Category Archives: Trail News

Trail News

Legacy Trail Cleanup After Hurricane Ian

Thanks to The Amazing Parks Staff for working hard to get the trail back into shape!

Sarasota County Parks has indicated that The Legacy Trail and the eastern (mainland) section of the Venetian Waterway Park are now open. Note that there is still work being done at the intersections, as some of them are not fully functioning.

The North Port Connector is now open!

The Venetian Waterway Park West (island side) had a large washout of a section of the trail near the airport (See below). The segment of this trail south of the Circus Bridge is now closed. The Army Corps of Engineers is set to begin reconstruction of the bank later this month. but this section will probably not open until the new year.

Washout on VWP-West south of Circus Bridge. Photo by Mike Soltis

UPDATE:

Thanks to Eugene Somogyi for this photo update! According to Megan from Sarasota County “The Army Corp of Engineers is nearly done with the washout repair work on the west side of the Venetian Waterway Park. Sod will soon be installed to stabilize the bank, and then work will continue to restore the concrete trail. The date for completion of this project is still to be determined.”

Trail News

SUN Trail Alignment Surveys

You are invited to help plan for a safe, comfortable, and more connected regional bicycle/pedestrian trail system!

The Sarasota/Manatee MPO is working on two trail studies: the Manatee Trail Alignment Study and the Sarasota Trail Alignment Study. These planning studies focus on developing a network of biking and walking trails that will connect to schools, parks, transit stops, essential services, local attractions, and other key destinations.

Please help us by expressing your opinion on these surveys. Click here for more information and to take the surveys.  Thank you!

Trail News

The New Pompano Trailhead is Now Open

Drone view of the new Pompano Trailhead
New Pompano Trailhead. Legacy Trail is at the top of the picture.

Ribbon-cutting ceremonies on July 8 officially opened the new Pompano Trailhead on The Legacy Trail. The new trailhead is located near the north end of the trail (see map) and provides much needed parking and other amenities for trail users starting from the north. It also includes 12 new lighted pickleball courts. Thank you business member Brett Koppes for this great image of the new park and trailhead.

Extension News, Trail News

Second Bridge Installed on North Port Connector Trail

This video shows the installation of the bridge that will connect the new North Port Legacy Trail Connector to a new parking area at the intersection of West Price Blvd. and South Calera Street. The bridge will provide access to the southern end of the paved trail (map). Thanks again to FLT business member Brett Koppes (The Sarasota Drone Guy) for these amazing videos of the construction.

Trail News

The Trail is Open!

The Entire Legacy Trail
Is Now Open!

With the ribbon-cutting ceremony on 3/3/22 the final segment of The Legacy Trail North Extension was officially opened. You can now travel on the trail from Venice to Payne Park in downtown Sarasota. (Map)

The drone video below, provided by FLT business member Brett Koppes, shows the route of the final segment that was completed. Thank you Brett for all of the amazing drone videos of the trail extension project.

Trail News

New Sponsorship Program for Trail Amenities

Want to support the trail and be recognized with your name, or your business name, on one of the trail amenities. Sarasota County, in cooperation with Friends of The Legacy Trail, has just launched a new program that allows you to sponsor many types of trail amenities, including stop stations, shelters, benches, playgrounds, and more.  Check out this brochure for more details and sponsorship rates.

Accomplishment Archive, Trail News

Safety Improved at Legacy Trail Road Crossings

Sarasota County, as of 2/9/22, has made a change to the HAWK signal light sequence that significantly improves safety at intersections using this type of signal. This change was recommended by FLT and is supported by recommendations of the National Association of City Traffic Officials (NACTO).

Previously, vehicles were informed they could proceed cautiously with a flashing red light while trail users were still viewing a countdown of time remaining to cross the intersection. This was contrary to typical intersections, where countdown timers convey to pedestrians or cyclists that they have the right of way. Given the speed of cyclists, a cyclists could believe he had plenty of time to cross, while a driver believed they could go forward.

Based largely on recommendations and research performed by FLT, the county has now changed these signals to “maintain the solid red indication for motorists throughout the full bicycle clearance interval”, as recommended by the NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide. With this change, these intersections become consistent with typical intersections, where pedestrians or cyclists have the right of way during the full countdown.

This change currently affects the crossings at Sawyer Loop Rd., Proctor Rd., and Webber St. When Section 3 of the Trail opens on March 3rd, the signal at Bahia Vista St. will also include this modification. Crossing signals at Beneva Rd. and Tuttle Ave. will be standard red lights.

We wish to thank the Sarasota County commissioners and staff for following through with this recommendation. This change will make the Legacy Trail safer for all.

Trail News

FLT Donates $250,000 to County for Legacy Trail Improvements

Pictured from left to right: Nichole Rissler, Head of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, Louis Kosiba, President of FLT, and FLT Board Members Janine Jacobs, Michelle Stanley, Rita Miotti, Carla Martin, and Steve Martin.

Friends of The Legacy Trail presented a check for $250,000 to the county at the 1/25/22 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners. Of this amount, $200,000 is from regular donations to FLT, including $100,000 from the Square Foot Campaign.  This money will be used as part of a matching fund for a grant application to build parallel walking paths on sections of the trail. An additional $50,000 was a donation from Dr. Herbert Silverstein to fund a rest stop shelter on the trail extension. Thank you, Dr. Silverstein! And a big Thank You to all of our donors who have helped to make projects like this possible!