Orange Belt Trail: Update

The below correspondence was shared by Pasco County on December 20, 2023.

Pasco County Narrows Options for Orange Belt Trail

~~Trail segments to be presented to Pasco County Board in 2024~~

PASCO COUNTY, FL  ----  The Orange Belt Trail is one step closer to reality!  Pasco County’s engineering team will present final alternatives for consideration to the Pasco Board of County Commissioners (BCC) in early 2024.  The BCC will review them and discuss final options.  The alternatives, which are laid out in four locations across the county, will form the Orange Belt Trail.

Following several public workshops earlier this year, project managers considered nine alternatives for various sections of the trail, which will run 37 miles from Trinity to Trilby.  Community input paved the way for Pasco County to narrow the list to the four, final alternatives – which you can see HERE on a map:

· Alternative A             Trinity Boulevard to Old Pasco Road

· Alternative B2           Old Pasco Road to CR 579 (Prospect Road)

· Alternative C1           CR 579 (Prospect Road) to Dade City 

· Alternative C3           CR 579 (Prospect Road) to the Withlacoochee State Trail

“We’ve spent more than a year evaluating criteria for this project and how it will benefit the people of Pasco County and outdoor enthusiasts,” said Project Manager Erin Swanson.  “Costs, community support and public input were all factored into our decision.”

Pasco County also considered cultural resources, physical/natural resources, socioeconomic considerations and qualitative measures.

The four alternatives will be broken down into nine smaller segments and undergo further analysis before a final vision is presented at a BCC public hearing in the Spring.  The community will have another chance to weigh in on the plans during that public hearing, which will be listed on our Meeting Agendas webpage.

For information on the Orange Belt Trail, please visit OrangeBeltTrail.com.