The East Central Florida Regional Planning Council is conducting a survey to determine the economic impact of trails in Seminole County from now until November 19th.  This includes face to face surveys at trail heads and along sections of the Flagler Trail, Cross Seminole Trail, Seminole Wekiva Trail and the Sanford Riverwalk.  You may also take the survey on line using this link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SeminoleTrailUserSurvey

Anyone interested in volunteering with survey assistance should contact Tara McCue at tara@ecfrpc.org or 407.262.7772.

Funding for this project is provided by Seminole County, the Florida Office of Greenways and Trails, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation

Thank you for your support!
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 407.262.7772.

Gina Marchica
GIS Specialist
gmarchica@ecfrpc.org

East Central Florida Regional Planning Council
309 Cranes Roost Blvd. Suite 2000
Altamonte Springs, Fl 32701
407.262.7772 (phone)
407.262.7788 (fax)
www.ecfrpc.org

Bill Richards, Paddle Florida

A complete list can be found here.

The proposed budget in the House can be viewed by going to http://www.myfloridahouse.gov, click on Committees, click on Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee, then click on the Meeting Packets link on the right, then download the .pdf for the January 26, 2011 meeting. Items 50 and 52 on page 40 give the details.

A similar bill is in committee in the Senate.

Call your legislators NOW!!

Email the chairs of the committees. The chair of the House Committee is Trudi Williams and the chair of the Senate Committee is Alan Hays.  Representative Williams email address is: trudi.williams@myfloridahouse.gov  Senator Hays’ email address is: hays.alan.web@flsenate.gov

The rest of the members of the House committee are as follows:
Trudi.Williams@myfloridahouse.gov
Steve.Crisafulli@myfloridahouse.gov
Leonard.Bembry@myflioridahouse.gov
Ben.Albritton@myfloridahouse.com
Frank.Artiles@myfloridahouse.gov
Jim.Boyd@myfloridahouse.gov
Luis.Garcia@myfloridahouse.gov
Tom.Goodson@myfloridahouse.gov
Clay.Ingram@myfloridahouse.gov
George.Moraitis@myfloridahouse.gov
Steven.Perman@myfloridahouse.gov
Elizabeth.Porter@myfloridahouse.gov
Vasilinda.Rehwinkel@myfloridahouse.gov
Patrick.Rooney@myfloridahouse.gov
Franklin.Sands@myfloridahouse.gov
Stephanie.Massengale@myflorida.gov

Senate General Government Appropriations Committee member information is as follows:
Chair: Senator D. Alan Hays hays.alan.web@flsenate.gov
Vice Chair: Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto benacquisto.lizbeth.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Larcenia J. Bullard bullard.larcenia.web@flseante.gov
Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla portilla.miguel.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Anthony C. “Tony” Hill, Sr. hill.tony.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Dennis L. Jones, D.C. jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov
Senator Jack Latvala latvala.jack.web@flsenate.gov

Please email or call the Chairs first, then move on to the other committee members as you have time.

Below are some important statistics you can use in your correspondence.

With an estimated $3.5Billion budget shortfall this fiscal year, now more than ever, we need our voices heard! The new Governor has stressed that economic development and tourism are two of his top priorities, and visitors to State Parks and Greenways are great examples of tourists spending money!

Do your part to help preserve some of the best trails in the State of Florida!

Contributed by: Hal Downing and Rob Ern

Thirty-five RTC supporter-cyclists joined RTC leaders and local Florida bicycle and pedestrian advocates on a ride from Out-Spoke’N Bike Shop in Lake Mary to AAA headquarters in Heathrow to deliver the petitions.  The ride was on the Federally funded Seminole-Wekiva Trail–a trail in AAA’s front yard that, ironically, was developed using the same funding programs AAA would eliminate.

Go HERE for a report by the Orlando Sentinel as well as RTC’s website.

Thank you Floridians for making the trip, even in such chilly temperatures, and to Michael and Arden Cottle for hosting us at your bike shop.

A 4.1-mile ride on the Cross-Seminole and Seminole-Wekiva trails with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) to deliver tens of thousands of signatures asking AAA to support continued federal funding for trails and bicycle/pedestrian programs.

WHY

AAA Mid-Atlantic recently proposed the elimination of trails and bicycle/pedestrian programs from federal transportation trust fund. This would effectively kill the 20-year-old Transportation Enhancement (TE) program that has helped make nearly 20,000 miles of trail possible. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has been gathering names on a petition asking AAA National to reverse their position, but they have yet to do so and have, in fact, endorsed Mid-Atlantic’s stance. Please add your name to the more than 30,000 signatures on our petition at www.railstotrails.org/AAA. Then ride with us to deliver the petition to AAA’s front door, which happens to look out over the TE-funded Seminole-Wekiva Trail!

WHO:

Riding with us will be Rails-to-Trails Conservancy President Keith Laughlin and Vice President of Policy Kevin Mills, Florida Bicycle Association Executive Director Laura Hallam, and other special guests

WHEN:

Monday, December 13

9:30 a.m. departure from Out-Spoke’N Bike Shop to AAA headquarters
10:30 a.m. press event on Seminole-Wekiva Trail across from AAA and petition delivery

WHERE:

Ride departure: Out-Spoke’N Bike Shop (1061 South Sun Drive, Suite #1073, Lake Mary, FL 32746, Phone: 407-688-1959)

Petition delivery and event location: Seminole-Wekiva Trail at intersection of AAA Drive and International Parkway, Lake Mary/Heathrow, FL

This is an out-and-back ride; total mileage is approx. 8 miles.

ATTIRE:

Please dress in NON-CYCLING ATTIRE opposed to spandex and lycra. We want to show AAA how cyclists come from all walks of life, not just people in tight clothing. Appearance plays a big role in representing the interests of cyclists, walkers and all users of roads and trails. The same holds true when meeting with elected officials. Business attire should be the standard. The moderate bike ride distance should make this dress code workable.

Our friends at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy are fighting the good fight for trails and bicycle/pedestrian programs, and they need your help! AAA is advocating for the elimination of the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program from the transportation trust fund. Trails and bike/ped get less than 2 cents of every dollar in the fund, but AAA wants that money to go to highways and roads, turning back the clock on 20 years of progress toward a balanced transportation system.

It started with AAA Mid-Atlantic in Delaware. Since then AAA National (Heathrow, FL) has indicated they support Mid-Atlantic’s position.  Incidentally, other AAA locations have trails. Take a peek at this video taken last week of AAA Mid-Atlantic headquarters that shows the trail just steps from the AAA building. Go figure! Our friends at YouTube support trails too.

RTC has launched a petition to ask AAA to reconsider their position. More than 30,000 people have signed so far, and supporters-and AAA members-are flooding their regional AAA chapters asking one simple question: Will AAA support critical, established walking and bicycling programs-and the funding source that allows them to thrive-now and into the future?

So far, AAA has yet to provide a satisfactory answer.

With AAA National headquarters right here in Florida (and with the TE-funded Seminole-Wekiva Trail in their front yard), let’s add as many Florida voices as possible to the petition. Let AAA know that we value safe, accessible places to walk and bike, and that modern transportation is about more than just highways!

Pedestrian and bicycle facilities are among the least expensive transportation infrastructure to build and maintain. We also know that shifting short trips to walking and bicycling saves fuel, lessens our dependency on foreign oil, keeps more money in the local economy, makes us healthier and gets people out of their automobiles and into their communities.

Let’s show Governor-elect Scott that there is great demand in Florida for safe, convenient places to walk and bicycle. Please leave a thoughtful message on his website that helps build our case for more walking and bicycling opportunities.

Below are some talking points you can use, but we encourage you to be creative. Personal responses make a better impact than canned comments. Keep your responses positive and forward-looking. As Governor-elect Scott’s campaign ads suggested, “let’s get to work” by communicating our needs to him.

Ken Bryan
Florida Field Office Director
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Dotted rule

Talking points:

* The most cost-effective way to improve Florida’s transportation systems in urban areas is to better accommodate walkers and bicyclists with active transportation infrastructure.
* Nearly half of all trips in the United States are within a 20-minute bicycle ride, and a quarter are within a 20-minute walk.
* Every trip made by a pedestrian or bicyclist increases the existing roadway capacity, improves the user’s health, and reduces his or her carbon footprint—all of which can save Florida millions of dollars, according to the Florida Department of Transportation’s Conserve By Bicycle Study.
* Better active transportation infrastructure saves lives. Florida consistently has one of the worst safety and fatality records per capita in the entire country for pedestrians and bicyclists. Trails and other biking and walking facilities can keep more Floridians safe.

Communicate your thoughts with Governor-elect Scott now!

The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail officially opened on Saturday, December 1, 1990, along the former CSX Railroad corridor from Largo to Seminole, Florida.  Since that historic day, The Pinellas Trail has become one of the nation’s and Florida’s most recognized and popular “linear parks”.  The all volunteer, citizens’, 501-c-3 not-for-profit organization Pinellas Trails, Inc., has raised the private donations for all the amenities, additional planting of native Florida landscaping along the trail and support for their volunteer auxiliary who help monitor the Trail along with county park rangers.

Pinellas Trails, Inc. will be hosting the 20th year celebration with cooperation from Pinellas County and municipal governments along the corridor.  Public libraries throughout Pinellas County have hosted a “traveling display” complete with maps, memorabilia, photographs, a U.S. Capitol flag, caps and t-shirts from many of the “trail events” and even one of the National Rails-to-Trails’ “Hall of Fame” signs from their October, 2008 recognition.

Trail users and advocates from around the country are planning to travel to Pinellas County to enjoy The Pinellas Trail over the first weekend in December, 2010.  This will be a Tampa Bay event with both county and municipal leaders expected to attend to honor the “Second Decade Celebration” and show their support for the planned “loop connection” when trail users can travel completely around Pinellas County on The Pinellas Trail!

For donations, contributions, media support and volunteering: please contact Scott Daniels, President, Pinellas Trails, Inc. via email at: pinellastrail20@gmail.com or by mailing to:

Pinellas Trails, Inc., P.O. Box 356, Clearwater, Florida  33757-0356.

PINELLAS TRAIL CELEBRATES THEIR “SECOND DECADE” ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2010 !!!

The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail officially opened on Saturday, December 1, 1990, along the former CSX Railroad corridor from Largo to Seminole, Florida.  Since that historic day, The Pinellas Trail has become one of the nation’s and Florida’s most recognized and popular “linear parks”.  The all volunteer, citizens’, 501-c-3 not-for-profit organization Pinellas Trails, Inc., has raised the private donations for all the amenities, additional planting of native Florida landscaping along the trail and support for their volunteer auxiliary who help monitor the Trail along with county park rangers.

Pinellas Trails, Inc. will be hosting the 20th year celebration with cooperation from Pinellas County and municipal governments along the corridor.  Public libraries throughout Pinellas County have hosted a “traveling display” complete with maps, memorabilia, photographs, a U.S. Capitol flag, caps and t-shirts from many of the “trail events” and even one of the National Rails-to-Trails’ “Hall of Fame” signs from their October, 2008 recognition.

Trail users and advocates from around the country are planning to travel to Pinellas County to enjoy The Pinellas Trail over the first weekend in December, 2010.  This will be a Tampa Bay event with both county and municipal leaders expected to attend to honor the “Second Decade Celebration” and show their support for the planned “loop connection” when trail users can travel completely around Pinellas County on The Pinellas Trail!

For donations, contributions, media support and volunteering: please contact Scott Daniels, President, Pinellas Trails, Inc. via email at: pinellastrail20@gmail.com or by mailing to:

Pinellas Trails, Inc., P.O. Box 356, Clearwater, Florida  33757-0356.

To reach a statewide audience with news of your Greenways and Trails Month event, we invite you to complete the registration form which is available at FloridaGreenwaysAndTrails.com. Trail-related activities will be posted on the OGT website throughout October. You may return the form by email, fax or mail. For more information, call toll free: 1-877-822-5208 or visit our website.

Jena B. Brooks, Director
Office of Greenways & Trails