An Urban Bike Trail: Why Not Jacksonville?

The 38.2 mile Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail is an older sibling of Jacksonville's Baldwin Rail Trail and S-Line Urban Greenway. Like the S-Line Urban Greenway, it travels through some of the most urban areas of Florida. Unlike the S-Line, it's provided an economic boost to the communities it penetrates and serves.

The Orange Belt Railroad during the 19th century. Image courtesy of the State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, https://floridamemory.com/items/show/3533

On May 1, 1888, Petrovich A. Demensheff of St. Petersburg, Russia completed the Orange Belt Railway between St. Petersburg and Sanford. At 117.68 miles, it was the longest narrow gauge railroad in the country. Carrying passengers and serving the citrus industry, this railroad led to the development of Pinellas county. Over the course of the 20th century, Pinellas boomed to become Florida's most urbanized county. Despite its urbanization, a lack of a significant industrial base led to the abandonment of track by owner CSX during the mid-1980s.

The vision for the utilization of this abandoned rail corridor came from Bert Vallery in 1983, after his son died in a bicycle accident. Six years later, Pinellas County voters approved a local option, one-cent sales tax increase to finance the trail, now named after a former Pinellas County administrator, and additional infrastructure improvements. The first five mile stretch of trail opened in December 1990.

Today, the Pinellas Trail holds the distinction of being recognized as one of the 10 best trails in the country by Rollerblade Inc. magazine. It averages over 100,000 users each month tying parks, residential neighborhoods, several downtowns and scenic coastal areas together.

The Pinellas Trail mixed with an active CSX rail line in downtown Clearwater.

According to Richard Valentine, a volunteer for the Public Relations Advisory Action Committee in Dunedin, the Pinellas Trail has provided an economic boost for communities along its path. In a 2014 RailstoTrails.org interview about another proposed trail in his community, Valentine stated,

“The trail system will definitely have an impact on the area in terms of the ‘quality of life’ quotient. We [Dunedin PRAAC] man a tent at the Dunedin Downtown Green Market.... I've talked to people from as far away as Massachusetts and Oregon who have come to Dunedin specifically because they heard of the trail. I've also talked to people who have recently moved to Dunedin, and invariably one of the selling points [for choosing Dunedin] has been the trail...in addition to the beaches and the quaint downtown. The existence of the trail has played a major part in Dunedin becoming a destination...."

Left: Map of the Orange Belt Railway between Sanford and St. Petersburg. Right: Map of the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail.

Last, the Pinellas Trail is a testament to bicycle and pedestrian safety. Multiple pedestrian bridges, overpasses and underpasses are located along its path to keep riders out of traffic. In addition, regular patrolling is carried out by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the Pinellas County Park Rangers and the Auxillary Rangers.

Experiencing the benefits of the Pinellas Trail in person quickly makes a Jaxson wonder why can't something like this become a part of Jacksonville's landscape? While the Baldwin Trail is nice and the S-Line Urban Greenway takes you through a few interesting places, one needs a little extra security and both would greatly benefit from connectivity to the rest of Jacksonville.

Rail Trails in Jacksonville

Jacksonville Baldwin Rail Trail

A 14.5-mile, 12' wide paved trail running from Imeson Road in Jacksonville to the Town of Baldwin.

S-Line Urban Greenway

4.5-mile, 12' wide paved trail, appropriately in the shape of an "S", running from Mrytle Avenue to Gateway Town Center through Jacksonville's Northside.

Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com

NEXT PAGE: PHOTO TOUR OF PINELLAS TRAIL

Tarpon Springs

The Anclote River and famed Sponge Docks district.

The Pinellas Trail currently runs between Tarpon Springs and St. Petersburg. With a population of 23,484 (2010 census), Tarpon Springs is home to the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any city in the US. Tarpon's historic Sponge Docks District is a major Bay Area tourist destination. It's working waterfront activity is what many Jaxons would like to see reborn again in Mayport and Panama Park's Trout River waterfront. The Anclote River and the Sponge Docks are a few short blocks west of the Pinellas Trail.

In the center of Safford Avenue. There are several former streetcar routes in Jacksonville this width that could possibly accommodate a context sensitive retrofit such as this.

Safford Avenue through downtown Tarpon Springs.

This multi-family residential development was built along the Pinellas Trail in downtown Tarpon Springs in 2013.

Riding southbound near the entrance to Wall Springs Park.

Palm Harbor

Palm Harbor is an unincorporated community in northern Pinellas County, just south of Tarpon Springs. It is known for having excellent "A" rated public schools. Here, the Pinellas Trail provides direct access to Palm Harbor's historic downtown.

Right at the entrance of downtown Palm Harbor's historic district.

A Palm Harbor visitor looking for a meal.

I did 26 miles at a leisurely pace. I had to move out of the way for a few regulars.

Dunedin

Heading into downtown Dunedin.

Dunedin is a city with 35,321 residents (2010 census) that has really embraced the Pinellas Trail. Trail traffic picks up significantly as a number of businesses and residences have secondary entrances to this linear urban green space. The trail was a major contributor to the revitalization of downtown Dunedin. For comparison's sake, downtown Dunedin is similar in size and scale to Five Points, San Marco Square and Beaches Town Center.

Crossing over Alt US 19.

Despite predating the Pinellas Trail, this Publix-anchored shopping center's parking lot has been modified to tie into the Pinellas Trail.

Downtown Dunedin

Crossing Main Street in downtown Dunedin.

Orange Crate Cafe along the Pinellas Trail in downtown Dunedin.

The Salty Dawg's Pinellas Trail entrance.

The rear of a Holiday Inn Express in Dunedin.

The Dunedin Marina. In Dunedin, the Pinellas Trail parallels the Gulf Coast three blocks to the east.

Basic directional signage for bike riders and pedestrians.

Dunedin Residences

Where some communities attempt to barricade themselves from the outside world, homeowners backing up to the trail in Dunedin seem to view it as an amenity.

Only using the trail for the last segment of your trip? No problem, mass transit can handle the rest.

Clearwater

Clearwater is the second largest city in Pinellas County with a population of 107,685 (2010 census). According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Clearwater holds the record for most consecutive days of sunshine in a single year, with 361 days. Known as an active epicenter for Scientologists, it is the only location along the Pinellas Trail's path where the rail line is still active.

Looking north towards Stevenson Creek in Clearwater.

Crossing Stevenson Creek.

Several neighborhood parks are located adjacent to the trail along its path through Pinellas County.

The trail parallels an active CSX rail line that runs from St. Petersburg to Tampa. To accommodate the Pinellas Trail, an automobile lane was converted into a cycle track.

Cleveland Street crossing the Pinellas Trail in downtown Clearwater.

A detour down Cleveland Street puts you in the heart of downtown Clearwater. It's a good spot for a break from riding.

St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg is located at the southern tip of Pinellas County. With a population of 249,688 (2010 census), it's the largest city in Pinellas County and 5th largest in Florida behind Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa and Orlando. Once a popular retirement destination for Americans from the midwest, the city has reinvented itself during the 21st century. Home to one of the south's most vibrant downtowns, the city is now known as being a bicycle friendly community. Here, the Pinellas Trail travels the width of the entire city, finally terminating at St. Petersburg's downtown bayfront.

The Pinellas Trail ends at Bay Shore Drive in downtown St. Petersburg. To accommodate the trail, 1st Avenue SE was right-sized.

Infill housing and a section of abandoned track in downtown St. Petersburg.

A bike signal at the intersection of 1st Avenue South and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street in downtown St. Petersburg.

Riding past Tropicana Field. The home of the Tampa Bay Rays MLB team.

Just west of downtown St. Petersburg, the Pinellas Trail runs through an industrial area that came to existence because of its predecessor. This building served as a freight railroad depot until the merger of the SAL and ACL in 1967. Today, it is occupied by the St. Petersburg Clay Company, which rents studio space to ceramics artists and operates a sales gallery.

Crossing 31st Street South near Gibbs High School.

Riding over the suburban intersection of Tyrone Boulevard and Park Street near Long Bayou. At the base of the overpass, a sidewalk connects pedestrians and cyclists to the Target and CVS that most drive to.

The Pinellas Trail over Central Avenue in Pasadena.

Article and images by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com.