WHAT IS A RAIL TRAIL ?
A rail trail is a multipurpose public path created from a former railroad corridor . Railroads are typically flat or gently sloping , making them easily accessible and a great way to enjoy the outdoors , when converted to a trail . Florida has over 900 miles of existing rail trail ( Source : Rails to Trails Conservancy ). Rail trails provide the added safety benefit of typically having fewer intersecting roads and driveways than a trail along a roadway . A rail with trail is a public pathway that runs parallel to an active rail line . BERT will be principally a rail trail but will also include a rail with trail component . For a 13.7 mile rail trail segment , the existing rails and ties will be removed to construct a 12 ’ wide paved path on top of the area where the rails exist today . For the remaining northernmost 1.2 miles of the corridor , from Constitution Circle to Alico Road , the paved path will be constructed alongside the existing railway . The rail trail portion will be acquired while the rail with trail will take place through an easement which provides for Seminole Gulf Railway to retain ownership of the corridor yet still provide public access for the trail .
A Community Supported Project
The community support to complete BERT is already significant .
Checklist of Support :
/ The Friends of BERT , established in 2022 , is an all-volunteer nonprofit 501 ( c )( 3 ) support organization dedicated to bringing BERT to communities within Lee and Collier counties . In a little over two years , its membership has already grown to 3,600 .
/ BERT has received endorsements from 27 communities offering official homeowners association ( HOA ) board support for Lee County residents in over 24,000 homes .
/ Endorsements have been provided by the City of Bonita Springs , Village of Estero , City of Fort Myers , and the Town of Fort Myers Beach .
/ The Lee County MPO Board unanimously voted to add BERT to the county ’ s list of FDOT priority projects to set the stage for broader funding opportunities and faster project delivery .
/ Recognizing the value that BERT will bring , many area businesses are already actively promoting the project and its completion .
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