Aaron Bean, John Rutherford secure $147M from Joe Biden administration for Jacksonville’s Emerald Trail

Emerald Trail via Groundwork jax
Serious federal funding comes to Jacksonville courtesy of Pete Buttigieg's Department of Transportation.

The two Republican members of Congress representing Duval County are showing the power and profit of teamwork, as they have secured funding from the Democratic White House for a key Jacksonville initiative.

U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean’s office notes that Jacksonville “will receive $147,089,058 in federal funding for its downtown revitalization project, the Emerald Trail.

“The project will construct 30 miles of trails, greenways, and parks to connect downtown Jacksonville to local businesses, schools, and transit. The completed project will revitalize the neighborhood strengthening tourism and entrepreneurial opportunities,” Bean’s office claims.

The network of bicycle and pedestrian trails will connect Downtown to 14 historic neighborhoods, 18 schools, two colleges and nearly 30 parks, notes DTJax.com, in writing about the City Council’s conceptual approval of the plan five years ago.

Bean and U.S. Rep. John Rutherford teamed up on the funding request, writing Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in support of the Jacksonville Transportation Agency’s Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhood Access bid for Emerald Trail funds.

JTA was brought into the project by a memorandum of understanding forged by the Donna Deegan administration, as the Resident News reported contemporaneously, overseeing design and construction for future work on the trail. Now it seems they’ve brought home the funds to do just that, money that will match stand-alone appropriations and $132 million in funds from the local option gas tax.

“I’m excited to have worked with Congressman Rutherford to help secure over $147 million in direct grant funding to support the City of Jacksonville and Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s master plan to transform 14 historic neighborhoods and downtown into the Emerald Trail,” said Bean.

“From trails to greenways to parks, it’s critical that our transportation networks have the infrastructure to keep Floridians safe while they walk, bike, and drive. I’m glad to support the Emerald Trail project with financial resources that will jumpstart the work and bring us closer to this nature trail becoming a reality.”

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. He writes for the New York Post and National Review also, with previous work in the American Conservative and Washington Times and a 15+ year run as a columnist in Folio Weekly. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


13 comments

  • telling the truth

    March 11, 2024 at 9:31 pm

    the trail will. not be safe for people to enjoy, especially women… to many black neighborhoods it will be in

    • thelakelander

      March 11, 2024 at 10:36 pm

      Then stay home and leave it for the rest of us to enjoy.

    • Men In The Woods

      March 12, 2024 at 12:22 am

      It’s men sleeping in tents 100yards off trail that is the risk; they fight and do drug and drink and live wild. Try the St Augustine Rails To Trails for a real haunted house experience.

    • Kamron

      March 12, 2024 at 5:40 pm

      I’m a woman who already uses the S Line by myself and have always been fine. Thanks for your uninformed/ignorant input.

    • Valearia Wilson

      March 12, 2024 at 9:22 pm

      So, thereis no lawbreakers in non-black neighborhoods. Hmm!!!!

  • 43 states charge income tax; they are ALL wrong?!?!

    March 12, 2024 at 12:20 am

    Thank you President Biden!

    BIDENOMICS!

    If you peninsula of grifters only charged 2% income tax you wouldn’t need to come hat in hand for a park bikeway.

    Turn your eyes to the ground in shame.

  • Phil Morton

    March 12, 2024 at 6:59 am

    Bean and Rutherford will take credit, they usually do, for something that would have never happened without the Deegan Administration.

    • Not Deegan

      March 12, 2024 at 7:13 am

      Emerald trail long predates Deegan. But Deegan’s administration always happy to pat itself on the back for others’ accomplishments while blaming everyone else for their failures like a bunch of sad prom queens.

      • MH/Duuuval

        March 12, 2024 at 10:19 pm

        Just as Dee short-changed Duval, the Ds have lent a hand. Give the local MAGAs credit for taking the money and running, unlike Dee who has turned down a billion in federal assistance, not including Medicaid expansion.

  • Nope

    March 12, 2024 at 7:08 am

    Totally inappropriate from Feds. And tone deaf to the critical needs of their district. But hey they might want to set this money aside for the homeless encampments and corresponding prison guards they’ll need to reinforce it. Goof old G00P big money spend on stupid sh1+ while denying basic dignity and services to citizens.
    This should not be federal money, period. It is not even for something like critical interstate infrastructure or maritime security or trade or environmental. It’s just a crap local project that will go to the dogs within 2 years after completion with trash and excrement. Jax can’t even manage its waste removal contracts or maintain its roadways or landscaping, roads crumbling, known broken drainage issues that cause neighborhoods to flood every normal storm, KNOWN issues. But they want this along with their NFL 20th century billionaire welfare. Honestly I really hate these people. I don’t care what party you represent. If you’re a Duval /NE FL politician, you’re a bunch of boiled potatoes and grifters.

  • Publius

    March 12, 2024 at 7:49 am

    Bean and Rutherford both voted against President Biden’s infrastructure bill, but then turn around and claim credit for the projects it pays for. Sorry, you clowns — we’re on to you.

    • MH/Duuuval

      March 12, 2024 at 10:22 pm

      This is SOP for MAGAmites.

  • Julia

    March 12, 2024 at 8:56 am

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Comments are closed.


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