Florida 2023 2023 Regular Session

Florida Senate Bill S0106 Analysis / Analysis

Filed 05/08/2023

                     
This document does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives. 
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF FINAL BILL ANALYSIS  
 
BILL #: CS/SB 106    Florida Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network 
SPONSOR(S): Appropriations, Brodeur and others 
TIED BILLS:   IDEN./SIM. BILLS: CS/HB 915 
 
 
 
 
FINAL HOUSE FLOOR ACTION: 113 Y’s 
 
0 N’s GOVERNOR’S ACTION: Approved 
 
 
SUMMARY ANALYSIS 
CS/SB 106 passed the House on April 4, 2023. 
 
The Florida Greenways and Trails System (FGTS) is made up of existing planned and conceptual 
nonmotorized trails and ecological greenways that form an integrated statewide system. The system includes 
paddling, hiking, biking, multi-use, and equestrian trails. In 2015, the Legislature formally created the Florida 
Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network (SUN Trail Network) as a component of the FGTS.
 
The SUN Trail 
Network consists of paved multiuse trails or shared-use paths physically separated from motor vehicle traffic 
that provide pedestrians and bicyclists opportunities to travel between communities, conservation areas, state 
parks, and other natural or cultural attractions for a variety of trip purposes. The Florida Department of 
Transportation (DOT) estimates that the full network will encompass approximately 4,000 miles of trails, with 
one-third currently open for use.  
 
The bill expands the existing SUN Trail Network and enhances coordination of the state’s trail system with the 
Florida Wildlife Corridor (Corridor). Specifically, the bill: 
 Prioritizes the development of “regionally significant trails,” which are defined as trails that cross 
multiple counties; attract national and international visitors; serve economic and ecotourism 
development; showcase the state’s wildlife areas, ecology, and natural resources; and serve as main 
corridors for trail connectedness across the state.  
 Enhances the planning, coordination, and marketing of the state’s bicycle and pedestrian trail system 
and the Corridor.  
 Requires trails developed within the Corridor to maximize the use of previously disturbed lands and be 
compatible with applicable land use provisions.  
 Requires DOT to erect uniform signage identifying trails that are part of the SUN Trail Network and to 
submit a periodic report on the status of the SUN Trail Network.  
 Authorizes DOT and local governments to enter into sponsorship agreements for trails and to use 
associated revenues for maintenance, signage, and related amenities.  
 Recognizes “trail town” communities and directs specified entities to promote the use of trails as 
economic assets, including the promotion of trail-based tourism.  
 Increases recurring funding for the SUN Trail Network from $25 million to $50 million and provides a 
non-recurring appropriation of $200 million to plan, design, and construct the SUN Trail Network. 
 
The bill may have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the state and local governments.  
 
The bill was approved by the Governor on April 11, 2023, ch. 2023-20, L.O.F., and will become effective on 
July 1, 2023.    
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I. SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION 
 
A. EFFECT OF CHANGES:  
 
Background  
 
Florida Greenways and Trails System 
The Florida Greenways and Trails System (FGTS) is made up of existing planned and conceptual 
nonmotorized trails and ecological greenways that form an integrated statewide system. The system 
includes paddling, hiking, biking, multi-use, and equestrian trails. In 1995, the Legislature created the 
Florida Greenways Coordinating Council (FGCC), tasking the FGCC with promoting the creation of a 
statewide greenways and trails system and designating the Department of Environmental Protection 
(DEP) as the lead agency of the system.
1
 In 1998, the FGCC published a five-year implementation plan 
(1998 Plan) for the FGTS.
2
 The plan contained a Multiuse Recreational Opportunity Trail Map for 
connecting Florida’s greenways and trails, providing a review of existing greenways and trails and 
making recommendations to complete the system.  
 
In 1999, the Legislature created the Florida Greenways and Trails Council (Council) as recommended 
by the 1998 Plan. The Council is composed of 20 members, five of which are appointed by the 
Governor.
3
 Of the five appointed by the Governor, there must be two members representing the trail 
user community, two members representing the greenway user community, and one representing 
private land owners.
4
 The Council facilitates the establishment and expansion of a statewide system of 
greenways and trails for recreational and conservation purposes, including: 
 Recommending priorities for critical links in the FGTS; 
 Reviewing recommendations for acquisition funding; 
 Reviewing proposals for lands to be designated as part of the FGTS; and 
 Recommending updates to the implementation plan for the FGTS.
5
 
 
In 2013, DEP published the 2013-2017 Florida Greenways and Trails System Plan, the first update to 
the FGTS since the 1998 Plan was published.
6
 The Office of Greenways and Trails (OGT)
7
 within DEP, 
using the 1998 Land Trails Opportunity Map, established criteria to help identify priority land trail 
corridors within the FGTS, as opposed to priority segments, allowing for identification of potential long-
distance trail corridors. A multi-county approach was used to assist in identifying gaps in connectivity 
across jurisdictional boundaries and in encouraging regional planning to close those gaps.
8
 The FGTS 
plan and maps are currently undergoing a third update for the 2024-2028 Fiscal Years.
9
 
 
DEP is authorized to acquire lands, both public and private, to establish and expand a statewide 
system of greenways and trails for recreational and conservation purposes,
10
 using funds from the 
                                                
1
 Chapter 95-260, L.O.F. 
2
 DEP, Connecting Florida Communities with Greenways and Trails Plan: A Summary of the Five Year Implementation Plan for the 
Florida Greenways and Trails System (1998), available at 
https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/1998FGTSPlanExecutiveSummary_0.pdf (last visited Feb. 28, 2023).   
3
 Section 260.0142(1), F.S. 
4
 Section 260.0142(1)(a)1., F.S. 
5
 Section 260.0142(4), F.S.  
6
 DEP, Florida Greenways & Trails System Plan 2019-2023, p. 6, available at https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/FL-
Greenway%2BTrails-System-Plan-2019%2C%202023_0.pdf (last visited Feb. 28, 2023). 
7
 The OGT is tasked with fulfilling Chapter 260, F.S., the Florida Greenways and Trails Act. The Office leads, plans, and facilitates 
the development of an interconnected FGTS, through coordinated efforts with state and local partners, to compile local trails data from 
cities, counties, and other land managing entities into one inclusive system. Id. at p. 4. 
8
 DEP, Florida Greenways & Trails System Plan 2019-2023, p. 6, available at https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/FL-
Greenway%2BTrails-System-Plan-2019%2C%202023_0.pdf (last visited Feb. 28, 2023). 
9
 See DEP, Florida Greenways and Trails System Plan and Maps, https://floridadep.gov/parks/ogt/content/florida-greenways-and-
trails-system-plan-and-maps (last visited Feb. 28, 2023). 
10
 Section 260.012, F.S.     
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Florida Forever Trust Fund distributed to DEP for acquisition of lands under the Florida Greenways and 
Trails Program, and to designate lands as part of the FGTS.
11
 Since January 2013, 59 projects totaling 
over 225,000 acres and 756 trail miles have been designated in the statewide Greenways and Trails 
System including state trails and parks, national forest lands and trails, locally managed greenways and 
trails, blueways and many other areas.
12
 
 
Trail Towns 
The OGT within DEP also operates the trail town program.
13
 A trail town is a community located along, 
or in proximity to, one or more long-distance nonmotorized recreational trails where users can venture 
off the main path to enjoy the services and unique heritage of the nearby community.
14
 The Department 
of Economic Opportunity estimates the combined economic benefit of all Florida state trails is $95 
million to their host communities.
15
 Current trail towns include Dunedin, Titusville, Malabar, Vilano 
Beach, Clermont, Palatka, Inverness, Deltona, Everglades City, Winter Garden, Gainesville, and 
Debary.
16
 Signs, stickers, and publicity are provided free of charge to recognized trail towns.
17
  
 
Florida Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network 
In 2014, the Legislature authorized the Department of Transportation (DOT) to use appropriated funds 
to support the establishment of a statewide system of interconnected multiuse trails and to pay the 
costs of planning, land acquisition, design, and construction of trail projects and related facilities.
18
 
These projects must be included in DOT’s work program. However, a funded project must be operated 
and maintained by an entity other than DOT upon completion of construction, and DOT is not obligated 
to provide funds for the operation and maintenance of a trails project.
19
 DOT may enter into an 
agreement with a local government or other agency of the state to transfer maintenance 
responsibilities, or with a not-for-profit entity or private sector business or entity to provide maintenance 
services, on an individual network component.
20
 
 
In 2015, the Legislature formally created the Florida Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network (SUN 
Trail Network) as a component of the FGTS.
 21
 The SUN Trail Network consists of paved multiuse trails 
or shared-use paths physically separated from motor vehicle traffic that provide pedestrians and 
bicyclists opportunities to travel between communities, conservation areas, state parks, and other 
natural or cultural attractions for a variety of trip purposes.
22
  While the SUN Trail Network and FGTS 
have overlapping trails, not all FGTS trails are within the SUN Trail Network.
23
  
                                                
11
 Section 259.105(3)(h), F.S. 
12
 DEP, Florida Greenways & Trails System Plan 2019-2023, p. 6, available at https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/FL-
Greenway%2BTrails-System-Plan-2019%2C%202023_0.pdf (last visited Feb. 28, 2023). 
13
 DEP, Trail Town Program, https://floridadep.gov/parks/ogt/content/trail-town-program (last visited Feb. 28, 2023). 
14
 DEP, Trail Towns Guidelines and Self-Assessment, p. 3, available at 
https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/Trail%20Town%20Assessment%20Final.pdf (last visited Feb. 28, 2023).  
15
 FDEO, The Economic Benefits of Ecotourism, https://floridajobs.org/community-planning-and-development/community-
planning/community-planning-table-of-contents/ecotourism/the-economic-benefit-of-
ecotourism#:~:text=The%20combined%20benefit%20of%20all%20Florida%20state%20trails,Trail%20in%20Dunedin%2C%20Flori
da%20is%20another%20success%20story. (last visited Feb. 28, 2023). For example, the Paradise Coast Trail Corridor in Naples, 
connecting Collier County with Florida’s Paradise Coast, is estimated to create 425 jobs directly. Rails.to.Trails Conservancy, SUN 
Trail – Paradise Cost Trail Corridor, 
https://www.railstotrails.org/policy/trailstransform/projects/naples/#:~:text=The%20Paradise%20Coast%20Trail%20%28PCT%29%2
0extension%E2%80%94a%20component%20of,and%20other%20areas%20within%20and%20beyond%20Collier%20County. (last 
visited Feb 28, 2023). 
16
 DEP, Trail Town Program, https://floridadep.gov/parks/ogt/content/trail-town-program (last visited Feb. 28, 2023). 
17
 Id. 
18
 Chapters 2014-50 and 2014-53, L.O.F. 
19
 Section 335.065(4)(b), F.S. 
20
 Section 339.81(6), F.S. 
21
 Chapter 2015-228, L.O.F.  
22
 Section 339.81(2), F.S. 
23
 DOT, Shared-Use Nonmotorized (SUN) Trail Program, https://www.fdot.gov/planning/systems/suntrail.shtm (last visited Feb. 28, 
2023).   
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DOT is required to allocate a minimum of $25 million annually for purposes of funding and maintaining 
projects within the network and must include network projects in its work program.
24
 Priority funding 
must be given to projects that are identified by the Council as a priority within the FGTS; support the 
transportation needs of bicyclists and pedestrians; have national, statewide, or regional importance; or 
facilitate an interconnected system of trails by completing gaps between existing trails.
25
 This funding 
comes from, in part, motor vehicle registration transactions. A fee of $225 is imposed upon the initial 
application for registration of certain motor vehicles.
26
 After authorized refunds,
27
 85.7 percent of such 
funds must be deposited into the State Transportation Trust Fund, and DOT must use $25 million of 
those funds for the SUN Trail Network.
28
  
 
DOT estimates that the full network will encompass approximately 4,000 miles of trails, with one-third 
currently open for use. Since 2015, 25 projects have been completed, 38 are funded in the current work 
program, and 45 are planned for future development. From 2017 to 2027, over $303 million in project 
phases have been funded by the SUN Trail Program.
29
 
 
Florida Wildlife Corridor 
The Florida Wildlife Corridor (Corridor) consists of the conserved lands and opportunity areas defined 
as priority one, two, and three categories of the Florida Ecological Greenways Network.
30
 The Corridor 
encompasses about 18 million acres, including 10 million acres of conservation lands.
31
 In 2021, the 
Legislature created the Wildlife Corridor Act (Act) to codify the Corridor and recognize that lands and 
waters that provide the state’s green infrastructure and vital habitat for wide-ranging wildlife need to be 
preserved and protected.
32
 The purpose of the Act was to create incentives for conservation and 
sustainable development while preserving the green infrastructure.
33
 The Legislature also appropriated 
$300 million,
34
 to DEP to acquire lands within the Corridor to preserve, protect, or enhance wildlife 
habitats or corridors and linkages or agricultural or rural lands.
35
 
 
DEP is responsible for encouraging state and local agencies with economic and ecotourism 
development responsibilities to recognize the importance of the Corridor in encouraging public access 
to wildlife areas and bringing nature-based tourism to local communities.
36
  
 
Metropolitan Planning Organizations  
Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), or the boards of county commissioners serving as the 
MPO in those counties which are not located in an MPO, are required, in cooperation with the state and 
public transit operators, to develop transportation plans and programs for metropolitan areas.
37
 As part 
                                                
24
 Section 339.81(5), F.S. 
25
 Section 335.065(4)(a), F.S. 
26
 Section 320.072, F.S. 
27
 See s. 320.072(3), F.S. 
28
 Section 320.072(4)(a), F.S. 
29
 See Senate Transportation Committee Meeting Packet, January 17, 2023, p. 16, DOT SUN Trail Program Presentation, available at 
https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/Show/TR/MeetingPacket/5583/10027_MeetingPacket_5583_3.pdf (last visited Feb. 28, 2023). 
30
 Section 259.1055(4)(d), F.S. For a 2021 layered map reflecting the Wildlife Corridor, Florida Forever Projects and Acquisitions, 
and FEGN Priority Levels 1-3, see DEP’s map available at 
https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/Florida%20Forever%20and%20Florida%20Ecological%20Greenways%20Network%20Map_
0.pdf (last visited Mar. 1, 2023). 
31
 DEP, Florida Wildlife Corridor, available at https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/Florida_Wildlife_Corridor.pdf (last visited 
Feb. 28, 2023). 
32
 Chapter 2021-181, L.O.F. 
33
 Section 259.1055(3), F.S. 
34
 Chapter 2021-36, L.O.F., s. 152.  
35
 Section 259.1055(4)(g), F.S. 
36
 Section 259.1055(5)(h), F.S. 
37
 See generally, s. 339.175, F.S.   
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of the transportation planning process and among other duties, each MPO is required to develop a 
long-range transportation plan addressing at least a 20-year horizon.
38
 
 
Among other minimum requirements, the long-range plan must include, as appropriate, proposed 
transportation enhancement activities which include, but are not limited to, pedestrian and bicycle 
facilities, scenic easements, landscaping, historic preservation, mitigation of water pollution due to 
highway safety runoff, and control of outdoor advertising.  
 
MPOs
39
 are also required to develop an annual list of transportation project priorities and submit the list 
to the appropriate DOT district.
40
 District work programs are developed based on these lists and 
submitted to DOT’s Central Office, resulting in the annual adoption of DOT’s five-year work program.
41
 
 
Florida Tourism Marketing  
The Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation, known as VISIT FLORIDA, is a not-for-profit, 
direct-support organization of Enterprise Florida, Inc., which is organized and operated exclusively to 
request, receive, hold, invest, and administer property and to manage and make expenditures for the 
operation of the activities, services, functions, and programs of this state which relate to the statewide, 
national, and international promotion and marketing of tourism.
42
 VISIT FLORIDA is the state’s official 
source for travel planning and is the sales and marketing organization that promotes tourism to 
Florida.
43
 
 
VISIT FLORIDA’s Board of Directors is the organization's private sector governing body made up of 
Florida tourism industry experts who, along with the members of its committees, provide guidance, 
input and insight into the evolution of VISIT FLORIDA programs, processes and messaging.  The 
board, which meets three times a year, acts as a steering council for multiple committees and works 
directly with the VISIT FLORIDA executive staff to guide strategy.
44
 
 
The board is composed of 31 tourism-industry-related members, appointed by Enterprise Florida, Inc., 
in conjunction with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Of the 31 members, 15 must be 
from specified industries, associations, and organizations. Of these 15 members, seven must be from 
tourist-related statewide associations, including those that represent hotels, campgrounds, county 
destination marketing organizations, museums, restaurants, retail, and attractions.
45
 
 
Enterprise Florida, Inc., is statutorily directed to contract with VISIT FLORIDA to execute tourism 
promotion and marketing services, functions, and programs for the state, including, but not limited to, 
the activities prescribed by the four-year marketing plan.
46
 Within Enterprise Florida, Inc., is the Division 
of Marketing Tourism that must aid in developing the four-year plan.
47
 The four-year marketing plan, in 
addition to other topics, must discuss the promotion of nature-based tourism.
48
  
 
                                                
38
 Section 339.175(7), F.S. 
39
 Or the board of county commissioners serving as the MPO in those counties which are not located in a metropolitan planning 
organization, per s. 339.135(4)(c)1., F.S. 
40
 Section 339.175(8), F.S. 
41
 Id. 
42
 Section 288.1226(2), F.S. 
43
 VisitFlorida, Who We Are, https://www.visitflorida.org/about-us/who-we-are/ (last visited Mar. 1, 2023). 
44
 Id. 
45
 Section 288.1226(4), F.S. 
46
 Section 288.93(3), F.S. 
47
 Section 288.93(4)(c), F.S. 
48
 Section 288.93(4)(c)g., F.S.   
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Effect of the Bill  
 
Florida Greenways and Trails 
The bill authorizes DEP, as part of its authority over the FGTS, to establish a program to recognize 
local communities located along, or in proximity to, one or more long-distance nonmotorized 
recreational trails as trail towns.  
 
The bill expands the Council from 20 to 21 members and specifies that the additional member must be 
appointed by the Governor and must be from the board of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. 
 
Additionally, the bill requires the Council to include lands and waters of the Corridor in the statewide 
system. The Council must also recommend priorities for regionally significant trails within the FGTS for 
inclusion by DOT in the SUN Trail Network. The bill defines “regionally significant trails” to mean trails 
that cross multiple counties, attract national and international visitors, and serve as an opportunity for 
economic and ecotourism development; showcase the natural value of the state’s wildlife areas, 
ecology, and natural resources; and serve as main corridors for critical links and trail connectedness 
across the state. The bill further requires the Council to include recommendations for prioritization of 
regionally significant trails within the SUN Trail Network when updating and revising the implementation 
plan for the FGTS. The Council must also coordinate and facilitate land acquisition efforts for lands to 
be used, in whole or in part, for regionally significant trails on the SUN Trail Network with DOT, the 
Florida Forest Service, and other appropriate entities.  
 
The bill requires DEP to include criteria for prioritization of regionally significant trails within or 
connected to the Corridor when designating lands and waterways as part of the FGTS.  
  
Tourism Marketing 
The bill expands the membership of the board of directors for VISIT FLORIDA by adding one 
representative from the nature-based tourism industry.  
 
The bill requires the Division of Tourism Marketing four-year marketing plan to promote nature-based 
tourism, including, but not limited to, promotion of the FGTS and the SUN Trail Network. The four-year 
marketing plan must also coordinate efforts with the OGT and DEP to promote and assist local 
communities, including, but not limited to, communities designated as trail towns by the OGT, to 
maximize the use of nearby trails as economic assets, including specific promotion of trail-based 
tourism. The four-year plan must also promote heritage tourism. 
 
SUN Trail Network 
The bill revises legislative intent related to the SUN Trail Network to specify the importance of providing 
trails for bicyclist and pedestrian travel and investment in the Corridor. 
 
The bill specifies that the SUN Trail Network consists of a statewide network of nonmotorized trails that 
allow bicyclists and pedestrians to access a variety of points of origin and destinations with limited 
exposure to motor vehicles. The bill also specifies that the SUN Trail Network includes lands of the 
Corridor. Lastly, while current law excludes trails wholly within a single park or area from the SUN Trail 
Network, the bill specifies that components that connect to nature trails, loop trails, or other points of 
public access wholly within a single park or natural area may be included in the network. 
 
For trail projects to be constructed within the Corridor or on conservation lands or other lands subject to 
conservation easements, land management plans, or agreements, the bill requires DOT, to the greatest 
extent possible, to ensure projects are constructed using previously disturbed lands, such as 
abandoned roads and railroads, utility rights-of-way, canal corridors and drainage berms, permanent 
fire lines, and other lands having appropriate potential to serve the purposes specified by law of both 
the SUN Trail Network and the Corridor. The bill requires DOT to coordinate with other state agencies 
to ensure that appropriate recreation or public access is available for such projects.  
   
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The bill requires DOT to program projects in the work program to plan for development of the entire trail 
and to minimize the creation of gaps between trail segments. DOT must, at a minimum, ensure that 
local support exists for projects and trail segments, including the availability or dedication of local 
funding sources and of contributions by private landowners who agree to make their land, or property 
interests in such land, available for public use as a trail. 
 
The bill requires each MPO to include critical linkages or regionally significant trails or facilities for the 
SUN Trail Network in its long-range transportation plan. Additionally, the bill requires each MPO or 
board of county commissioners, as appropriate, to include in its list of work program priorities one or 
more projects that meet the requirements to receive funding priority from DOT.  
 
The bill requires DOT to create uniform signage to identify trails that are part of the SUN Trail Network, 
and, when feasible and permissible, erect signage on all such trails open to public use, regardless of 
when the trail was first opened. The bill specifies that DOT is not otherwise obligated to provide funds 
for the operation and maintenance of any trail on the SUN Trail Network.  
 
The bill authorizes DOT to enter into a sponsorship agreement with a not-for-profit entity or private 
sector business or entity for commercial sponsorship displays on multiuse trails and related facilities. 
DOT must deposit any sponsorship agreement revenues into the State Transportation Trust Fund to be 
used for maintenance, signage, and provision of amenities on the multiuse trails and related facilities. 
Local governments may also enter into sponsorship agreements and use such revenues for 
maintenance, signage, and provision of amenities on the multiuse trails and related facilities. 
Sponsorship agreements must be administered by DOT or the local government, as appropriate, and 
DOT or the local government must ensure that the sponsorship agreement complies with the signage 
requirements for bicycle and pedestrian paths. All commercial sponsorship displays are subject to the 
Beautification Act of 1965 and all federal laws and agreements. The bill specifies that this does not 
create a proprietary or compensable interest in any sign, display site, or location.  
 
Reporting Requirements 
By June 30, 2026, and every third year on June 30 thereafter, the bill requires DOT, in coordination with 
DEP, to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature summarizing the status of the SUN Trail 
Network. The report may include recommendations for any legislative revisions deemed appropriate to 
facilitate connectivity of the network. At a minimum, the report must include: 
 The total number of completed miles of nonmotorized trails on the network; 
 The total number of completed miles of nonmotorized trails on the network not adjacent to a 
roadway facility; 
 The total number of completed miles of nonmotorized trails on the network adjacent to a 
roadway facility; 
 The total number of completed miles of nonmotorized trails on the network which are within or 
between areas of the Corridor; 
 The total remaining miles of nonmotorized trails on the network which are planned for 
acquisition and construction; 
 The total expenditures, by funding source, associated with implementing the network; and 
 The total expenditures, by project phase, including preliminary and environmental planning, 
design, acquisition of right-of-way, and new construction of trail surfaces and bridges on the 
network.  
 
Additionally, the bill requires DOT to coordinate with the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing 
Corporation, local governments, or other entities who have related information to include in the report. 
 
For each existing trail on the Sun Trail Network which is open to public use, DOT’s report must provide 
nonmotorized trail operational and performance measures that include, but are not limited to:  
 The total number of trail visits; 
 The primary travel modes used on the trail;   
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 The frequency of trail usage; 
 The average duration of trail usage; 
 The distance traveled during a trail visit; 
 The average amount spent by a user during a typical trail visit; and 
 The total amount of user expenditures. 
  
SUN Trail Network Funding  
Beginning with fiscal year 2023-2024, the bill increases from $25 million to $50 million the amount of 
funding for the SUN Trail Network, which is funded from motor vehicle registration fees.  
 
The bill revises funding priorities for SUN Trail Network projects by requiring DOT to give priority to 
projects that: 
 Are recommended priorities by the Council as regionally significant trails; 
 Have national, statewide, or regional importance; 
 Are otherwise identified by the Council as a priority for critical linkage and trail connectedness 
within the FGTS; 
 Facilitate an interconnected system of trails by completing gaps between existing trails; 
 Support the transportation needs of bicyclists and pedestrians. 
 
For fiscal year 2023-2024, the bill appropriates $200 million in nonrecurring funds from the General 
Revenue Fund to DOT as fixed capital outlay to plan, design, and construct projects on the SUN Trail 
Network as provided by the bill.  
 
The bill specifies that changes made by the bill to the SUN Trail Network are not intended to delete, 
defer, delay, or otherwise revise the SUN Trail Network projects programmed in DOT’s tentative 5-year 
work program for fiscal years 2023-2024 through 2027-2028. The bill authorizes DOT to maintain such 
projects in development of the adopted work program. For the additional funding appropriated by the 
bill to the SUN Trail Network, DOT must work with MPOs, boards of county commissioners, and 
districts, where appropriate, to revise any year of the 5-year work program to identify new SUN Trail 
Network projects to be added or projects or phases thereof that may be moved up from the portion of 
the tentative work program for the following four fiscal years.  
 
II.  FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT 
 
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT: 
 
1. Revenues: 
See Fiscal Comments. 
2. Expenditures: 
See Fiscal Comments. 
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: 
 
1. Revenues: 
See Fiscal Comments. 
2. Expenditures: 
None. 
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR: 
The bill may have an indeterminate positive fiscal impact on private sector business, particularly within 
designated trail towns, associated with potentially increased visitors resulting from promotion of the 
FGTS and the SUN Trail Network.   
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D. FISCAL COMMENTS: 
The bill may have an indeterminate positive fiscal impact on DOT and local governments associated 
with the promotion of trail towns and sponsorship agreements for commercial displays on SUN Trail 
Network trails and related facilities. The bill may have an indeterminate negative fiscal impact on DOT, 
DEP, and VISIT FLORIDA associated with the reporting requirements of the bill as well as promoting 
the FGTS and the SUN Trail Network.   
 
For the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the bill appropriates $200 million in nonrecurring funds from the General 
Revenue Fund to DOT as fixed capital outlay to plan, design, and construct projects on the SUN Trail 
Network. The bill also appropriates $50 million, rather than $25 million, recurring, for use by DOT for 
the SUN Trail Network.