JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As city council, the mayor, and JTA prepare to dig into how the local option gas tax could be reworked to shore up the agency’s finances, funding for the Emerald Trail is emerging as a key flashpoint.
The Emerald Trail promises to connect 14 historic neighborhoods to downtown and link schools, hospitals, parks and businesses.
But well before most of the trail’s 11 segments have even broken ground, the financial turmoil at JTA has some city leaders questioning whether to move forward.
City Council President Nick Howland (R-Group 3 At-Large) is planning to convene a select committee in October to look into how JTA’s eight-cent share of the 12-cent local option gas tax could be reworked to stabilize JTA’s operating budget.
“Reprioritizing them. Seeing where we can optimize financial options for Jacksonville residents and get JTA back on the right foot,” said Howland.
The Emerald Trail is one of more than a dozen projects funded by JTA’s share of the local option gas tax.
Howland said he sees segments 4, 6, 7 and 8 as potential cost savings opportunities.
“Making sure we value engineer it and making sure we only deliver an Emerald Trail where we need it,” said Howland.
Kay Ehas is CEO of Groundwork Jacksonville, the nonprofit behind the Emerald Trail.
She argued the trail is worth the investment.
“We know that trail systems throughout the country have created huge economic returns on investment,” said Ehas. ”Developers like The Union Terminal Warehouse, Phoenix Art District have already invested millions in adaptive reuse projects because of the Emerald Trail.”
And she noted the segments garnering the most skepticism from council members run through some of Jacksonville’s most neglected neighborhoods like Durkeeville, New Town, Brentwood and the Eastside.
“They’ve been redlined neighborhoods for decades. What kind of message is that sending? That we’re continuing to do what we’ve always done is make them promises that we then don’t follow through on,” said Ehas.
But Howland argued that with JTA facing a nearly $40 million budget deficit, hard decisions have to be made.
“What we need, Jake, is an Emerald Trail, not a trail lined with emeralds,” said Howland.
Mayor Donna Deegan has made it clear she stands behind the Emerald Trail, saying it “must be protected”.
While Howland may be planning for council to look into how to rework the gas tax, Deegan’s office noted, “Any interlocal agreement changes must be negotiated with the administration”.
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