Nassau County, City of Fernandina, and Friends of the Amelia Island Trails work together to expand trail system

By Susan Hardee Steger

March 7, 2017 11:29 a.m.o

Update:  Nassau County provided us with a link to view more detail on the River to Sea Project.  Click here.

Friends of the Amelia Island Trail can place another feather in their caps with the acquisition of a 1.2 million dollar federal grant to fund the “River to Sea Trail.” Once completed, the addition to the Amelia Island Trail System will provide a safe bicycle and pedestrian route along well-traveled Simmons Road with connections to the Bailey Road Ybor Alvarez Ball Fields and Crane Island.

A partial map outlining the planned trail that will extend west from South Fletcher & Simmons Roads.

On Thursday, March 2, Nassau County and the City of Fernandina Beach staff members gathered together at an open house attended by approximately 100 area residents  to answer questions, address concerns, provide information, and receive feedback from the public on the initial plans.

The “River to Sea Trail” will begin at the intersection of South Fletcher & Simmons Road and head west, and eventually turn toward the Ybor Alvarez Ball Fields located on Bailey Road. The developers of Crane Island have agreed to fund and continue the trail to Crane Island and construct an overlook near the Amelia River.

Mike Pikula, trail advocate and representative of Friends of the  Amelia Island Trail, prepared the initial grant proposal managed and awarded by First Coast Transportation Planning Organization. The proposal included endorsements from nearby homeowner associations. No matching funds are required.  Offering key support through the proposal and design phase were Nassau County’s Planning and Opportunity Director, Taco Pope and Senior Planner Kelly Gibson, from the City of Fernandina Beach.

It is possible the trail will be completed this summer, although design work is still ongoing. The planned width of the trail will be a minimum of 8 feet but will be wider in most locations. Pikula anticipates existing trail rules adopted by the Nassau County Board of Commissioners will apply. The rules allow use of the trail for pedestrians, bicyclists, electric ADA mobility devices that do not exceed 10 MPH, and prohibits golf carts and horses.

Scott Herring, Nassau County Public Works Director and his staff will oversee the federally funded project.   According to Herring, since becoming Local Agency Program Certified in February of 2016,  “This certification allows the county to manage and deliver projects that are primarily local in nature. Since local agencies are closest to the project, the process allows for delivery of a project that is more locally designed, while still meeting design requirements.”