Estimated Jobs Created: Emerald Trail was not included in the economic impact study, but the jobs created from the project will be reported on.
Planning
Status
The Emerald Trail is a 30-mile bicycle/pedestrian trail and linear park system that will connect 14 historic neighborhoods and downtown Jacksonville to local and regional trails, parks, schools, businesses, transit and other destinations. The nonprofit Groundwork Jacksonville, in partnership with the City of Jacksonville and JTA, is developing the trail network.
In October 2023 the City of Jacksonville, Groundwork Jacksonville, and the JTA announced the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the future design and development of the Emerald Trail. An MOU is an agreement that formalizes general requirements and confirms common goals and intentions. The JTA will design and develop five trail segments of the Emerald Trail — Segment 3, Segment 4, Segment 6, Segment 7, and Segment 8.
The first Emerald Trail segment planned as part of MobilityWorks 2.0 is the 2.3-mile Southwest Connector (Segment 3). The Southwest Connector provides neighborhood connections to Brooklyn, Five Points, and Riverside. The trail segment begins at the Artist Walk under I-95 at College Street and is proposed as a greenway connection through Riverside Park. Design is expected to begin in 2024, with construction starting in 2026.
The Emerald Trail project was included in FY 24 procurement.