Bike trails pump $42M into Central Florida economy, study says

[dougskiles]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/os-trails-economic-impact-20111017,0,3028584.story

WINTER GARDEN â€" Dennis Jones moved to Winter Garden six years ago because he enjoyed using the West Orange Trail, a paved bike path that cuts through the heart of the downtown district.

The trail now provides him with a living because he and his wife own Wheel Works, a bike shop they opened three years ago in downtown. They are doubling in size because business is so good.

"It [the trail] is the reason we are here," said Jones, a prime example of the impact of the three abandoned rail corridors in Orange County transformed into bike trails during the 1990s.

The trio of paths pumps $42 million into the local economy annually and supports 516 jobs, according to a study conducted by the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council.

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The report comes at critical time in the public-transportation debate. There is a move in Congress to end mandatory spending of federal gas-tax dollars on trails, landscaping and mass transit in favor of building roads alone.

Right now, about 10 percent of the $32 billion raised each year through gas taxes must be spent on sidewalks and other enhancements. Last year, about $35 million of that was spent in Central Florida on bike paths, sidewalks and other endeavors such as historic preservation.

U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, chairman of the House transportation committee, said he wants to give the states more flexibility in how gas taxes are spent. Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad supports Mica.

But Prasad promised money still will be spent on extras, such as bike trails, although he stopped short of naming a specific amount.

"We're not going to build a project nobody likes," he said.

The trails have plenty of supporters.

County officials estimate 1.7 million people use them each year, including 900,000 on the West Orange Trail, which runs for 22 miles and links Winter Garden with Clermont and Apopka. The other trails are the 7.4-mile Little Econ Greenway in east Orange and the 6.5-mile Cady Way Trail in Orlando and Winter Park.

The paths are "extremely valuable to the region," said Elizabeth Rothbeind, an economic-development and communications specialist with the planning council.

On average, she said, trail users spend $19 apiece while they are out and about, frequently on a meal or beverage. The vast majority of people, the study said, take to the trails for recreation, typically by biking, running or walking.

Jones says he sells bikes that range from $145 to $7,000, though most go for $1,000 to $1,500.

Cecelia Kimball, 53, and her husband have been riding the West Orange Trail regularly for four years. The Montverde woman bikes about 30 miles each time, mostly on weekends or when she has a day off. Her husband, Mike, rides the trails at least six times a week.

She said local governments should continue investing in new trails.

"There needs to be more bicycle-friendly roads," she said. "They [urban trails] are definitely a safer way to ride."

Winter Garden City Manager Mike Bollhoefer rides the trail often, too, though he uses it to go from his home to his City Hall office, about a two-mile trip.

He credits the trail with the resurrection of Winter Garden's downtown, which was pocked with empty buildings before the first section of the path opened in 1994. Now, Bollhoefer said, there is a waiting list of businesses wanting to rent space along a vibrant main street.

Last year, the collective value of the downtown property stood at $69.3 million; in 1993, it was $22 million, according to the study.

Bollhoefer calls the trail "a marketing vehicle" for the restaurants and shops bisecting the trail.

There is another benefit that goes beyond money, Rothbeind said.

"This is one of the things that makes for a better place to live," she said.

Staff writer Eloísa Ruano González contributed to this report. dltracy@tribune.com or 407-420-5444.

[coredumped]

For those who don't know, the baldwin rail trail is pretty good:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/north/trails/jacksonville_baldwin.htm
Also, under development (but already useable) is the palatka-lake butler trail:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/state/palatka/default.htm
Pics:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100489189332503.3089086.5215641&l=b630091779

[thelakelander]

^The Baldwin trail is good.  It could be great if it were extended into the urban core and the rest of the city.  The trails in the Orlando area extend into pockets of good residential and commercial density, which increase their usage.

[Noone]

^Good point. And the same can be said of the Waterways. Pocket parks-Pocket piers. Mentioned this to Herb Hiller and Don Redman. Put a bicycle rack next to one of these Waterfront Public Access street ends or parks. Is their a bicycle rack at Goodby's Creek boat ramp? Tomahawk park? I'll check. But extending into residential and commercial density will increase usage.

[fieldafm]

^The Baldwin trail is good.  It could be great if it were extended into the urban core and the rest of the city.  The trails in the Orlando area extend into pockets of good residential and commercial density, which increase their usage.

With the completion of the Hogans Creek Greenway, you could have a bike network that ties into the S-Line Trail that could flow through Durkeeville, Springfield, Downtown and through Riverside all the way up to the new dog park about to be built at Riverside Park.  This could also be tied into San Marco along the painted bike path along Hendricks.

Interestingly enough, money is available to complete the Hogans Creek portion.  All that has to be done is getting the money to be spent amidst a buerocratic stalemate.

[fieldafm]

Doug, I meant to send you this link the other day.. but here is another article that might interest you.


http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2011/10/how-much-bike-trail-worth/382/

How Much is a Bike Trail Worth?

Julie Irwin Zimmerman

With budget crises a reality for local governments all over the country, recreation amenities like bike trails are often the first places to look for cuts. But according to research coming out of the University of Cincinnati, proximity to trails in urban areas increases property values, which in turn boosts the amount of property taxes filling government coffers.

The research, by planning professor Rainer vom Hofe and economics professor Olivier Parent, looked at houses along a 12-mile stretch of the Little Miami Scenic Trail, a former rail line that cuts across the northeastern portion of Cincinnati. The pair found that home buyers were willing to pay a premium of $9,000 to be within 1,000 feet of access to the trail.

"A bike trail like this has many types of returns. Residents can use it as a way to commute, and most people use it for recreation," says vom Hofe. "For local governments, you can make a strong argument that they get back some of the money invested in these public amenities in the form of higher property taxes. We see positive spillover in more densely populated urban areas as well as less densely populated, suburban areas." The study looked at 1,762 houses, worth an average of $263,517, that were located within 10,000 feet of the trail.

Although there’s no comprehensive way to track local spending on bike trails, there have been several proposals this year to cut federal funding for bike paths. Congressman John Mica of Florida called for eliminating the Transportation Enhancements and Recreational Trails programs, which fund many bike trails. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky wants to divert funds for the Transportation Enhancements program to bridge repair, while Sen. James Inhofe has said one of his top three priorities is to eliminate “frivolous spending for bike trails.”

The bike-trail research backs up previous studies that have found links between bike paths and increased real-estate values. As vom Hofe was conducting his study, he was also on the hunt for a new house, which gave him insight into the amenities people look for when choosing where to live. And while he concedes that access to recreation isn’t as important as, say, a school district for many home buyers, he points out that trails are especially attractive in cities that are far from oceans, mountains and other natural attractions.

“Many cities don’t have the great outdoors next door,” he says. “They have to look at what they do have, and things like parks and trails and green space are all assets that people are willing to pay more to be located near.”

[north miami]

"Kayak" & " Mountain Bike" tends to assume Not In Florida however Florida of course is idyllic.And why would we not be??

Florida is a major " Fat Tire" state.

The posts here re connecting Baldwin Trail  and others to the core are exciting.

Cheers!

[thelakelander]

^The Baldwin trail is good.  It could be great if it were extended into the urban core and the rest of the city.  The trails in the Orlando area extend into pockets of good residential and commercial density, which increase their usage.

With the completion of the Hogans Creek Greenway, you could have a bike network that ties into the S-Line Trail that could flow through Durkeeville, Springfield, Downtown and through Riverside all the way up to the new dog park about to be built at Riverside Park.  This could also be tied into San Marco along the painted bike path along Hendricks.

Interestingly enough, money is available to complete the Hogans Creek portion.  All that has to be done is getting the money to be spent amidst a buerocratic stalemate.

I believe the long funded Hogans Creek Greenway will stretch from 8th Street to Liberty Street.  To make the connection to the riverwalk through downtown, Liberty (4 lanes now) would need to be restripped.

[tufsu1]

Florida is a major " Fat Tire" state.

except that I can't buy Fat Tire beer anywhere in the state! 

[fieldafm]

^The Baldwin trail is good.  It could be great if it were extended into the urban core and the rest of the city.  The trails in the Orlando area extend into pockets of good residential and commercial density, which increase their usage.

With the completion of the Hogans Creek Greenway, you could have a bike network that ties into the S-Line Trail that could flow through Durkeeville, Springfield, Downtown and through Riverside all the way up to the new dog park about to be built at Riverside Park.  This could also be tied into San Marco along the painted bike path along Hendricks.

Interestingly enough, money is available to complete the Hogans Creek portion.  All that has to be done is getting the money to be spent amidst a buerocratic stalemate.

I believe the long funded Hogans Creek Greenway will stretch from 8th Street to Liberty Street.  To make the connection to the riverwalk through downtown, Liberty (4 lanes now) would need to be restripped.

And this is where matching funds will come into play to extend the trail(where it could transition from concrete to low impact alternative grading) along the creek basin south of the Matthews Bridge access ramp and towards the St Johns.

[dougskiles]

I believe the long funded Hogans Creek Greenway will stretch from 8th Street to Liberty Street.  To make the connection to the riverwalk through downtown, Liberty (4 lanes now) would need to be restripped.

Is this part of the Mobility Plan?  I looked at the spreadsheet you posted a few weeks ago and couldn't tell.

except that I can't buy Fat Tire beer anywhere in the state! 

I share your frustration!

[fieldafm]

I believe the long funded Hogans Creek Greenway will stretch from 8th Street to Liberty Street.  To make the connection to the riverwalk through downtown, Liberty (4 lanes now) would need to be restripped.

Is this part of the Mobility Plan?  I looked at the spreadsheet you posted a few weeks ago and couldn't tell.

except that I can't buy Fat Tire beer anywhere in the state! 

I share your frustration!

It's dating back something like 6-7 years.  Part of the money actually exists, but there are forces that are keeping this from breaking ground-some realistic, some less so.  Expect some more details on this shortly.

[thelakelander]

^The Baldwin trail is good.  It could be great if it were extended into the urban core and the rest of the city.  The trails in the Orlando area extend into pockets of good residential and commercial density, which increase their usage.

With the completion of the Hogans Creek Greenway, you could have a bike network that ties into the S-Line Trail that could flow through Durkeeville, Springfield, Downtown and through Riverside all the way up to the new dog park about to be built at Riverside Park.  This could also be tied into San Marco along the painted bike path along Hendricks.

Interestingly enough, money is available to complete the Hogans Creek portion.  All that has to be done is getting the money to be spent amidst a buerocratic stalemate.

I believe the long funded Hogans Creek Greenway will stretch from 8th Street to Liberty Street.  To make the connection to the riverwalk through downtown, Liberty (4 lanes now) would need to be restripped.

And this is where matching funds will come into play to extend the trail(where it could transition from concrete to low impact alternative grading) along the creek basin south of the Matthews Bridge access ramp and towards the St Johns.

I like the idea but what matching funds and how would ROW be acquired?  I'm a part of a Hogans Creek taskforce looking to find ways to move the trail forward.  However, I was under the impression that the money for the trail was from the State and not a local source.

[thelakelander]

I believe the long funded Hogans Creek Greenway will stretch from 8th Street to Liberty Street.  To make the connection to the riverwalk through downtown, Liberty (4 lanes now) would need to be restripped.

Is this part of the Mobility Plan?  I looked at the spreadsheet you posted a few weeks ago and couldn't tell.

No, a bike facility down Liberty Street is not in the mobility plan.  However, facilities down Jefferson, Broad, Laura and Newnan/Hubbard are in the plan and would provide direct connections between the Hogans Creek Greenway, Springfield and Downtown.  Nevertheless, you don't need mobility plan dollars to restripe Liberty.  That can be as simple as coordinating the next asphalt repaving job with Public Works.  As a matter of fact, with proper coordination, nearly every wide street in the urban core could become a bike friendly corridor via routinely scheduled Public Works street repaving projects.

[kitester]

It is interesting that there is no comment on the new bike trail that twists and turns through Talbot Island State Park. I spoke to some open road bikers who said they would prefer straight flat runs to winding curves and artificial hills. I guess the new trail will be good for "family riders". I suppose it might offer better access to fishermen who are willing to pull a small trailer/cooler that far.