FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) - Southwest Florida counties are uniting behind creating a bicycle trail stretching from Clearwater to Naples.
Transportation planners from seven Gulf Coast counties have formed an alliance supporting efforts to create the 300-mile Gulf Coast Trail.
Currently, it is a network of existing paved segments with numerous gaps to fill.
The Florida Greenways & Trails Foundation says when a trail is 150 miles or longer, it becomes a national and international destination, pumping up the overnight stays and economic benefits.
The News-Press in Fort Myers reports that statewide bicycle trails got a big breakthrough in 2015 when the Legislature started making $25 million annually available to help connect various trails.
The money comes from a portion of the fees drivers pay for new motor vehicle license tags.
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Information from: The (Fort Myers, Fla.) News-Press, http://www.news-press.com
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