Haley Jacobs
•7/22/2026
BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. (WINK) — Bonita Springs voters will decide next month whether to move forward with a project supporters say could reshape transportation and recreation in the city for generations.
On Aug. 18, residents will vote on whether to approve up to $35 million in general obligation bonds to purchase an inactive railroad corridor and eventually develop it into the proposed Bonita Estero Rail Trail.
If approved, the project would create an approximately 11-mile multi-use trail stretching from the Collier County line through Bonita Springs and into Estero. The trail is envisioned as a space for walking, running and biking while connecting neighborhoods, parks, schools and businesses throughout the area.
The Bonita Springs City Council voted to place the measure on the ballot rather than approving the purchase on its own.
“It’s a pricey project, and as a council, we didn’t want to just unilaterally agree to it,” Bonita Springs Mayor Mike Gibson said. “We thought the best thing to do was put it on the ballot.”
Gibson said the rail corridor represents a rare opportunity. Because the property is already set aside as a transportation corridor, supporters believe it could be preserved for public use before it is sold or redeveloped for another purpose.
If voters approve the referendum, the city would be authorized to issue up to $35 million in general obligation bonds to purchase the rail corridor. Those bonds would be repaid through property taxes over the next 30 years.
Beth Castro, chair of the BERT political committee, said supporters estimate the average homeowner would pay about $57 a year, or less than $5 a month, depending on a property’s taxable value.
Castro said the trail would create a safe place for people of all ages to walk, bike and run while also supporting local businesses by connecting residents and visitors to shops, restaurants and parks.
Neighbor Mary Vogt said she believes the trail would become a destination for the community.
“This gives you a place to go that you can ride as long as you want. You’re safe, and it’s fun, and you can stop where you want and get off. I think it’s fabulous,” Vogt said.
Julie Borden said she often sees people walking and biking along busy roadways because there aren’t many other options.
“We have tons of bike riders, and for the bike riders, walkers and runners, the roads aren’t always the best place for them to go,” Borden said.
Not everyone supports the proposal.
While WINK News was unable to find opponents willing to speak on camera, comments posted publicly on Facebook about the project show some neighbors are concerned about increased property taxes, don’t want the trail running through their neighborhoods and fear it could attract homeless people to the corridor.
Some commenters also questioned whether the city should prioritize spending on the trail over other community needs and expressed concerns about how it could affect privacy for homeowners whose properties border the corridor.
Neighbor Jesse Crum believes the long-term benefits outweigh those concerns.
“I see it more as an investment in the future,” Crum said.
If voters approve the referendum, the city could move forward with purchasing the rail corridor before entering future planning, engineering and construction phases. If the measure fails, the city would not have voter approval to issue the bonds needed to buy the property, leaving the future of the abandoned rail corridor uncertain.
Bonita Springs voters will have the final say when they head to the polls on Aug. 18.
