Glynn Avenue Link Trail Overview and PIOH Comment Responses
Project Overview
The City of Brunswick is leading the proposed Glynn Avenue Link Trail project in partnership with Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Funding through the federal Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) enables local governments to pursue non-traditional transportation-related activities such as pedestrian facilities, bicycle facilities, and pedestrian streetscaping projects. TAP improves the quality of life for citizens in communities across the state by providing local governments the means to pursue projects that might not otherwise be possible. TAP was initially authorized by the Federal Transportation Funding Act, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), and is currently authorized by the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
The City has been committed to implementing a multi-purpose trail connecting the Sidney Lanier Bridge to the F.J. Torras Causeway for many years. With three phases of the project completed so far, 1.96 miles of the needed 2.5-mile path are constructed. The remaining phase—this Glynn Avenue Link Trail—is the most challenging segment due to the required elevated boardwalk over marshland. With this project implemented, bicyclists and pedestrians would have a direct connection from the F.J. Torras Causeway to Downtown Brunswick. The trail would welcome both local users and the increasing visits from tourists who appreciate the natural and cultural resources in the Brunswick area.
Open House
The City hosted a Public Information Open House (PIOH) on August 11, 2022, 5-7 PM in cooperation with GDOT. A total of 27 persons attended the meeting, with 4 comment cards submitted during the meeting, 4 additional ones submitted via the mobile survey option, 3 provided via email, and one mailed to the City. Of the 12 total comments to date the support level included 5 in favor, 4 against, 2 conditional and 1 uncommitted. Public outreach prior to the PIOH included sharing promotional materials to the local library, neighborhood planning assemblies, and sharing notices and welcome videos from local officials on social media. The topical comments and the City’s response are shared below:
Support for project for its connectivity and increased opportunities for health outdoor recreation,
The proposed Glynn Avenue Link trail has been identified in local and regional transportation plans as a needed improvement for more than 20 years, particularly as a critical link of the proposed Georgia East Coast Greenway.
Reminder to consider public health notices about seafood in any public access for fishing areas
The Georgia Department of Public Health, Coastal Health District, shares news about community health on its website: https://coastalhealthdistrict.org/?s=seafood
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division (CRD), conducts regular water sampling at Glynn County beaches to monitor contaminants such as elevated bacteria. When levels exceed thresholds for community health standards (as set by US Environmental Protection Agency) CRD works with local health officials to issue advisories depending on the water quality results. The advisories are issued through Glynn County Health Department for activities such as swimming, fishing, and consumption of local seafood. During the time of the PIOH, local advisory was in effect; it has since been cancelled after bacteria levels dropped below the threshold for all activities to resume. The City, County, and CRD will continue this cooperation to issue advisory alerts where appropriate including fishing activities near the proposed bridge and its associated viewing areas.
Concern about or opposition to the project based on several factors:
- The project cost should be spent instead on simply improving sidewalks on the west side or on budget needs such as speed bumps, police force, and other local services.
- The project lacks connections across US 17 to serve adjacent neighborhoods.
- The project does not serve City residents because of its lack of connectivity with other local sidewalk facilities or safe crossings of US 17.
- The project would have severe ecological effects.
As a recipient of FHWA’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), the Glynn Avenue Link Trail project has secured state and federal funding designated for projects that encourage pedestrian and bicycle activity including recreational trails. While the local match includes funding from Glynn County’s 2022 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) program, the amount represents less than 10% of the City’s SPLOST proceeds. The majority of local SPLOST funds are designated for other local priorities including policy and fire support, sidewalk improvements, park facilities, and technology upgrades. The FHWA grant enables this missing link of the East Coast Greenway to proceed while applying funds to these other needed local services and projects.
As a major state and federal highway, US 17 does have limited options for designated pedestrian crossings or bike route connections. Safety at intersections and enhanced pedestrian connectivity would be the responsibility of future projects led by GDOT. However, the purpose of this project is more of its linear connection—the critical link for pedestrians and bicyclists to have continuous recreational route from Sidney Lanier Bridge onto the FJ Torras Causeway, thus extending onto St. Simons Island. The facilities will be a recreational benefit to residents throughout the City and its designated transportation network, as a fully accessible trail based on meeting requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
By definition, the Glynn Avenue Link Trail is intended to be located along the marsh side instead of improving sidewalks on the west side of US 17. Rather than having severe ecological effects, the project is being coordinated closely with CRD to assure marshland impacts are minimized by elevating the trail as a structure instead of adding fill into the marsh for a sidewalk. Opportunities are being included to support CRD’s water quality goals in the area and to add viewing stations to encourage users to learn more about the local ecosystem.
