GULF SHORES — The City of Gulf Shores has approved a resolution to support the Baldwin County Bicycle and Pedestrian Connectivity Plan, which aims to connect a series of trails throughout the county's municipalities for public use.

According to Andy Bauer, Gulf Shores' planning director, the Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization (ESMPO), Baldwin County Trailblazers and the 14 municipalities within the county have all partnered to create the plan.

As previously reported by Gulf Coast Media, efforts to create a countywide multimodal path originally began in 2020 but were halted by COVID-19. Plans were picked back up in 2023 when municipalities identified trails and bike/pedestrian routes currently in place and create a map of where trails would be needed.

However, the ESMPO website mentions connectivity plan concepts were unfolding as early as 2014 with goals of easing congestion on major roadways. The current Baldwin County Bicycle and Pedestrian Connectivity Plan was adopted and approved by ESMPO in April 2024.

The GCM article quotes ESMPO director Sarah Sislak saying, "It's very important to us to have the connectivity and really be able to connect the county, bring people together and allow people to use alternative forms of transportation."

The article stated the map, created by the municipalities' collaboration, could be used to guide future developments. A slide Bauer presented at the March 24 Gulf Shores Council meeting, where the resolution was approved by the city, stated how the plan would serve as a resource in receiving grants for "construction of the countywide trail network."

"Obviously, that will take a lot of time and money, but if you don't have a plan, typically, you won't accomplish connectivity like that," Bauer said. "So, this is kind of a start for that process."

According to the map of projected connectivity trails, there is a proposal for a new Rails to Trails path, multimodal path, new trails along road shoulders, off-road sidewalks, a Foley/Gulf Shores trail and a pedestrian bridge.

PROPOSED TRAILS

The Rails to Trails path is proposed to stretch from Bay Minette to Foley. The multimodal paths are sporadically set within Daphne, Loxley, Robertsdale, Summerdale and Foley. The new trails on shoulders will be in Spanish Fort, Daphne, Fairhope, Robertsdale, Gulf Shores and along Highway 90 in county property, and the new off-road sidewalks are set to be added in Loxley, Spanish Fort, Daphne, Fairhope, County Road 1 and Mary Ann Beach Road south of Fairhope city limits, Robertsdale, Silverhill, Summerdale, Magnolia Springs, Foley, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

The Foley/Gulf Shores Trail will connect those cities via the Foley Beach Express. The only pedestrian bridge on the map is in Gulf Shores, which will run parallel to the W.C. Holmes Bridge. This pedestrian bridge is currently undergoing initial construction and set for completion in winter 2026.

The map of projected connectivity can be found on the ESMPO and Baldwin County Trailblazers websites where all existing and proposed paths within the county can be viewed.

According to the Baldwin County Trailblazers website, all 14 municipalities have adopted the plan, including Bay Minette, Fairhope, Foley, Loxley, Magnolia Springs, Robertsdale, Spanish Fort, Summerdale, Daphne, Elberta, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Perdido Beach and Silverhill.

NEXT STEPS

The website reads, "(The connectivity plan) puts forth a unified vision for Baldwin County's 14 municipalities for bike-ped connectivity between the jurisdictions, guiding the future of buildout of bike-ped pathways to the best advantage of all our communities."

The ESMPO website states the plan works to promote safety and clear stigma as motorists are "often forced to travel at slower than posted speeds," causing "negative connotations" with bicyclists and pedestrians along roadways without sidewalks or paths.

"(The) Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan takes a distinctly different approach to bicycle and pedestrian planning," the website reads. "The plan focuses on promoting utilitarian cycling and walking while still accommodating recreational and leisure users."

With support from all 14 municipalities now, the organizations and municipalities can push forward with requests for grants while towns/cities begin planning or continue working on the infrastructure developments needed to complete the overall project.