MOUNT DORA, Fla. — The city of Mount Dora’s years long plan to build a hiking and biking trail along old train tracks is changing.

What You Need To Know

  • The city of Mount Dora says it plans to build the Wekiva trail along an alternative route

  • CSX who owns the railroad right of way said it’s no longer selling it, so the city is moving to plan B

  • Lawyers believe CSX will ultimately sell the line for a rail-trail conversion

CSX who owns the railroad right of way said it’s no longer selling it. Still, the city plans to build the Wekiva trail along an alternative route.

Locals said they hope it’s able to come together.

“I would hope they move forward in a progressive way because I just think it has a very positive impact for the area,” said Matthew Pictrowski who lives in Tavares. “The deterioration of the rails as it stands now, is nothing to look at, so I personally think it’s an improvement.”

Pictrowski has lived in Tavares for five years. He thinks a trail will help the local economy and open up a wide range of interest to communities the trail may pass through.

“I’m a huge advocate of it because I think it’d be a boom for Tavares, Mount Dora and the general area,” said Pictrowski.

Robert Sindler uses the trails in Orange, Seminole and Volusia county. He said he likes the fact the possibility of a trail is still open for the city.

“This is such a beautiful city, and if you could bike more easily down here, that would be a huge plus for the residents,” said Sindler. “A huge plus for the businesses in Mount Dora.”

Lindsay Brinton, an attorney at Lewis Rice took part in a meeting Monday night with homeowners who were expecting to be impacted by the original plan.

She believes CSX will ultimately sell the line for a rail-trail conversion.

“And be paid as you know upwards of 18 or even more million dollars,” she said. “It may be that CSX is trying to negotiate for a higher price, but I ultimately do think CSX will want to sell this right of way, it has no use for it, it’s in disrepair.”

Spectrum News 13 asked CSX why it doesn’t plan on selling it to the city and what the future plan is.

In a statement, a spokesperson said: “CSX operations in Central Florida are essential to the national supply chain network. The company reserves the right to reevaluate and retain the property for its core business functions.”

If the railroad right of way is ultimately converted into a trail, lawyers said landowners will be able to a claim for compensation paid by the federal government.

The county had money dedicated to buy the right of way, but when leaders found out CSX was not interested in selling it, they allocated the funds elsewhere.

As for future trail plans, Mount Dora officials said those are still in the planning stages.