MPO conducting study for new shared-use path
The Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization is conducting a study for a new shared-use path in Fort Myers and North Fort Myers to further the connection of the SUN Trail network.
The anticipated continuation on the northwest side is to link the Florida Department of Transportation SUN Trail network along Littleton Road that becomes Kismet Parkway in Cape Coral and the southeast side would connect with the John Yarbrough Linear Park Trail which is undergoing an extension to Hanson Street.
Transportation Planning Administrator Ron Gogoi said the study is being done because they want to realign – create an alignment – in the portion of central Fort Myers, North Fort Myers, and downtown Fort Myers to expand the SUN Trail network.
They received $600,000 in state funding to do the study.
“The existing alignment for the SUN Trail network in central Fort Myers, downtown Fort Myers and North Fort Myers are not conducive, or friendly for bicycling or even for pedestrians. The portion that is close to downtown escapes and bypasses downtown the way it is right now,” he said. “We basically want to realign, create an alignment in the portion in central Fort Myers, North Fort Myers, and Downtown Fort Myers – go to the Downtown River District and midtown and make use of the new sidewalk on the Caloosahatchee bridge connecting the rest of the SUN Trail network. That was what brought up the need for that particular study.”
The SUN Trail network is part of a statewide network where there are shared non-motorist pathways. A portion of the network that goes throughout Lee County is in the city of Fort Myers and North Fort Myers, with portions already in existence and others under construction, which are creating gaps.
Part of this project includes asking the community to participate in a survey regarding nonmotorized active planning – for bikes and pedestrian walkways around the route.
“Anything received from the public can be used for the nonmotorized active planning across Lee County,” Gogoi said.
The interactive survey will be available until October. The reasoning behind the long survey time is a project advisory committee will convene in October to discuss the results.
The time frame of the project is 18 months, just for the planning stages. Once the study is completed, they will look at what needs to be done as far as the construction design.
“We are going to be studying the routes and then we are going to identify the alignment running through downtown, as the area does not have space for a separate shared use path, but rather a mix of existing roadways and sidewalks.
Gogoi said it may come to breaking down the construction into two or three phases, as they will not have the funding for the entire project.
“You might have to come up with phases and then look at what kind of funding,” is available, he said.
The current SUN Trail network in Lee County is pretty extensive as it goes through the coastal areas and through Cape Coral.
“The SUN Trail route covers the whole state,” Gogoi said, adding that immediate neighbors to the north and south are connected to the trail.
“We want to provide protected multiuse pathways, so people are safe and there are minimum conflict points with cars,” he said. “That is the main objective to keep people safe and provide another mode for people to commute. When everything is built along the SUN Trail network, they can use their bike to commute to work and shop. People will not be using their cars for small trips.”
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