The planned bike trail linking St. Petersburg to Titusville was included in the budget passed last week by the Florida Legislature. The $50 million paved trail, coined the Coast to Coast Connector, will entail building 72 miles of new bike paths to connect the 200 miles of paths that already exist.
Florida lawmakers are banking that this investment will translate into dollars for the state.
The Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation provided an analysis to the Legislature that predicted a potential $120 million annual economic benefit to the state through additional consumer spending on such items as bike rentals and snacks.
“This project is a wonderful way to promote exercise and provide pleasant passage from town to town,” said Teresa Williams, CEO and broker of Prospera Realty in Tampa. “Projects, such as these, increase property values for Floridians.”