WHAT IS BERT ?
The Bonita Estero Rail Trail ( BERT ) is a planned multiuse paved trail that will connect communities and facilitate connections into a much broader regional and statewide network . BERT will run from just south of the Lee / Collier county line north along a 14.9-mile rail corridor through downtown Bonita Springs and Estero , and ending on the north end of San Carlos Park . The southernmost point of the corridor begins in Collier County , runs 1.5 miles along the rail corridor until it enters Lee County , and then continues 13.4 miles north to Alico Road near the Michael G . Rippe Parkway overpass . View a map of BERT ’ s planned alignment and surrounding environment on pages 6-7 .
BERT will improve communities within Lee and Collier counties by providing a beautiful , accessible greenway trail to connect people to neighborhoods , schools , shopping areas , jobs , parks , preserves , and each other .
BERT is a component of the developing Florida Gulf Coast Trail ( FGCT ) which is a 420- mile regional trail system recognized by the Florida Greenways and Trails Council as the fourth highest priority among 14 regional trail networks statewide . The FGCT and BERT are within the Shared-Use Nonmotorized ( SUN ) Trail network , Florida ’ s developing statewide system of interconnected paved multi-use trails for bicyclists and pedestrians . BERT will connect to the John Yarborough Trail to its north . The southern portion in Collier County is part of the planned Paradise Coast Trail .
LAYING THE GROUNDWORK
In March 2023 , the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization ( MPO ) completed a comprehensive Feasibility Study , a foundational step to advance BERT . This study lays the groundwork for a Project Development and Environment ( PD & E ) study during which preliminary engineering , conceptual design , and cost estimates will be further defined . The Feasibility Study also set the stage for acquisition of the rail corridor from Seminole Gulf Railway . After purchase of the corridor is finalized and the PD & E study and additional design are completed , construction of BERT can take place . Funding to make each of these steps happen is the critical need , moving forward .
See the Path Forward on page 13 for more information about acquisition and completion of the project .
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