Alachua County is proud to announce that it will receive $13.1 million from the state of Florida to help complete the final connection of the Archer Braid Trail.
Thanks to this grant, the soon-to-be-completed trail will stretch nearly 10 miles long and
run from Southwest 91st Street to UF Health Shands Hospital.
The 1.67-mile Kanapaha addition – from Veteran’s Memorial Park to Celebration Pointe – will connect the two previously completed portions of the trail. It also offers a connection to the Archer Road Corridor, which extends an extra 6 miles into the city of Archer.
“This is a big deal,” said County Commission Chair Mary Alford. “It means so much to be able to sign the paperwork to secure this critical funding that will allow people to access this great trail both for recreation and to commute from southwest Alachua County to the UF campus more safely.”
View the Archer Braid Trail map.
The latest state funding comes in the form of a $10.67 million SUN Trail grant from the Florida Department of Transportation and a $2.5 million legislative appropriation and will enhance local and regional connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists in the region.
The Archer Braid Trail has been categorized as a priority trail by the Florida Greenways and Trails Council and is part of the county’s Bicycle Master Plan and Comprehensive Plan. It contributes to a network of 97 miles of interconnection SUN trail projects throughout Alachua County, which include Newberry and Hawthorne.
“We are so excited to complete this project for our residents in Alachua County,” said Alison Moss, the county’s transportation planning manager. “We believe this project will be transformative, providing opportunities for sustainable transportation and recreation, spurring economic development and educational opportunities, all the while enhancing equity and quality of life throughout the county.”
For more information, contact Alachua County Transportation Manager Alison Moss at 352-491-4574 or amoss@alachuacounty.us.
