Pinellas Trail

Description

The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail is a rail trail in Pinellas County, Florida. It stretches from Tarpon Springs in the north to St. Petersburg in the south, passing through the towns of Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Largo, Seminole, South Pasadena, and Gulfport. It is utilized for walking, jogging, cycling, and inline skating. Some trail users are able to commute to work using the Pinellas Trail instead of a motor vehicle.The distance that the main trail currently covers 38.2mi.The Pinellas Trail was named after Fred Marquis, a former Pinellas County Administrator who served from 1979 until 2000.HistoryThe Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) and the Seaboard Air Line (SAL) railroads both served St. Petersburg and Clearwater for many years. They merged in 1967 to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL), which consolidated the existing infrastructure. After the SCL joined CSX Transportation in the 1980s, 34mi worth of trackage in Pinellas County was abandoned, which was purchased by the Florida Department of Transportation. After voter approval, the County acquired the property and began construction of the Pinellas Trail.