Bond measures that could shape the future of the Greenway
Bond measures poised to invest in the development of greenways, trails, parks and active transportation infrastructure — including future East Coast Greenway segments — are on the 2026 midterm ballots in a number of states from Maine to Florida.
“During these divided times trails and outdoor access bring people together,” said East Coast Greenway Alliance Executive Director Dennis Markatos-Soriano. “We are hopeful that communities throughout our corridor will voice strong support for public investments in the health, environmental sustainability and economic growth that will benefit all of us for generations.”
Voters also have an opportunity to consider where candidates stand on investments in civic infrastructure, including greenways, trails and parks. Find your local polling place: vote.org
From north to south, bond measures to be decided during the Nov. 3 midterm elections include:
Massachusetts
Statewide Question 6: The Protect Water and Nature Ballot Initiative, $100 million. A new Nature for All Fund could provide as much as $100 million annually to conserve and restore land and water and improve parks, trails, greenspaces and other outdoor recreation areas, without raising taxes.
Rhode Island
Statewide Question 3: Economic and Infrastructure Development Bond Measure, $100 million. A small percentage of these bonds to fund infrastructure and economic development projects would support 80% grants to acquire outdoor recreation parcels.
Statewide Question 5: Green Economy and Clean Energy Bonds, $55 million. The bonds include state park improvements, open-space conservation and $1 million for local recreation projects.
Pennsylvania
Delaware County: Water Quality, Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitat Protection Bond, $120 million. The funds would protect drinking water sources, rivers and creeks, wildlife habitat, trees that improve air quality and wetlands that prevent flooding. It would also fund greenways, parks, and natural areas threatened by development. This bond could help fund the remaining East Coast Greenway gaps in Delaware County, including connecting the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge into Tinicum Township along the Delaware River.
Virginia
Spotsylvania County Transportation General Obligation Bond, $67.6 million. The bond would fund transportation projects, including shared-use paths, bicycle facilities — including the Tidewater Trail along the current East Coast Greenway route — and Safe Routes to School infrastructure.
North Carolina
Raleigh Transportation Bond, $101.5 million. The bond includes $40 million for adopted transportation plans, including the Big Jump Network — Raleigh’s five-year plan to build 50 miles of connected, high-comfort bike lanes to better connect schools, parks, neighborhoods and businesses. Funding also would support streets, sidewalks, bike lanes, greenways, bridges and transit infrastructure.
South Carolina
Charleston County Transportation Sales Tax: Continuation of existing 0.5% transportation sales tax expected to collect $4.25 billion over 25 years. The transportation sales tax includes $75 million in bicycle and pedestrian improvements in its $2.7 billion roadway program, plus $690 million for Greenbelt investments. The project list includes complete streets design considerations in all projects. South Carolina & Georgia Manager Jim Hemphill, who is based in Charleston, has played a key role in this initiative.
Beaufort County Transportation Sales Tax: A 1% transportation sales tax lasting nine years, funding dozens of road and safety projects countywide. Every project on the $780 million Beaufort County list will be designed using a Complete Streets approach, meaning people walking, biking and taking transit would be considered in the design of future projects. One of the priority projects is widening and construction of a shared-use pathway along South Carolina Highway 170, which is part of the East Coast Greenway and currently is in the midst of an East Coast Greenway feasibility study.
Florida
Statewide Amendment 3: Homestead Tax Exemptions, Property Assessments and Spending Restrictions Amendment. Passage would significantly reduce the amount of property tax revenue available to local governments for all services, including trails, shared-use pathways, parks and conservation.
Palm Beach County: Parks, Sports, Recreational Facilities and Botanical Gardens to Be Financed by General Obligation Bonds, $280 million. Funds would modernize aging parks and recreation facilities and botanical gardens, expand and update sports complexes, increase public beach access and trail connectivity and develop new regional parks.
St. Johns County Land Conservation Funding Referendum, $100 million. The measure would fund land acquisition, conservation and outdoor recreation access, potentially including new trails.
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