Adding to its allure as an outdoor recreation haven, Cape Coral recently unveiled Phase I of a Shared-Use Non-motorized (SUN) Trail Program for locals and tourists to enjoy year-round. Designed by VHB and funded by a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation SUN Trail program, the Kismet Trail portion of the SUN Trail is part of a statewide network of high priority paved multi-use trail corridors for pedestrians and cyclists to use while being physically separated from vehicular traffic. With the trail abutting the City’s famous canals, the project required an integrated team of VHB transportation designers, planners, and water resource professionals to deliver a final product that balances sustainability and safety with aesthetics.
The Kismet Trail portion includes the City's first pedestrian bridge over the Zanzibar Canal and runs 3.4 miles along various parkways. Given the trail’s proximity to the coast and extreme weather event concerns, the design also includes a closed drainage network conceived by Q Grady Minor & Associates to manage stormwater drainage. The project team collaborated closely with state and local agencies and developed a Community Awareness Plan to keep stakeholders informed and gather feedback throughout the project. Services provided included right-of-way surveys, environmental surveys, trail design, drainage and structural design, and construction administration.
The second phase of the project, set to begin in 2025, will extend the SUN Trail by 2.9 miles and add two pedestrian bridges to provide additional safe, sustainable transportation options for the fast-growing community of Cape Coral.
