by Roger Normand

Undeterred by the glancing wrath and ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Irma, progress continues to acquire the nearly 3 mile long (including a spur that bisects McIntosh Road) unused rail corridor to extend The Legacy Trail to Ashton Road.

The County and Trust for Public Land (TPL) have now initiated all aspects of their due diligence review of the property: a boundary survey; a title review; and concurrent Phase 1 and Phase 2 environmental assessments. The former consists of a review of historical transportation records, reported spills, and adjacent land usage for potential contaminants. The latter consists of a visual inspection of the corridor for evidence of distressed soil or vegetation along with prescribed soil sampling for common rail corridor contaminants. The contract specifies that all inspections must be completed by November 30, 2017. Costs for the due diligence review will be shared between the County and TPL.

The parties must also come to terms on what action to take on some 50 leases, licenses, contracts, or agreements which may encumber the property.

Settlement for Phase 1 is scheduled for December 20, 2017, subject to final approval and appropriation of funds by the Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners.

The TPL partnered with Sarasota County to renegotiate the purchase terms with corridor owner CSX Railroad and their lessee Seminole Gulf Railway, consistent with available county funds: $7.9 million for Phase 1 to Ashton Road, due by December 2017; $30.1 million for Phase 2 to Payne Park and Fruitville Road in the City of Sarasota, due in May 2019. Funds for Phase 2 are contingent on voter approval of a planned referendum in November 2018. The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved proceeding with the two phased approach on 29 August, 2017.

Stay tuned for further details as FLT gears up to celebrate acquisition of Phase 1 corridor, initiates a multi-phase fund raising campaign to help build the trail, and prepares to support the referendum. Reply here if you’d like to volunteer to support any of these efforts.