete street even if you don't take the needed holistic approach? 


Complete Village's Online Survey
Your opinion matters. It is important that Village Council and staff hear from citizens that there is a desire for a complete street approach on Estero Pkwy. It is also important to realize that this is not just about Estero Pkwy. --the design of Estero Parkway will serve as the template for future road roadway projects in the Village.

BikeWalkLee encourages you to fill out this online survey, which asked you to vote on several options.  Because no explanation for any of these options are provided, we suggest that you read both the March and May BWL letters before you fill out the survey. While there are options for the width of the bike lanes, there are no options presented on the off-road bike/ped facilities (sidewalk, shared use path, linear park). As you review the options, please consider all users of the road, whether you are strictly a driver or you would love to bike and/or walk if you had a safe environment. The context of Complete Streets is that everyone is far safer when we each have our own space on the road.


There are also a series of questions asking you to rank order your interest in 4 criteria:

• Safety
• Beautification/landscaping
• Cost
• Speed of project completion

Clearly, BikeWalkLee places the highest priority on safety.

At the end, there is a section inviting your questions/comments/concerns, which we encourage you to fill out, since so much is lacking from this survey. Below are some additional thoughts for your consideration:

• The public should be solicited for input once the entire project has been presented and only after everyone has had a chance to see the options and talk to consultants at public workshop.

• Lane diet to help calm vehicle speeds closer to the 45 mph posted speed limit.

• Note: Three Oaks Pkwy is already 11’ with a speed limit of 45 mph. Narrowing the travel lanes on Estero Pkwy will not affect the capacity or speed limit.

• Wide bike lane 6-7’ to accommodate bicyclists that prefer to ride along the road for added visibility.

• Wide shared use path (off the road) of 10-12’ or linear park to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.

• Other traffic calming measures such as roundabouts and landscaping. Potential roundabout locations on Estero Pkwy are:
• Cypress View and the Rookery community
• The Reserve and Cascades communities
• Walmart entrance/exit onto Estero Pkwy
• Street lighting for safety for those that bike or walk at night

Please share this with your friends utilizing any and all forms of social media so we can get the word out to people who live, work, or play in Estero, including FGCU students and facility.  You may also wish to send a letter to the Village Manager and/or Village Council members about your ideas and/or concerns related to the Estero Parkway Improvement project. (Steven Sarkozy: sarkozy@estero-fl.gov)

It is unclear what the next steps in the project are, but we'll keep you posted as soon as we hear about them. If you have any questions, please contact Doug Saxton: dpsaxton100@gmail.com.

Report by Doug Saxton and Darla Letourneau