Trust for Public Land Partners with Lake County, Cities of Tavares and Mount Dora to Officially Pursue Wekiva Transportation & Infrastructure Corridor
Trust for Public Land, Lake County, the City of Tavares, and Mount Dora are proud to announce a major milestone for the Wekiva Transportation & Infrastructure Corridor, also known as the Wekiva Corridor.
Trust for Public Land has secured a two-year contract agreement with CSX Transportation to acquire the 11-mile corridor which will provide a multimodal transportation pathway through the heart of Lake County, connecting Tavares, Mount Dora, and Sorrento and pass three employment centers and four community redevelopment areas that are key for the economic growth of these communities.
The corridor will also provide critical opportunities for infrastructure improvements.
“The Wekiva Corridor will not only connect communities, but it will also create new opportunities for safer transportation, support local economies, and strengthen tourism across the region,” said Melissa Hill, Senior Project Manager for Trust for Public Land. “TPL is proud to partner with Lake County, the City of Tavares, and Mount Dora to work to bring this critical infrastructure to life.”
This new extension will also link to an existing multimodal transportation network to form a 26-mile continuous route that will create a safe, high-quality pathway that connects residents and visitors to nature, to one another, and to new economic opportunities. The Wekiva Corridor, once fully completed, will connect to the regional network to the east via the Seminole Wekiva Trail/Orange County West Orange Trail and to the west via the Tav-Lee trail.
“Lake County has long been known for its lakes, trails, and outdoor recreation,” said Lake County Commissioner Campione. “Expanding this trail network builds on that legacy by linking our communities to each other and to the natural spaces and hometown businesses that define our county. The Wekiva Corridor is an investment in both our future mobility and our outdoor way of life.”
“Tavares has enjoyed this partnership and looks forward to its continued participation with the implementation phase of this signature project,” said Lori Pfister, Mayor of Tavares.
The City of Mount Dora is proud to partner with the Trust for Public Land and our regional partners to advance the Wekiva Corridor project,” said Vince Sandersfeld, City Manager, City of Mount Dora. “This milestone represents a significant step toward preserving critical natural resources, expanding recreational opportunities, and enhancing quality of life for our residents and the broader community. We look forward to continuing this important work together.”
Investing in great multimodal transportation corridors can improve health (physical and mental) via exercise and time spent outdoors, and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists in America’s cities and suburbs. This project also serves as an important infrastructure and utility corridor for water, wastewater infrastructure, fiber optics, underground electricity, and internet.
The anticipated $27 million to acquire the corridor is being pursued through city and county funds and grants, with a current application into the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program and the State’s Florida Communities Trust grant.
About Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, in Florida alone, TPL has protected more than 185,000 acres of public land created more than 470 parks, trails, and iconic outdoor places. Nationally, TPL has raised $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands and connected nearly 10 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.
