Copyright May, 2011 - Amelia Island Association Made with Xara Web Designer   VIEWPOINT/Bicycling on a roll in Nassau County Phil Scanlan By Phil Scanlan/Amelia Island Association      Nassau County and Amelia Island have wonderful beaches, golf courses, tennis facilities, boating access, athletic fields and parks that provide us with recreation and open space. At Main Beach in Fernandina Beach a skate park and basketball court have been added. Recognizing we have these facilities, Recreation and Open Space was still one of the top three priority areas (of 11) that Nassau County residents wanted improved as part of the recently developed county Vision for 2032. In 2005 I met with the state, county and city parks and recreation directors for Amelia Island to determine what they felt would be the best improvement we could make to our recreation and open space. They unanimously recommended a multi-use trail to link the parks to each other that could be used for walking, running or bicycling. This local idea for a trail was later confirmed by state and national information: 1. The most frequent request by visitors at Florida's official welcome centers is information about where is a good place to bicycle safely. 2. The National Association of Homebuilders found prospective homebuyers consider trails to be the most important amenity in an area. 3. More Americans ride bicycles than all those who golf and play tennis combined. 4. 52 percent of Americans would like to bike more and 46 percent would like to bike to work if possible.    So it appears that trails would be good for recreation and they would also be good for the local economy. Coincidentally, the national East Coast Greenway (ECG) was encouraging development of a trail, spanning nearly 3,000 miles, from Maine to Key West, linking the major cities on the eastern seaboard. Over 25 percent of the route is already on safe traffic-free paths. Being on the East Coast, an Amelia Island Trail could not only connect our island parks but also become an important link in that 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway trail.  Amelia Island and Nassau County compete with hundreds of other coastal towns and counties along the Florida coasts (east and west) for tourists and new homebuyers. When it comes to recreation quality, many other shore towns and counties have similar beaches, golf, tennis, athletic fields and offer warmer weather to use them in. By adding a great trail network (for walking, running and bicycling) we can offer a competitive advantage for active people. In this competitive economy, a great trail network and a bicycle-friendly community could become a competitive advantage for Amelia Island and Nassau County, while significantly improving the recreation quality of life for all residents in Nassau County.   So how are we doing? A lot of progress is being made on developing an Amelia Island Trail (AIT). Beyond the AIT a Nassau County and regional trail network is also being planned. The progress being made is thanks to the work of 43 volunteer members of the AIT Project Team and the support, cooperation and leadership shown from the federal Timucuan Preserve, North Florida Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), state park rangers, Nassau County, city of Fernandina Beach, East Coast Greenway - and a growing number other organizations and individual citizens who have been working together.  ~~ FDOT plans to build an off-road, paved, multi-use path about 6 miles long and 12 feet wide on the east side of A1A from the Nassau River bridge to Peters Point. Design is under way and construction is expected to start in the middle of next year. FDOT will use federal grant money our AIT Team applied for in 2005 for this project. We believe this off-road multi-use path will significantly add to the safety and enjoyment of both residents and resort guests who wish to walk, run or ride a bicycle.  ~~ The Timucuan Preserve has two miles of off-road trails constructed (southern part of Big Talbot) and nine more miles of off-road, paved, multi-use trails planned for construction this year and next. Bicyclists will be able to connect to these Timucuan Preserve off-road trails from Amelia Island, which should be a major attraction for county residents, tourists and prospective homebuyers.  ~~ Last year the city opened a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge from Sadler Road to the Egans Creek Greenway. This provides access to an off-road dirt trail network from Sadler to Jasmine and then on to Atlantic Avenue. Across Atlantic is the entrance to Fort Clinch with miles of paved park roads and miles of dirt paths that can be used for walking, running or bicycling. Both are beautiful places to enjoy a walk, run or ride.  ~~ As part of FDOT resurfacing A1A we will have 10 miles of designated bike lanes on both sides of the road from Main Beach to the bridge across the Nassau River.    ~~ John Hendricks of Callahan has formed a CONNECT Team (Connecting Nassau's Natural Environments to its Communities with Trails). Representatives from FDOT, the state parks and Nassau County are working with John on these plans.   ~~ The four lanes of A1A from the Shave Bridge to I-95 are being resurfaced this year and bike lanes will be added on both sides for this 10-mile stretch by FDOT.    ~~ US 301 will be widened by FDOT from two lanes to four lanes from Duval County to just south of Callahan where there are already four lanes. This entire 17-mile stretch will have paved shoulders  and will be marked as bicycle lanes  by FDOT . Construction is planned to begin on this project in September. John Hendricks has maps of the Nassau County Bicycle Facilities: Existing, Proposed and Planned. If you wish electronic color versions of these Nassau maps, email him at JHendricks459@aol.com.    ~~ An AIT team recently helped obtain an FDOT Safe Routes to School grant for a sidewalk from Emma Love Hardee Elementary School to 14th Street. FDOT plans construction for next year.  An  AIT Team  has also prepared  a similar grant application for Southside Elementary School, which could also make pedestrian travel safer to the planned Boys and Girls Club that will be located beside the school.  ~~ The Tourist Development Council (TDC) is working on an Amelia Island Trail brochure, planned for April of this year. The TDC will also put the AIT trail information on their Amelia Island website, the state of Florida's "Visit Florida" Trail website and the national ECG trail website. The AIT maps are available now at: www.ameliaislandassociation.com/trailmaps.htm.    ~~ The AIT worked with the city to prepare and submit a bicycle-friendly community application for assessment by the League of American Bicyclists in order to get feedback on opportunities for improvement. The assessment will be done later this year and we expect the feedback to help guide our future AIT plans.    March is Florida Bicycle Month. The Florida Bicycle Association envisions a state where people of all ages see bicycling as an enjoyable, practical and safe activity as well as a transportation option. Please support our efforts to make Amelia Island more bicycle-friendly. Phil Scanlon