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County Commissioners Prioritize ‘Cost-Effective’ Trail Network
Bradenton Magazine
Bradenton Magazine

County Commissioners Prioritize ‘Cost-Effective’ Trail Network

By Lisa Neff
Manatee County commissioners see advantages in prioritizing the building of a trail network over the widening of more roads.

So in the next six months, the commissioners expect county staff to present a plan to accelerate work on commuter trails, which are different from the recreational paths found in preserves and parks, though they would connect with them.
“We talk about roads all day long,” said Commission Chair George Kruse, R-District 7.

“Our CIP budget is roads and roads and more roads,” he added, saying he wants to explore what the county can accomplish with its funds rather than relying on state and federal grants or, as Kruse put it, “rattling the pan for nickels in D.C.”
Kruse made his comments during a recent county workshop at the administration center in downtown Bradenton, where commissioners shared their thoughts on a trail plan — parts of which date to 1999 — and also heard from department leaders on opportunities and obstacles.

Public works deputy director Clarke Davis presented an update on the status of the planned network that he said would be used to get from Point A to Point B on trails that would be paved and ADA-accessible, including the paths planned for the county’s segments on the statewide Shared-Use Non-Motorized Trail Network.
Davis emphasized the importance of a network where segments connect, so that bicycling commuters aren’t left stranded.


The network plans show county “partnership trails,” including:

  • Bourneside Boulevard, from University Parkway to State Road 64;
  • Buckeye Road, from Fort Hamer Road to U.S. 301;
  • North Rye Road and internal roads at Rye Ranch;
  • Ranch Oak Parkway north of State Road 62;
  • Sawgrass Road, from Moccasin Wallow to Buckeye Road;
  • Seaflower/Lake Flores development’s internal trail near 75th Street West and Cortez Road.
    Efforts that involve federal money include the Palmetto Trail Network, the Lincoln Park Pedestrian Bridge at U.S. 41 and 17th Street East, the Palmetto to Parrish Trail that’s part of the Gateway Greenway and the State Road 64 to Rye Preserve Trail, also part of the Gateway Greenway.
    A three-year plan for the network includes completing an SR 64 to Rye Road connection, designing the Lincoln Park Pedestrian Bridge, beginning a connection from Lincoln Park to the MLK Trail and completing a project, development and environment study for a Sun Trail segment from west Bradenton to downtown on or parallel to Manatee Avenue.
    “People are dying to have this trail system,” Kruse said, describing trail use as a cost-effective way for people to get to work, school and elsewhere. “And the whole trail system is just a fraction of the cost of just one road. … I promise you, you are going to fix a lot of the infrastructure problems we’re seeing now” with a trail network.
    He suggested looking at using impact fees. “We’ve got the capacity to self-fund,” said Kruse, who was the commissioner who proposed making Manatee County Area Transit buses fare-free.
    Commissioner Tal Siddique, R-District 3, drawing on his experience living in Virginia — with access to a great trail network — agreed with Kruse.
    “Expanding roads come at significant costs but trails bring value,” he said.
    The conversation is expected to continue in about six months, when county staff returns to the commissioners with some options.
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