Board approves North Lake Trail PD&E recommended alignment; US Forest Service limits spur access to Alexander Springs

Lake County commissioners on Aug. 26 concurred with staff and consultant recommendations and approved the preferred PD&E alternative for Phase 3 of the North Lake Trail, a paved multi‑use trail that will connect State Road 19 to State Road 40 and integrate with larger regional trail systems.

The PD&E study, prepared under Federal Highway Administration and FDOT NEPA procedures (FDOT–FHWA memorandum of agreement dated May 26, 2022), evaluated multiple alignments, environmental and cultural resource impacts, and public input gathered across three public workshops. Beth Beam of Stantec summarized the analysis and said the recommendation “minimizes impacts to cultural, natural, and physical resources” and maximizes connections to other state and regional trails.

Key decisions and constraints
- Preferred alignment: The board approved Build Alternative 3, which routes the trail largely within available right of way along SR 19 and County Road 445/445A to SR 40, with paved trail widths from 12 to 14 feet depending on alignment and curb/ditch conditions. Motorized vehicles will not be permitted on the paved trail.
- Alexander Springs spur excluded: Public commenters and advocacy groups had strongly supported a spur to Alexander Springs via County Road 445/445A, but Stantec said the spur would require substantial additional mitigation because it crosses wetlands, sensitive habitat and areas of documented cultural resources. The consultant also said the U.S. Forest Service, which manages most of the area inside the Ocala National Forest, has restricted direct pedestrian/bicycle access to Alexander Springs in ways that made the spur infeasible for this project scope.

Regional context and next steps
Project supporters framed the trail as part of a network: the North Lake Trail Phase 3 will link to the River To Sea (St. Johns River–to–Sea) Loop and the Heart of Florida Loop, enhancing long‑distance trail connectivity across Central Florida and improving local recreation and nonmotorized transportation access. Consultant and advocates noted that the approved alignment still provides a north–south connection and avoids congressionally designated wilderness areas.

Zane Teters, mayor of Astatula, asked that funds previously budgeted for a land purchase be reallocated to capital improvements to existing Astatula parks after an earlier land purchase plan failed; staff agreed to include Astatula park improvements among eligible CRA or parks‑plan uses of funds.

Board action
After the public presentation and limited public comment, a commissioner moved to approve the recommended PD&E alignment; the motion carried following a standard voice vote.

Ending
Adoption of the PD&E recommendation clears a critical technical step and makes the project eligible for state and federal funding programs requiring NEPA/PD&E compliance. The project still requires design, right‑of‑way agreements in some segments and construction funding; staff said future steps will include final design and grant or match funding pursuit.