Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Rails To Trails topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Trust for Public Land urges local match to buy rail corridor linking High Springs and Newberry
Summary
Trust for Public Land told High Springs and county officials it holds a purchase option on a 13‑mile CSX corridor and asked for local matching funds and letters of support to help secure acquisition and federal/state grants; the joint boards voted to direct staff to explore local match options.
Trust for Public Land (TPL) representatives told the joint High Springs‑Alachua County meeting they have a renewed opportunity to acquire a 13‑mile rail corridor and convey it to a public owner to create a rails‑to‑trails connection between High Springs and Newberry.
“We have the railroad under contract, to purchase,” TPL said, describing a two‑year option period and completed title work. The speaker said the group has not yet completed appraisals or environmental due diligence because financing remains uncertain, and warned that acquisition costs will rise over time if the corridor is not secured now.
TPL described the corridor as a 13‑mile link that could be built into a multiuse trail, estimated conservative construction costs of roughly $1.5–$2 million per mile for straightforward segments and up to $4 million per mile in complex, water‑crossing areas, and said the state would be the trail sponsor if the land is conveyed.
Local officials discussed potential uses of city 'wild spaces' funds and county matching dollars as part of a funding package that could be combined with philanthropic donations and state appropriations. The joint meeting recorded a motion directing city and county staff to coordinate with TPL and evaluate whether local wild‑spaces / parkland money could be used as a match and to pursue letters of support; the motion passed unanimously.
Why it matters: Acquiring the corridor could open a new recreational and economic connection between High Springs and neighboring towns, increase downtown foot traffic and qualify the project for implementation grants once the land is publicly owned. TPL cautioned the acquisition timeline is short and emphasized that local match improves the feasibility of state and federal funding.
