Sweetwater Preserve Path

Board of County CommissionersSeptember 25, 2012

Outline

Project BackgroundComparison of AlternativesSummaryJoint Staff Recommendation

Joint Staff Recommendation

Remove the Sweetwater Preserve Multi-use Path from the Pedestrian/Bicycle Work Program list and reallocate the project funds

Project Background

MTPO Bicycle Master PlanProvide connection to other facilitiesAdopted in the bicycle/pedestrian work program in 2010

Funded by local option gas tax

Project Location

Existing Paths

LEGEND

Roads w/ Bike Lanes or Paths

Proposed PathRoads w/ Sidewalks

Sweetwater Preserve Boundary

SW 16th Avenue

Payne’s Prairie Preserve State Park

SE 1

5th S

tree

t

SW 1

3th S

tree

t

S. M

ain

Stre

et

SE W

illist

on R

oad

UF & Shands

Downtown

Comparison of Alternatives

Analyzed three path alignmentsEach alignment evaluated on three criteria

Environmental impactTotal costsOverall feasibility

Alignment #1

Follows Existing

Right-of-way

New Bridge Construction

Required

Alignment #1

Environmental impactExtensive land clearing on eastern halfTraverses Sweetwater Branch, the seepage slope forest, floodplain forest, multiple wetlands, including the edge of the baygall, and the sandhillTraverses areas of known archaeological significance

CostsBridge constructionExtensive land clearing and grading

Alignment #2

New Bridge Construction

Required

Follows alignment of existing 8’ -10’

wide path

Alignment #2

Environmental impactExtensive land clearingPath traverses upland hardwood forest, xeric hammock and sandhill

CostsBridge constructionExtensive land clearing and gradingArchaelogical and cultural resource survey

Alignment #3

Utilize existing bridge

Follows alignment of existing 8’-

10’ wide path

Follows alignment of

existing 12’ wide maintenance

road

Alignment #3

Environmental impactRequires minimal land clearing and grading

CostsNo bridge construction Minimal land clearing and gradingArchaelogical and resource surveyNeed to obtain land rights to state park service road

Received denial letter from park service

Alignment #1 Alignment #2 Alignment #3

Environmental Impacts

High High Medium

EstimatedCost

$435,000 $480,000 $425,000

County Ownership of

LandYes Yes No

Overall Feasibility

Not Feasible Not Feasible Not Feasible

Summary of Alternatives

Joint Staff Recommendation

Remove the Sweetwater Preserve Multi-use Path from the Pedestrian/Bicycle Work Program list and reallocate the project funds

Questions ?