About the Friends of Flagler Trail
The Flagler Trail is a proposed multi-use trail that would run north-south through South Florida. Portions of the Flagler Trail may be parallel to the Florida East Coast (FEC) railway and potential sections will be on the FEC right-of-way, making it a Rail-with-Trail segment. Flagler Trail is part of The Miami Loop which will encompass a 225-mile active transportation route connecting numerous public transportation systems and community destinations throughout South Florida, including employment centers, schools, health-care facilities, parks and open space, beaches, and cultural and civic attractions in the most populous county in Florida. Approximately 54 percent of the network is already complete, and nearly 86 percent of the LOOP’s proposed corridors are publicly owned.

Research has found that trails have a real health impact in Miami. In the summer of 2017, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy completed a study that showed a positive correlation between physical activity and health cost savings on The Underline (M-Path) in Miami. Throughout Florida and other states, there have been more than 230 successful rail-with-trail projects. The Flagler Trail has the potential to connect multiple critical neighborhoods to downtown.

In addition, it will:

-Increase safety for non-motorized travel
-Improve economic opportunities
-Improve health, equity, and inclusion for the surrounding area

Friends of Flagler Trail is supported by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and will support the development of the Flagler Trail. The Miami-Dade County Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) is currently working on a feasibility study for the Flagler Trail to determine potential trail corridors. Even with the increased interest in implementing a Flagler Trail, there has been very little focus on advocacy and building support from the surrounding communities and residents. 133,517 people live within a ¼ mile of FEC corridor but there are only 8.6 miles of existing bike lanes in the area. The impact of the Flagler Trail could be significant, and if implemented with a community focus, it could improve the health and wellbeing of nearby residents. It is critical that the communities along the corridor know the importance and impacts of a Flagler Trail and that the Flagler Trail is incorporated into future improvements to the area as the inevitable development and rail improvements occur. UHP is working on building support and advocacy for the Friends of Flagler Trail.

Barks, C., Kapp, A., & Rails to Trails Conservancy. (2018, January 12). Bright Horizons: Florida’s Miami LOOP. Retrieved July 2, 2018, from https://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/2018/january/12/bright-horizons-florida-s-miami-loop/

Brief History
-September 1895, Henry Flagler’s system was incorporated as the Florida East Coast Railway Company (FEC)
-FEC reached Miami on April 15, 1896
-After the 1920’s, rail service began to decline
-Summer of 2012, FEC announces passenger rail service from Miami to Orlando
-Brightline started service to Miami in the Summer of 2018

Vision of Friends of Flagler Trail
To advocate for the creation of a dedicated bicycling and walking path (the Flagler Trail) along or parallel to the Florida East Coast (FEC) corridor to increase access to safe active transportation and build healthier, more connected communities in Southeast Florida.

This will be accomplished by:
-Raising awareness
-Building support
-Involving surrounding communities
-Building partnerships
-Participating in trail planning and design

Structure of Friends of Flagler Trail
Friends of Flagler Trail will function in the short-term as an initiative within Urban Health Partnerships, a Florida non-profit. As support for the trail is built and leaders are identified, development of a Steering Committee will be considered. Further growth of the Friends group would aim for the development of an independent organization with its respective Board of Directors.

Resources
Trail Building Toolbox
How Rail-to-Trail Cycling Projects Are Proving Their Worth
Rail Trails That Helped Build The Movement
Successful Trails