- April 25, 2024
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The Florida Department of Transportation is asking for public input for a new bike and pedestrian trail study that will connect Granada Boulevard and State Road A1A.
The new one-mile section would close the a gap in the trails in Ormond Beach, beginning at Cassen Park and extending across the bridge until State Road A1A.
The connecting section would form part of the St. Johns River to Sea Loop Trail, one of FDOT’s ongoing regional trail system projects. The St. Johns River to Sea Loop Alliance said once finished, the trail will be about 260 miles long and pass through St. Johns, Brevard, Flagler, Putnam and Volusia counties. It will also form part of the 3,000 mile East Coast Greenway, a trail system project connecting East Coast cities from Key West to Canada.
FDOT is holding a public meeting for community feedback on the study at 5:30-7:30 p.m., July 13, at The Casements. FDOT Spokeswoman Jennifer Horton said the meeting will present three possible options for the trail’s placement. She encourages residents to attend.
“It’s important that they bring their feedback to the table so that we can have the best option, not just for the people that are traveling through and visiting Ormond Beach, but the people who live, work and play already in that community,” she said.
The Granada bridge section from Beach Street to John Anderson Drive could present an obstacle for the trail. However, an FDOT meeting summary said it is unlikely that travel lanes will be adjusted to accommodate the trail. A lower level pedestrian bridge is also not an option due to height requirements allowing boats to pass underneath.
FDOT may decide to incorporate the existing bike and pedestrian routes on the bridge into the connecting trail.
The summary also discussed possible placements for the trail on the other side of the bridge, presenting an option to put the trail between the post office parking lot and the Ormond Heritage Condominiums. It would snake eastward behind the post office and the Rivergate Village Shopping Center and come back to State Road 40 close to the office plaza on 115 Granada Blvd.
Once trail placements are decided, FDOT will present its findings to the Transportation Planning Organization to move forward with the project.
