Core-2-Coast Trail looks to create Shared-Use Path from DT to Beaches

[Ken_FSU]

Full article: https://www.news4jax.com/community/2025/03/13/core-2-coast-trail-to-connect-jacksonvilles-downtown-to-beaches-with-25-miles-of-bike-pedestrian-access/

Core-2-Coast Trail to connect Jacksonville’s downtown to beaches with 25 miles of bike, pedestrian access

The trail would connect 17 schools, 12 parks and nearly 80 transit stops.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A trail in Duval County that will connect downtown to the beaches is one step closer to becoming a reality.
The North Florida Transportation Planning Organization announced on Monday it collaborated with the City of Jacksonville to plan a continuous shared-use path called the “Core-2-Coast Trail.”

The trail, which will provide bicycle and pedestrian access, will extend from the Fuller Warren bicycle-pedestrian bridge in the Riverside/San Marco area all the way to the beach communities, which include Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, and Jacksonville Beach.

A big reason why NFTPO and the City are encouraging this trail is for safety reasons.

According to a study done by Smart Growth America’s annual “Dangerous by Design” report, Jacksonville consistently ranks in the top 20 metro areas for pedestrian deaths, with more than 100 people killed on roadways each year, many of whom are pedestrians or bicyclists. Mostly people on foot.

Trails offer safe places for recreational activities and promote community identity, health, and social connection.
The Core-2-Coast Trail will also connect the Emerald Trail and urban core neighborhoods to the East Coast Greenway, which is a 3,000-mile trail that extends from Maine to Florida.

Absolutely love this idea.

[Charles Hunter]

Link to the Study itself: https://northfloridatpo.com/uploads/Core-to-Coast-Trail-Alignment-Study_Final-Report_Dec-2024.pdf

[jaxoNOLE]

Really cool idea. While the green route is preferred, I think the totality of all the routes is a pretty great long-term vision to keep in mind (minus a few areas of redundancy). I've added the blue lines to their proposal that would effectively turn the proposal into a loop that also connects to Terry Parker, JU, Blue Cypress Park and Reddie Point Preserve. University and Merrill are already tagged for Complete Streets efforts. Dare to dream!

[Charles Hunter]

Reading the report, I was unclear why they didn't propose using the extensive rights-of-way under the JEA high powerlines. So, I poked around the GIS Property Maps. Turns out most of those lines are on easements, not outright JEA ownership.  Who knew?

[thelakelander]

^Bingo.  Most of that JTA stuff is easements over private property. Would be nice, but a pipe dream in reality.

[jaxlongtimer]

Why can't the easement rights be amended via negotiations to provide for trails?  I would think such trails could increase the value of adjacent lands so why wouldn't property owners have an interest in same?

Or, alternatively, do the easements already give JEA unlimited use of those portions of the property so amendments would not be required?  After all, how much worse could anything be than having high voltage lines running over your property?  LOL.

It doesn't hurt to investigate further these options.

[thelakelander]

They've been investigated over the years. There has been opposition from various property owners. Tamaya is a good example of this. Running things like bike paths, rail, roads, etc. down the easements isn't anything new. It pops up as a new idea every few years from various groups and people. The snag has always been the same.

[Lostwave]

Saw the title and got super excited.  I stopped riding my bike shortly after I moved to jax because there is nowhere to ride without getting in the car and driving across town unless you were willing to inhale car exhaust the entire ride.  This route is still on busy roads.  Even if they separate it from the traffic you are still going to be dealing with road crossings and exhaust.  I would love to see this run through the woods somewhere.  Obviously you would have to cross some busy roads but surely we can do better than a bike path through town center.

[Charles Hunter]

Why can't the easement rights be amended via negotiations to provide for trails? I would think such trails could increase the value of adjacent lands so why wouldn't property owners have an interest in same?

Or, alternatively, do the easements already give JEA unlimited use of those portions of the property so amendments would not be required?  After all, how much worse could anything be than having high voltage lines running over your property?  LOL.

It doesn't hurt to investigate further these options.

Many years ago, FDOT wanted to put sidewalks along the newly extended Baymeadows Road past Deerwood, a fully fenced community. The residents of Deerwood complained, fearing an increase in crime - break-ins and such. FDOT prevailed. But, it illustrates the fear people have of providing access that "other people" could use.

[Des]

Obviously you would have to cross some busy roads but surely we can do better than a bike path through town center.

According to the feasibility study, the route between Bowden and Kernan has already been funded. I imagine the city's trying to make use of the existing trails through UNF and on Kernan.

Many years ago, FDOT wanted to put sidewalks along the newly extended Baymeadows Road past Deerwood, a fully fenced community. The residents of Deerwood complained, fearing an increase in crime - break-ins and such. FDOT prevailed. But, it illustrates the fear people have of providing access that "other people" could use.

You don't have to look that far, residents in Riverside are complaining about the Emerald Trail is proposed to go through an alley between Ernest and Gilmore. I'm on their side, though. Not because I think there's going to be increased crime, but because I think it's weird - I don't want to cycle through an alley between some people's homes.

[urban_]

Love the idea of building out a network of bike/ped/other paths throughout the city and especially connecting the populations of the city and the beaches, but the alignment seems to wind so much! I'd really like to see a more direct connection between downtown and, say, Jax beach instead of downtown to JTB to mayport. I think it'd be great if it branched around UNF and head more directly to the beach along maybe Beach Blvd. Of course, if this is part of a future network, great- and I'd love to have this rather than nothing at all. Just have a pipe dream of a higher-density corridor rather than a winding path.

[thelakelander]

The path is a realistic one in that it takes advantage of existing trail infrastructure, already funded planned projects (i.e. UNF's trails) and logical spots to connect them from a destination and safety perspective. However, those maps just show a potential consistent dedicated trail path, not the full bike city-wide network that would include other facilities.

[simms3]

I strongly support this.  I would take bike paths around Atlanta (NOT Beltline, but sometimes connected to it) when I lived there and they were such a joy, connecting different urban parts.  For instance, we would bike from Midtown to Decatur GA all the time using one of the trails (Freedom Trail I think).

This would be a great idea for Jacksonville and a great way to connect neighborhoods and areas.