Panama City commission accepts $405,000 FDOT ‘Rails with Trails’ planning grant for Bayline corridor

The Panama City Commission voted 5-0 on May 13 to accept a $405,000 state-funded grant managed by the Florida Department of Transportation to plan a “Rails with Trails” multi-use trail along the Bayline Railroad corridor.

Staff said the grant will fund planning work for a multi-use trail and associated items along Genesee & Wyoming (Bayline) from Hathaway Boulevard to segments that include Michigan Avenue and State Road 77 (MLK Boulevard), with work divided into three planning phases. The city will provide the required local match from infrastructure surtax funds.

The commission adopted Resolution 20250513.2 and a companion budget amendment by unanimous vote. Public-works staff said the grant will bring the corridor design to approximately 30% for the three phases identified and that the city will coordinate with partner institutions and neighborhoods as planning proceeds.

Ending: Staff said designs developed under the grant will support future construction grant applications and enable better multimodal connections to colleges, schools, parks and downtown destinations.

sections:{"lede":"The Panama City Commission voted 5-0 on May 13 to accept a $405,000 FDOT-managed planning grant to design a multi-use “Rails with Trails” corridor along the Bayline railroad.","nut_graf":"The grant covers planning for three phases of a trail route that would link key destinations including FSU, Gulf Coast State College and downtown; the city will provide a local match from infrastructure surtax funds and proceed to 30% design under the grant.","ending":"Staff said the planning work will position the city for future construction funding and improve multimodal connections across the city."}