Jacksonville officials open first part of Emerald Trail

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville city officials cut the ribbon Monday on the first completed stretch of the Emerald Trail.

The $184 million project spanning more than 30 miles of trail will connect 14 neighborhoods when completed.

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The LaVilla link of the trail that opened Monday connects Brooklyn to the S-Line rail trail through the historic LaVilla neighborhood.

A U.S. Department of Transportation neighborhood access and equity grant will cover $147 million of the project. The city will match up to $37 million.

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However, back in 2021, the City Council approved raising the local gas option gas tax by 6 cents, which would have generated $132 million for the Emerald Trail. The money will still be used to cover the $37 million local match.

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Jacksonville City Council President Ron Salem said the federal grant will help the city finish the Emerald Trail by 2030.

“I’m very proud of the City Council. When the gas tax was debated a few years ago, we allotted $132 million toward the Emerald Trail through our actions, and that $132 million was very useful, as the JTA, the mayor and other people went up to Washington to get more money if they could show them the investment locally that we had already made. That enabled them to get that,” Salem said.

Emerald Trail ribbon cutting today

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