Jacksonville, Fl — A $147 million grant for Jacksonville’s Emerald Trail has been scrapped in the just-signed ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’. A joint statement by JTA and Groundwork Jacksonville says they remain committed to the completion of this transformative project. WOKV reported in March 2024 when the city received the grant for the 30-mile network of walking and biking paths connecting several communities. The trail will connect to more than 20 schools, 16 parks, three colleges, three hospitals and the Regional Transportation Center as well as provide opportunity for new and existing small businesses to thrive.
“We have partial funding from both public and private sources to continue work on two of the five remaining trail segments, segments 3 and 4. We will seek additional funding sources to complete all five segments, roughly 15 miles of trail. This includes reapplying under federal grants that align with the vast economic development impact that this project provides”.
The original project completion date, under this grant, was 2031. It is unclear right now if this decision will extend the project’s completion timeline.
Mayor Donna Deegan’s office sent this statement:
“We were grateful to have received this historic level of funding for Jacksonville from the Biden Administration. It’s unfortunate that the project’s full value was not understood by the Trump Administration and current Congress, but we are not deterred. The Emerald Trail continues to have widespread and bipartisan support. It will have significant small business impacts for our community and that will be the story that gets told as we reapply for federal grants through an economic development lens.”.
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THREE BIG THINGS TO KNOW:
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FIRST ALERT WEATHER: Hot and humid with and isolated storm. Today will be hot with highs in the lower to mid 90s across our entire area. The morning hours will be mainly dry with isolated afternoon thunderstorms moving southwest to northeast across north Florida late this afternoon. Storms developing after 4 pm and will be capable of heavy rain and lightning. Moderate risk of rip currents at the beaches today. Heat continues this week with highs each day into the 90s and a daily chance for some afternoon thunderstorms. Feels like temperatures will be 100+.
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