Collier County is taking a big step toward creating the BonitaāEstero Rail Trail, a 15āmile path that will connect parts of Collier and Lee Counties. The county has agreed to buy 24.3 acresāabout 1.5 miles of the corridorāfor $11.6 million. The trail will run from Wiggins Pass Road north to Alico Road, turning an unused rail line into a 12āfootāwide paved path for walking, biking, and other nonāmotorized travel.
The project is being developed in phases with help from The Trust for Public Land. Collier Countyās portion will move through the federal rail abandonment process before construction begins. A Board of County Commissioners update is set for April 14, and a costāsharing agreement with partners runs through June 30, 2026…