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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to the Florida Shared -Use Nonmotorized 2
Trail Network; amending s. 260.014, F.S.; authorizing 3
the Department of Environmental Protection to 4
establish a program to recognize specified local 5
communities as trail towns; amending s. 260.0142, 6
F.S.; increasing the membership of the Florida 7
Greenways and Trails Council; revising the duties of 8
the council; defining the term "regionally significant 9
trails"; amending s. 260.016, F.S.; revising the 10
general powers of the department to include 11
development and dissemination of criteria for 12
prioritization of regionally significant trails within 13
or connected to the Florida wildlife corridor; 14
amending s. 288.1226, F.S.; revising the composition 15
of the board of directors of the Florida Tourism 16
Industry Marketing Corporation; amending s. 288.923, 17
F.S.; specifying additional requirements for the 18
marketing plan of the Division of Tourism Marketing; 19
amending s. 320.072, F.S.; increasing the amount of 20
funding the Department of Transportation is required 21
to use for the Florida Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail 22
Network; amending s. 335.065, F.S.; revising the 23
funding priorities for the Department of 24
Transportation's trail projects; amending s. 339.175, 25
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
F.S.; revising required components of long -range 26
transportation plans d eveloped by metropolitan 27
planning organizations; amending s. 339.81, F.S.; 28
revising legislative findings and intent; clarifying 29
the components that make up Florida Shared -Use 30
Nonmotorized Trail Network; extending the Florida 31
Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail N etwork to lands of the 32
Florida wildlife corridor; including certain 33
connecting components as parts of the statewide 34
network; increasing the amount the Department of 35
Transportation is required to allocate for purposes of 36
funding and maintaining projects wit hin the Florida 37
Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network; requiring the 38
department to give funding priority to specified trail 39
projects; requiring the department to construct 40
projects within the Florida wildlife corridor or on 41
other specified lands using prev iously disturbed 42
lands; requiring the department to coordinate with 43
other state agencies to ensure recreation and public 44
access in developing the planning and design of 45
trails; requiring the department to program projects 46
in the work program for developmen t of the entire 47
trail and to minimize creation of gaps between trail 48
segments; requiring the department to ensure that 49
local support exists for projects and trail segments; 50
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
requiring metropolitan planning organizations or 51
boards of county commissioners to include trails in 52
project priorities; requiring the department to create 53
and erect certain signage; authorizing the department 54
and local governments to enter into a sponsorship 55
agreement with certain entities for commercial 56
sponsorship displays on multiuse trails and related 57
facilities; requiring the department or local 58
government to administer a sponsorship agreement and 59
ensure that a sponsorship agreement complies with 60
specified requirements; subjecting sponsorship 61
agreements to specified federal laws and agreements; 62
providing that no proprietary or compensable interest 63
in any sign, display site, or location is created; 64
requiring the Department of Transportation, in 65
coordination with the Department of Environmental 66
Protection, to submit a report by a certa in date, and 67
at specified intervals thereafter, to the Governor and 68
the Legislature summarizing the status of the Florida 69
Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network; authorizing the 70
Department of Transportation to include in the report 71
its recommendations for l egislative revisions that 72
would facilitate connectivity of the statewide 73
network; requiring that specified items be included in 74
the report; requiring the department to coordinate 75
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
with certain entities regarding certain items in the 76
report; providing an app ropriation; providing for 77
construction; authorizing the department to take 78
certain action regarding funding for the trail network 79
projects in response to appropriations made by the 80
act; providing an effective date. 81
82
Be It Enacted by the Legislature o f the State of Florida: 83
84
Section 1. Section 260.014, Florida Statutes, is amended 85
to read: 86
260.014 Florida Greenways and Trails System. —The Florida 87
Greenways and Trails System shall be a statewide system of 88
greenways and trails which shall consist of individual greenways 89
and trails and networks of greenways and trails which may be 90
designated as a part of the statewide system by the department. 91
The department may establish a program to recognize local 92
communities located along or in proximity to one or more long-93
distance nonmotorized recreational trails as trail towns. 94
Mapping or other forms of identification of lands and waterways 95
as suitable for inclusion in the system of greenways and trails, 96
mapping of ecological characteristics for any purpose, or 97
development of information for planning purposes shall not 98
constitute designation. No lands or waterways may be designated 99
as a part of the statewide system of greenways and trails 100
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without the specific written consent of the landowner. 101
Section 2. Subsections (1) and (4) of section 260.0142, 102
Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 103
260.0142 Florida Greenways and Trails Council; 104
composition; powers and duties. — 105
(1) There is created within the department the Florida 106
Greenways and Trails Council which sha ll advise the department 107
in the execution of the department's powers and duties under 108
this chapter. The council shall be composed of 21 20 members, 109
consisting of: 110
(a)1. Six Five members appointed by the Governor, with two 111
members representing the trail u ser community, two members 112
representing the greenway user community, one member from the 113
board of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, and one 114
member representing private landowners. 115
2. Three members appointed by the President of the Senate, 116
with one member representing the trail user community and two 117
members representing the greenway user community. 118
3. Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of 119
Representatives, with two members representing the trail user 120
community and one member repr esenting the greenway user 121
community. 122
123
Those eligible to represent the trail user community shall be 124
chosen from, but not be limited to, paved trail users, hikers, 125
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
off-road bicyclists, users of off -highway vehicles, paddlers, 126
equestrians, disabled outdoor recreational users, and commercial 127
recreational interests. Those eligible to represent the greenway 128
user community must shall be chosen from, but not be limited to, 129
conservation organizations, nature study organizations, and 130
scientists and university exper ts. 131
(b) The 9 remaining members shall include: 132
1. The Secretary of Environmental Protection or a 133
designee. 134
2. The executive director of the Fish and Wildlife 135
Conservation Commission or a designee. 136
3. The Secretary of Transportation or a designee. 137
4. The Director of the Florida Forest Service of the 138
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or a designee. 139
5. The director of the Division of Historical Resources of 140
the Department of State or a designee. 141
6. A representative of the water mana gement districts. 142
Membership on the council must shall rotate among the five 143
districts. The districts shall determine the order of rotation. 144
7. A representative of a federal land management agency. 145
The Secretary of Environmental Protection shall identify the 146
appropriate federal agency and request designation of a 147
representative from the agency to serve on the council. 148
8. A representative of the regional planning councils to 149
be appointed by the Secretary of Environmental Protection. 150
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Membership on the cou ncil must shall rotate among the seven 151
regional planning councils. The regional planning councils shall 152
determine the order of rotation. 153
9. A representative of local governments to be appointed 154
by the Secretary of Environmental Protection. Membership must 155
shall alternate between a county representative and a municipal 156
representative. 157
(4) The duties of the council shall include the following: 158
(a) Facilitate a statewide system of interconnected 159
landscape linkages, conservation corridors, lands and waters of 160
the Florida wildlife corridor, greenbelts, recreational 161
corridors and trails, scenic corridors, utilitarian corridors, 162
reserves, regional parks and preserves, ecological sites, and 163
cultural/historic/recreational sites using land -based trails 164
that connect urban, suburban, and rural areas of the state and 165
facilitate expansion of the statewide system of freshwater and 166
saltwater paddling trails. 167
(b) Recommend priorities for critical links in the Florida 168
Greenways and Trails System. 169
(c) Recommend priorities for regionally significant trails 170
within the Florida Greenways and Trails System for inclusion by 171
the Department of Transportation in the Florida Shared -Use 172
Nonmotorized Trail Network as defined by s. 339.81. For purposes 173
of this section, the term "re gionally significant trails" means 174
trails that cross multiple counties, attract national and 175
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
international visitors, and serve as an opportunity for economic 176
and ecotourism development; showcase the natural value of this 177
state's wildlife areas, ecology, an d natural resources; and 178
serve as main corridors for critical links and trail 179
connectedness across this state. 180
(d) Review recommendations of the office for acquisition 181
funding under the Florida Greenways and Trails Program and 182
recommend to the Secretary of Environmental Protection which 183
projects should be acquired. 184
(e)(d) Review designation proposals for inclusion in the 185
Florida Greenways and Trails System. 186
(f)(e) Encourage public-private partnerships to develop 187
and manage greenways and trails. 188
(g)(f) Review progress toward meeting established 189
benchmarks and recommend appropriate action. 190
(h)(g) Make recommendations for updating and revising the 191
implementation plan for the Florida Greenways and Trails System , 192
including, but not limited to, recommend ations for 193
prioritization of regionally significant trails within the 194
Florida Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network . 195
(i) Coordinate and facilitate land acquisition efforts for 196
lands to be used, in whole or in part, for regionally 197
significant trails on th e Florida Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail 198
Network with the Department of Transportation, the Florida 199
Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer 200
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
Services, and other appropriate entities. 201
(j)(h) Promote greenways and trails support organiza tions. 202
(k)(i) Support the Florida Greenways and Trails System 203
through intergovernmental coordination, budget recommendations, 204
advocacy, education, and any other appropriate way. 205
Section 3. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section 206
260.016, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 207
260.016 General powers of the department. — 208
(2) The department shall: 209
(d) Develop and implement a process for designation of 210
lands and waterways as a part of the statewide system of 211
greenways and trails, which shall includ e: 212
1. Development and dissemination of criteria for 213
designation, including, but not limited to, criteria for 214
prioritization of regionally significant trails within or 215
connected to the Florida wildlife corridor as described in s. 216
259.1055. 217
2. Development and dissemination of criteria for changes 218
in the terms or conditions of designation, including withdrawal 219
or termination of designation. A landowner may have his or her 220
lands removed from designation by providing the department with 221
a written request tha t contains an adequate description of such 222
lands to be removed. Provisions shall be made in the designation 223
agreement for disposition of any future improvements made to the 224
land by the department. 225
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3. Public notice pursuant to s. 120.525 in all phases of 226
the process. 227
4. Written authorization from the landowner in the form of 228
a lease or other instrument for the designation and granting of 229
public access, if appropriate, to a landowner's property. 230
5. A greenway or trail use plan as a part of the 231
designation agreement which shall, at a minimum, describe the 232
types and intensities of uses of the property. 233
Section 4. Subsection (4) of section 288.1226, Florida 234
Statutes, is amended to read: 235
288.1226 Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation; 236
use of property; board of directors; duties; audit. — 237
(4) BOARD OF DIRECTORS. —The board of directors of the 238
corporation shall be composed of 32 31 tourism-industry-related 239
members, appointed by Enterprise Florida, Inc., in conjunction 240
with the department. Board members shall serve without 241
compensation, but are entitled to receive reimbursement for per 242
diem and travel expenses pursuant to s. 112.061. Such expenses 243
must be paid out of funds of the corporation. The board shall be 244
composed of all of the following mem bers: 245
(a) Sixteen members The board shall consist of 16 members , 246
appointed in such a manner as to equitably represent all 247
geographic areas of this the state, with no fewer than two 248
members from any of the following regions: 249
1. Region 1, composed of Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, 250
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, 251
Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington Counties. 252
2. Region 2, composed of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, 253
Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, 254
Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee, 255
Taylor, and Union Counties. 256
3. Region 3, composed of Brevard, Indian River, Lake, 257
Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, St. Lucie, Seminole, Sumter, and 258
Volusia Counties. 259
4. Region 4, composed of Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, 260
Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota Counties. 261
5. Region 5, composed of Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, 262
Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, and Lee Counties. 263
6. Region 6, composed of Broward, Martin, Miami -Dade, 264
Monroe, and Palm Beach Counties. 265
(b) The following industry and organization 266
representatives: 15 additional tourism -industry-related members 267
shall include 1 representative from the statewide rental car 268
industry; 7 representatives from tourist -related statewide 269
associations, including those that represent hotels, 270
campgrounds, county destination marketing organizations, 271
museums, restaurants, retail, and attractions; 3 representatives 272
from county destination marketing organizations; 1 273
representative from the cruise industry; 1 representative from 274
an automobile and travel services membership organization that 275
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
has at least 2.8 million members in Florida; 1 representative 276
from the airline industry; 1 representative from th e nature-277
based tourism industry; and 1 representative from the space 278
tourism industry, who will each serve for a term of 2 years. 279
Section 5. Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of section 280
288.923, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 281
288.923 Division of Tourism Marketing; definitions; 282
responsibilities.— 283
(4) The division's responsibilities and duties include, 284
but are not limited to: 285
(c) Developing a 4-year marketing plan. 286
1. At a minimum, the marketing plan shall discuss the 287
following: 288
a. Continuation of overall tourism growth in this state. 289
b. Expansion to new or under -represented tourist markets. 290
c. Maintenance of traditional and loyal tourist markets. 291
d. Coordination of efforts with county destination 292
marketing organizations, other local g overnment marketing 293
groups, privately owned attractions and destinations, and other 294
private sector partners to create a seamless, four -season 295
advertising campaign for the state and its regions. 296
e. Development of innovative techniques or promotions to 297
build repeat visitation by targeted segments of the tourist 298
population. 299
f. Consideration of innovative sources of state funding 300
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
for tourism marketing. 301
g. Promotion of nature -based tourism, including, but not 302
limited to, promotion of the Florida Greenways and Trails System 303
as described under s. 260.014 and the Florida Shared -Use 304
Nonmotorized Trail Network as described under s. 339.81 and 305
heritage tourism. 306
h. Coordination of efforts with the Office of Greenways 307
and Trails of the Department of Environmental Protection and the 308
department to promote and assist local communities, including, 309
but not limited to, communities designated as trail towns by the 310
Office of Greenways and Trails, to maximize use of nearby trails 311
as economic assets, including specific prom otion of trail-based 312
tourism. 313
i. Promotion of heritage tourism. 314
j. Development of a component to address emergency 315
response to natural and manmade disasters from a marketing 316
standpoint. 317
2. The plan must shall be annual in construction and 318
ongoing in nature. Any annual revisions of the plan must shall 319
carry forward the concepts of the remaining 3 -year portion of 320
the plan and consider a continuum portion to preserve the 4 -year 321
timeframe of the plan. The plan also must shall include 322
recommendations for s pecific performance standards and 323
measurable outcomes for the division and direct -support 324
organization. The department, in consultation with the board of 325
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
directors of Enterprise Florida, Inc., shall base the actual 326
performance metrics on these recommendati ons. 327
3. The 4-year marketing plan must shall be developed in 328
collaboration with the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing 329
Corporation. The plan must shall be annually reviewed and 330
approved by the board of directors of Enterprise Florida, Inc. 331
Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section 332
320.072, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 333
320.072 Additional fee imposed on certain motor vehicle 334
registration transactions. — 335
(4) A tax collector or other authorized agent of the 336
department shall promptly remit all moneys collected pursuant to 337
this section, less any refunds granted pursuant to subsection 338
(3), to the department. The department shall deposit 85.7 339
percent of such moneys into the State Transportation Trust Fund 340
and 14.3 percent into th e Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund. 341
Notwithstanding any other law, the moneys deposited into the 342
State Transportation Trust Fund pursuant to this subsection 343
shall be used by the Department of Transportation for the 344
following: 345
(a) The Florida Shared -Use Nonmotorized Trail Network 346
established in s. 339.81, $50 million $25 million. 347
Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section 348
335.065, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 349
335.065 Bicycle and pedestrian ways along state roads and 350
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
transportation facilities.— 351
(4)(a) The department may use appropriated funds to 352
support the establishment of a statewide system of 353
interconnected multiuse trails and to pay the costs of planning, 354
land acquisition, design, and construction of such trails and 355
related facilities. The department shall give funding priority 356
to projects that: 357
1. Are recommended priorities by the Florida Greenways and 358
Trails Council as regionally significant trails pursuant to s. 359
260.0142(4)(c). 360
3. Are otherwise identified by the Flori da Greenways and 361
Trails Council as a priority for critical linkage and trail 362
connectedness within the Florida Greenways and Trails System 363
under chapter 260. 364
5.2. Support the transportation needs of bicyclists and 365
pedestrians. 366
2.3. Have national, statew ide, or regional importance. 367
4. Facilitate an interconnected system of trails by 368
completing gaps between existing trails. 369
Section 8. Paragraph (d) of subsection (7) of section 370
339.175, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 371
339.175 Metropolitan plan ning organization.— 372
(7) LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN. —Each M.P.O. must 373
develop a long-range transportation plan that addresses at least 374
a 20-year planning horizon. The plan must include both long -375
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
range and short-range strategies and must comply with al l other 376
state and federal requirements. The prevailing principles to be 377
considered in the long -range transportation plan are: preserving 378
the existing transportation infrastructure; enhancing Florida's 379
economic competitiveness; and improving travel choices to ensure 380
mobility. The long-range transportation plan must be consistent, 381
to the maximum extent feasible, with future land use elements 382
and the goals, objectives, and policies of the approved local 383
government comprehensive plans of the units of local gove rnment 384
located within the jurisdiction of the M.P.O. Each M.P.O. is 385
encouraged to consider strategies that integrate transportation 386
and land use planning to provide for sustainable development and 387
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The approved long -range 388
transportation plan must be considered by local governments in 389
the development of the transportation elements in local 390
government comprehensive plans and any amendments thereto. The 391
long-range transportation plan must, at a minimum: 392
(d) Indicate, as approp riate, proposed transportation 393
enhancement activities, including, but not limited to, 394
pedestrian and bicycle facilities, trails or facilities that are 395
regionally significant or critical linkages for the Florida 396
Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network, scenic easements, 397
landscaping, historic preservation, mitigation of water 398
pollution due to highway runoff, and control of outdoor 399
advertising. 400
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
401
In the development of its long -range transportation plan, each 402
M.P.O. must provide the public, affected public agencie s, 403
representatives of transportation agency employees, freight 404
shippers, providers of freight transportation services, private 405
providers of transportation, representatives of users of public 406
transit, and other interested parties with a reasonable 407
opportunity to comment on the long -range transportation plan. 408
The long-range transportation plan must be approved by the 409
M.P.O. 410
Section 9. Section 339.81, Florida Statutes, is amended to 411
read: 412
339.81 Florida Shared -Use Nonmotorized Trail Network. — 413
(1) The Legislature finds that increasing demands continue 414
to be placed on the state's transportation system by a growing 415
economy, continued population growth, and increasing tourism. 416
The Legislature also finds that accommodating significant 417
challenges to providing additional capacity to the conventional 418
transportation system exist and will require enhanced 419
accommodation of alternative travel modes to meet the needs of 420
residents and visitors and providing trails for bicyclist and 421
pedestrian travel that allows for th e appreciation of the 422
conservation and stewardship of environmentally important lands 423
in Florida are of significant importance. The Legislature finds 424
that the investment of the state in the Florida wildlife 425
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corridor as defined in s. 259.1055 is of signific ant interest to 426
the public and that the provision of paved multiuse trails 427
within or between areas of the Florida wildlife corridor would 428
provide the public the ability to enjoy Florida's natural 429
resources and bring ecotourism and economic opportunities to 430
local trail town communities . The Legislature further finds that 431
improving bicyclist and pedestrian safety for both residents and 432
visitors is remains a high priority. Therefore, the Legislature 433
declares that the development of a nonmotorized trail network 434
will increase mobility and recreational alternatives for 435
Florida's residents and visitors ;, enhance economic prosperity ;, 436
enrich quality of life ;, enhance safety;, and reflect 437
responsible environmental stewardship ; and facilitate support 438
for the protection, preservation, and enhancement of the natural 439
and recreational value of the Florida wildlife corridor by 440
providing minimally invasive public access to it when feasible 441
and compatible with the lands . To that end, it is the intent of 442
the Legislature that the department make use of its expertise in 443
efficiently providing transportation projects to develop and 444
construct the Florida Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network , 445
consisting of a statewide network of nonmotorized trails which 446
allows nonmotorized vehicles and pedestrians to access a variety 447
of origins and destinations with limited exposure to motorized 448
vehicles. 449
(2)(a) The Florida Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network 450
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
is created as a component of the Florida Greenways and Trails 451
System established in chapter 260. The Florida Shared-Use 452
Nonmotorized Trail Network consists of a statewide network of 453
nonmotorized trails that allow bicyclists and pedestrians to 454
access a variety of points of origin and destinations with 455
limited exposure to motorized ve hicles. 456
(b) The multiuse trails or shared -use paths of the 457
statewide network must be consists of multiuse trails or shared -458
use paths physically separated from motor vehicle traffic and 459
constructed with asphalt, concrete, or another hard surface . 460
(c) The statewide network which, by virtue of design, 461
location, extent of connectivity or potential connectivity, and 462
allowable uses, provides nonmotorized transportation 463
opportunities for bicyclists and pedestrians statewide between 464
and within a wide range of p oints of origin and destinations, 465
including, but not limited to, communities, conservation areas, 466
lands of the Florida wildlife corridor, state parks, beaches, 467
and other natural or cultural attractions for a variety of trip 468
purposes, including work, school , shopping, and other personal 469
business, as well as social, recreational, and personal fitness 470
purposes. 471
(3) Network components do not include sidewalks, nature 472
trails, loop trails wholly within a single park or natural area, 473
or on-road facilities, such as bicycle lanes or routes . However, 474
components that connect to nature trails, loop trails, or other 475
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
points of public access wholly within a single park or natural 476
area may be included in the network, as well as any of the 477
following other than: 478
(a) On-road facilities that are no longer than one -half 479
mile connecting two or more nonmotorized trails, if the 480
provision of non-road facilities is infeasible and if such on -481
road facilities are signed and marked for nonmotorized use .; or 482
(b) On-road components of the Florida Keys Overseas 483
Heritage Trail. 484
(4) The planning, development, operation, and maintenance 485
of the Florida Shared -Use Nonmotorized Trail Network is declared 486
to be a public purpose, and the department, together with other 487
agencies of this state a nd all counties, municipalities, and 488
special districts of this state, may spend public funds for such 489
purposes and accept gifts and grants of funds, property, or 490
property rights from public or private sources to be used for 491
such purposes. 492
(5)(a) The department shall include the Florida Shared -Use 493
Nonmotorized Trail Network in its work program developed 494
pursuant to s. 339.135. For purposes of funding and maintaining 495
projects within the network, the department shall allocate in 496
its program and resource plan a minimum of $50 million $25 497
million annually, beginning with in the 2023-2024 2015-2016 498
fiscal year. 499
(b) The department shall give funding priority to projects 500
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that: 501
1. Are recommended priorities by the Florida Greenways and 502
Trails Council as regiona lly significant trails pursuant to s. 503
260.0142(4)(c). 504
2. Have national, statewide, or regional importance. 505
3. Are otherwise identified by the Florida Greenways and 506
Trails Council as a priority for critical linkage and trail 507
connectedness within the Florida Greenways and Trails System 508
under chapter 260. 509
4. Facilitate an interconnected system of trails by 510
completing gaps between existing trails. 511
5. Support the transportation needs of bicyclists and 512
pedestrians. 513
(c) For trail projects to be constr ucted within the 514
Florida wildlife corridor as defined in s. 259.1055 or on 515
conservation lands or other lands subject to conservation 516
easements, land management plans, or agreements, to the greatest 517
extent possible, the department shall ensure projects are 518
constructed using previously disturbed lands, such as abandoned 519
roads and railroads, utility rights -of-way, canal corridors and 520
drainage berms, permanent fire lines, and other lands having 521
appropriate potential to serve the purposes specified by law of 522
both the trail network and the Florida wildlife corridor. In 523
developing the planning and design of trails, the department 524
shall coordinate with other state agencies to ensure that 525
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appropriate recreation or public access is available for such 526
projects. 527
(d) To the greatest extent practicable, the department 528
shall program projects in the work program to plan for 529
development of the entire trail and to minimize the creation of 530
gaps between trail segments. The department shall, at a minimum, 531
ensure that local supp ort exists for projects and trail 532
segments, including the availability or dedication of local 533
funding sources and of contributions by private landowners who 534
agree to make their land, or property interests in such land, 535
available for public use as a trail. 536
(e) Each metropolitan planning organization or board of 537
county commissioners, as appropriate, shall include in its list 538
of project priorities required under ss. 339.135(4)(c)1. and 539
339.175(8) one or more projects that are a priority under 540
paragraph (b) and meet the requirements of this section. When 541
developing the district work program under s. 339.135(4), each 542
district must ensure that projects are included in the work 543
program which are a priority under paragraph (b) and meet the 544
requirements of this sec tion. 545
(6)(a) The department shall create uniform signage to 546
identify trails that are part of the statewide network and 547
shall, when feasible and permissible, erect signage on all such 548
trails open to public use, regardless of when the trail was 549
first opened. The department is not otherwise obligated to 550
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provide funds for the operation and maintenance of any trail on 551
the statewide network. 552
(b) The department may enter into a memorandum of 553
agreement with a local government or other agency of the state 554
to transfer maintenance responsibilities of an individual 555
network component. The department may contract with a not -for-556
profit entity or private sector business or entity to provide 557
maintenance services on an individual network component. 558
(7)(a) The department may enter into a sponsorship 559
agreement with a not -for-profit entity or private sector 560
business or entity for commercial sponsorship displays on 561
multiuse trails and related facilities. The department shall 562
deposit any sponsorship agreement revenues into th e State 563
Transportation Trust Fund to be used for maintenance, signage, 564
and provision of amenities on the multiuse trails and related 565
facilities. Local governments may also enter into sponsorship 566
agreements and likewise use the revenues for maintenance, 567
signage, and provision of amenities on the multiuse trails and 568
related facilities. A sponsorship agreement shall be 569
administered by the department or the local government, as 570
appropriate, and the department or the local government shall 571
ensure that the sponso rship agreement complies with the 572
requirements of s. 335.065(3)(b) and (c). 573
(b) Commercial sponsorship displays are subject to the 574
requirements of the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 and all 575
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federal laws and agreements, when applicable. This subsectio n 576
does not create a proprietary or compensable interest in any 577
sign, display site, or location. 578
(8) By June 30, 2026, and every third year on June 30 579
thereafter, the department, in coordination with the Department 580
of Environmental Protection, shall submi t a report to the 581
Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the 582
House of Representatives summarizing the status of the Florida 583
Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network. The report may include 584
recommendations for any legislative revisions deeme d appropriate 585
to facilitate connectivity of the statewide network. 586
(a) At a minimum, the report must include all of the 587
following: 588
1. The total number of completed miles of nonmotorized 589
trails on the network. 590
2. The total number of completed miles of nonmotorized 591
trails on the network not adjacent to a roadway facility. 592
3. The total number of completed miles of nonmotorized 593
trails on the network adjacent to a roadway facility. 594
4. The total number of completed miles of nonmotorized 595
trails on the network which are within or between areas of the 596
Florida wildlife corridor as defined in s. 259.1055. 597
5. The total remaining miles of nonmotorized trails on the 598
network which are planned for acquisition and construction. 599
6. The total expenditures, by fun ding source, associated 600
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with implementing the network. 601
7. The total expenditures, by project phase, including 602
preliminary and environmental planning, design, acquisition of 603
right-of-way, and new construction of trail surfaces and bridges 604
on the network. 605
(b) The department shall also coordinate with the Florida 606
Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation, local governments, or 607
other entities who have related information to include in the 608
report. For each existing trail on the network which is open to 609
public use, identified by the department's trailway 610
identification number, segment name, segment length, and county 611
of location, the department's report must provide nonmotorized 612
trail operational and performance measures that include, but are 613
not limited to: 614
1. The total number of trail visits. 615
2. The primary travel modes used on the trail. 616
3. The frequency of trail usage. 617
4. The average duration of trail usage. 618
5. The distance traveled during a trail visit. 619
6. The average amount spent by a user during a typical 620
trail visit. 621
7. The total amount of user expenditures. 622
8. Any other measure deemed appropriate. 623
Section 10. For the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the sum of $200 624
million in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is 625
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appropriated to the Department of Transportation as fixed 626
capital outlay to plan, design, and construct projects on the 627
Florida Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network as provided by 628
this act. 629
Section 11. The amendments made to s. 339.81, Florida 630
Statutes, by this act, are not intended to delete, defer, delay, 631
or otherwise revise Florida Shared -Use Nonmotorized Trail 632
Network projects programmed in the Department of 633
Transportation's tentative 5 -Year work program for Fiscal Year 634
2023-2024 through 2027-2028. The department may maintain such 635
projects in development of the adopted work program. For 636
additional funding allocated to the network in section 9 of this 637
act or appropriated in section 10 of this act, the department 638
shall work with the metropolitan planning organizations, boards 639
of county commissioners, and districts, as appropriate, to 640
revise any year of the 5 -year work program pursuant to s. 641
339.135(5), Florida Statutes, to identify new Florida Shared -Use 642
Nonmotorized Trail Network projects to be added or projects or 643
phases thereof that may be moved up from the portion of the 644
tentative work program for the following 4 fiscal years. 645
Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 646