MTGA Trails Toolkit

In 2000, the Pinellas County MPO commissioned Renaissance Planning Group of Orlando to conduct a study of the community impacts associated with the Pinellas Trail, a 34-mile converted railroad in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area of Florida. The MPO was planning extensions of the trail and connections to it from other communities, and had encountered opposition from homeowner groups and others about potentially negative impacts on property values, noise and crime. The study was intended to evaluate economic impacts in terms of residential property values, business investment, and crime statistics, and included a household survey of residents living within 1/4 mile of the trail.

Through Green Infrastructure (trails and greenways) we; enrich habitat and biodiversity, maintain natural landscape processes, clean the air and water, reduce the cost of traditional “grey infrastructure” and community services, increase recreational and transportation opportunities, improve health, provide
connection to nature and sense of place and we enhance economic vitality!