JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The City of Jacksonville, Groundwork Jacksonville, and Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) hosted a press conference to give more details about the $147 million federal grant awarded for the Emerald Trail.
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Getting the grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation wasn’t easy as 682 cities applied and 132 were selected. Jacksonville received the sixth-highest grant amount.
Local option gas tax dollars will be used to provide a match of $36.65 million approved by the city council.
Kay Ehas is the CEO of Groundwork Jacksonville, the team behind the Emerald Trail project. Five years ago, the city council adopted the master plan for the trail. Ehas said the new funding is a major victory for her and the team.
“Our goals with these plans are that residents will be the architects of their neighborhood revitalization providing a guide for public and private investment in housing and economic development to prevent displacement and increase prosperity for long-term residents,” Ehas said.
Watch the full press conference by clicking the play button below
In 2023, Ehas, Nathaniel Ford, the CEO of Jacksonville Transportation Authority and Mayor Donna Deegan traveled to Washington D.C. to lobby for the grant.
“This historic grant affirms that the officials at the highest level of government believe in this project they believe in the City of Jacksonville, its leadership, its future and our ability to deliver major projects,” Ford said.
The funding will help accelerate the completion of the Emerald Trail impacting five segments:
- Segment 3 will connect Riverside to McCoys Creek
- Segment 6 will connect North Riverside, Woodstock and Robinson Addition
- Segment 7 will connect Northwest Durkeeville, College Gardens, and New Town
- Segment 8 will connect Phoenix, the Eastside, and Springfield
- Segment 4 is the S-line connector
The trail has been extended, south of the Pheonix building and down to Main Street.
The S-Line will be one block from the Phoenix district. The project was being funded by private donors and under the local option gas tax over a 30-year period, but now its completion will be expedited with the new grant.
Officials said 40% of the project is complete, under construction or is being designed.
Mayor Donna Deegan said the grant will help restore broken promises made to taxpayers decades ago. She said infrastructure, health and economic development are part of her initiative as mayor.
Happening now: We are celebrating a historic win for our City as @MayorDeegan, @JTAFLA, @GroundworkJax, and City Council are hosting a news conference on the $147 million grant that the U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded Jacksonville for the Emerald Trail. pic.twitter.com/JoMtEmkgGi
— City of Jacksonville (@CityofJax) March 19, 2024
“One of the biggest goals of this grant is reconnecting neighborhoods that were cut off by transportation infrastructure decisions implemented decades ago,” Deegan said. “Schools, jobs, medical offices, places of worship, they’ll soon be more accessible for those neighborhoods that have been left behind.”
Deegan also talked about the economic development opportunities that the Emerald Trail will bring.
“Small business owners will open coffee shops, restaurants, bike stores, and more,” Deegan said. “Affordable housing will be built nearby. Those investments will build up surrounding neighborhoods in ways that help them grow while preserving their character [and] history.”
Officials said 1500 direct and indirect jobs will be created from developing the Emerald Trail.
Click here to learn more about the Emerald Trail.