Gulf Trail Revised

The Gulf Trail Advisory Committee met December 10 to reconsider plans for a sidewalk along Gulf Boulevard and Hodges Avenue. At a previous meeting the advisory committee had assured homeowners along the route that the trail would be a five foot wide sidewalk two feet from the street pavement. However, the professional engineers who are designing the trail were not informed of the reduction from an eight foot wide bike path to the compromise. The engineers returned to Cedar Key with a proposed five foot sidewalk separated from the street by a ten foot wide grassy strip.

Two homeowners reminded the committee of the committee`s earlier commitment. The engineers said that state regulations required a greater separation from the street, and that they could be legally liable for injuries if state regulations were not followed in their design. One of the engineers made a lengthy presentation of how Bushnell, Florida had beautified itself with grant money from the state. Kevin Hipe, an audience member and participant in the homeowners` earlier reaction to a bike trail, pointed out that Cedar Key and Bushnell are quite different communities. He said that with the view that greets visitor at the Number Four Bridge we don`t need the kinds of things Bushnell installed. Jeff Dwyer mentioned that the Community Redevelopment plan includes putting in fire water mains along the sidewalk route and that logically that construction should be done first.

Committee member Bill Delaino moved and Ada Lang seconded a motion to recommend to the City Commission a five foot sidewalk with a five foot grass strip along the east side of Gulf Boulevard, the south side of Hodges Avenue and the east side of Museum Drive. Where the sidewalk passes over marshland a boardwalk will be constructed. Committee member Jay Myers suggested that the eighty-four homeowners along the route be notified of the revised recommendation by letter before the next committee meeting. The motion passed and the advisory committee set its next meeting for consideration of the route for January 7 at 4:00 PM.

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