(1) The Legislature finds that increasing demands continue to be placed on the state’s transportation system by a growing economy, continued population growth, and increasing tourism. The Legislature also finds that significant challenges to providing additional capacity to the conventional transportation system exist and will require enhanced accommodation of alternative travel modes to meet the needs of residents and visitors. The Legislature further finds that improving bicyclist and pedestrian safety for both residents and visitors remains a high priority. Therefore, the Legislature declares that the development of a nonmotorized trail network will increase mobility and recreational alternatives for Florida’s residents and visitors, enhance economic prosperity, enrich quality of life, enhance safety, and reflect responsible environmental stewardship. To that end, it is the intent of the Legislature that the department make use of its expertise in efficiently providing transportation projects to develop the Florida Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network, consisting of a statewide network of nonmotorized trails which allows nonmotorized vehicles and pedestrians to access a variety of origins and destinations with limited exposure to motorized vehicles.

(2) The Florida Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network is created as a component of the Florida Greenways and Trails System established in chapter 260. The statewide network consists of multiuse trails or shared-use paths physically separated from motor vehicle traffic and constructed with asphalt, concrete, or another hard surface which, by virtue of design, location, extent of connectivity or potential connectivity, and allowable uses, provides nonmotorized transportation opportunities for bicyclists and pedestrians statewide between and within a wide range of points of origin and destinations, including, but not limited to, communities, conservation areas, state parks, beaches, and other natural or cultural attractions for a variety of trip purposes, including work, school, shopping, and other personal business, as well as social, recreational, and personal fitness purposes.

(3) Network components do not include sidewalks, nature trails, loop trails wholly within a single park or natural area, or on-road facilities, such as bicycle lanes or routes other than:

(a) On-road facilities that are no longer than one-half mile connecting two or more nonmotorized trails, if the provision of non-road facilities is infeasible and if such on-road facilities are signed and marked for nonmotorized use; or

(b) On-road components of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail.

(4) The planning, development, operation, and maintenance of the Florida Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network is declared to be a public purpose, and the department, together with other agencies of this state and all counties, municipalities, and special districts of this state, may spend public funds for such purposes and accept gifts and grants of funds, property, or property rights from public or private sources to be used for such purposes.

(5) The department shall include the Florida Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network in its work program developed pursuant to s. 339.135. For purposes of funding and maintaining projects within the network, the department shall allocate in its program and resource plan a minimum of $25 million annually, beginning in the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

(6) The department may enter into a memorandum of agreement with a local government or other agency of the state to transfer maintenance responsibilities of an individual network component. The department may contract with a not-for-profit entity or private sector business or entity to provide maintenance services on an individual network component.

(7) The department may adopt rules to aid in the development and maintenance of components of the network.

History.—s. 2, ch. 2015-228.