Table of Contents Section Page 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................... 1-1 1.1 Study Process ...................................................................................1-1 1.2 Data Collection ..................................................................................1-2 1.3 Public Involvement ............................................................................1-2 1.4 Design Standards..............................................................................1-4 1.5 Trail Prioritization/Ranking.................................................................1-4 1.6 Trail Implementation..........................................................................1-9 1.7 Supporting Trails ...............................................................................1-12 1.8 Summary of Recommendations ........................................................1-12 2.0 INTRODUCTION........................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Relationship to Comprehensive Plan.................................................2-1 2.2 Trails Master Plan Goals and Objectives...........................................2-3 3.0 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT............................................................... 3-1 3.1 Lake-Sumter MPO Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee................3-1 3.2 Public Meetings .................................................................................3-1 3.2.1 Agency Kickoff Meeting ..........................................................3-1 3.2.2 Design Charrette.....................................................................3-2 3.2.3 Financial Plan Meeting............................................................3-4 3.2.4 Public Workshops ...................................................................3-4 4.0 DESIGN STANDARDS.................................................................. 4-1 4.1 Shared-Use Trail Types.....................................................................4-1 4.2 Trail Settings .....................................................................................4-3 4.3 References ........................................................................................4-5 4.4 Geometric Design Criteria .................................................................4-5 4.5 Typical Sections ................................................................................4-7 4.6 Intersection Concepts and Signal Analysis........................................4-12 4.6.1 Case I – Mid-Block Crossing...................................................4-12 4.6.2 Case II – Side-Street Crossing ...............................................4-12 4.6.3 Case III – Driveway Crossing..................................................4-12 4.6.4 Signal Analysis .......................................................................4-12 4.6.5 Pedestrian Refuges ................................................................4-13 4.6.6 Assigning Right-of-Way ..........................................................4-13 4.7 Trail Signs .........................................................................................4-13 4.7.1 Warning Signs ........................................................................4-13 4.7.2 Guide Signs and Wayfinding...................................................4-14 4.8 Trail Overpasses/Underpasses .........................................................4-14 4.8.1 Location ..................................................................................4-14 4.8.2 Trail Overpass/Underpass Locations......................................4-15 4.8.3 Trail Overpass Superstructure Types .....................................4-17 4.8.4 Trail Underpass Types............................................................4-17 4.9 Trailheads and Trailstops ..................................................................4-18 Table of Contents Section Page 4.9.1 Trailheads...............................................................................4-18 4.9.2 Trailstops and Rest Areas.......................................................4-18 4.10 Aesthetic Design Standards ..............................................................4-24 4.10.1 Wayfinding..............................................................................4-24 4.10.2 Railings, Fences, and Barriers................................................4-24 4.10.3 Plant Material..........................................................................4-24 4.11 Equestrian Considerations ................................................................4-27 4.12 Trail User Security and Safety Considerations ..................................4-29 4.12.1 9-1-1 Systems.........................................................................4-29 4.12.2 Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design..................4-30 4.13 Other Engineering Issues ..................................................................4-31 4.13.1 Contamination.........................................................................4-31 4.13.2 Permitting................................................................................4-31 5.0 TRAIL DEVELOPMENT ................................................................ 5-1 5.1 Data Collection ..................................................................................5-1 5.1.1 Existing Trails .........................................................................5-1 5.1.2 Destinations............................................................................5-1 5.2 Evaluate Existing Trails .....................................................................5-5 5.3 Determine Needs...............................................................................5-5 5.3.1 Future Needs..........................................................................5-5 5.4 Identifying Future Trails .....................................................................5-7 5.5 Trail Prioritization...............................................................................5-7 5.6 Refining Trail Location and Design....................................................5-13 5.6.1 Trail Types..............................................................................5-13 5.6.2 Trail Status..............................................................................5-13 6.0 TRAIL IMPLEMENTATION............................................................ 6-1 6.1 Trail Manager ....................................................................................6-2 6.2 Right-of-Way Acquisition ...................................................................6-2 6.2.1 Right-of-Way Acquisition Strategies .......................................6-5 6.3 Construction Implementation Strategies............................................6-5 6.4 Implementation Phases .....................................................................6-5 6.5 Funding .............................................................................................6-7 6.5.1 Funding Sources.....................................................................6-7 6.5.2 Funding Goals ........................................................................6-8 6.6 Trail Costs .........................................................................................6-20 6.6.1 Study Costs ............................................................................6-20 6.6.2 Design Costs ..........................................................................6-20 6.6.3 Construction Costs .................................................................6-20 6.7 Action Items.......................................................................................6-21 7.0 TRAILS ........................................................................................ 7-1 7.1 Regional Shared-Use Trails ..............................................................7-1 7.1.1 South Lake Trail......................................................................7-3 7.1.2 Gardenia Trail (Leesburg to Lady Lake) .................................7-11 7.1.3 Tav-Lee Trail...........................................................................7-16 7.1.4 Leesburg-Wildwood Trail........................................................7-23 7.1.5 Lake Denham Trail (Leesburg to Renaissance Trails)............7-29 7.1.6 West Lake Trail (Renaissance Trails to South Lake Trail) ......7-32 7.1.7 Sugar Loaf Mountain Trail (South Lake Trail to Tav-Lee Trail) .................................................................................7-33 7.1.8 Lake-Wekiva Trail (Mount Dora to Seminole-Wekiva Trail) ....7-38 7.1.9 Tav-Dora Trail.........................................................................7-44 7.1.10 South Lake to Citrus Ridge.....................................................7-48 7.1.11 North Lake Trail Phase I (Tavares to Eustis) ..........................7-51 7.2 Trail Planning Concepts ....................................................................7-55 7.2.1 North Lake Trail Phase II and III (Eustis to SR 40) .................7-55 7.2.2 Black Bear Scenic Trail (SR 40) .............................................7-57 7.2.3 General James A. Van Fleet State Trail (Van Fleet Trail).......7-58 7.3 Minor Shared-Use Trails....................................................................7-59 7.3.1 Lake Apopka Loop Trail..........................................................7-59 7.3.2 Green Swamp Connector Trail ...............................................7-59