Pasco County is conducting a Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Study and Trail Segmentation Plan for the Orange Belt Trail (OBT).

The OBT is a proposed regional multiuse trail spanning approximately 37 miles through Pasco County. The Orange Belt Trail will provide regional connectivity and enhance the existing and planned regional trail network by providing key connections to the Coast-to-Coast Trail, Starkey Trail, Suncoast Trail, and Withlacoochee Trail.

In addition, the OBT will link communities such as Trinity, Odessa, Land O’Lakes, Wesley Chapel, and Dade City to help fuel economic transformation along the trail corridor. The trail is proposed to be a 12- to 14-foot-wide paved multi-use trail that will generally follow the path of the Orange Belt Railway.

The OBT is envisioned to be off the roadway, where feasible, and follow natural features to the greatest extent possible. It will be open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic and may even include equestrian accommodations in certain areas. 

Orange Belt Trail Planning Meetings Planned for April 17 & 18

One of the county’s goals for this project is to include Pasco County residents and potential trail users in the design of this trail from the beginning of the study. To promote community involvement, the county held two public workshops in December to hear from residents directly.

Both workshops consisted of the same information, so residents only needed to attend one. The workshops were in an open house format and informal. However, there was a short presentation about the project each night. For those who couldn’t attend at that time, the presentation and display materials can be accessed by clicking here.

Pasco County Engineering Services team is holding its second workshop to go over suggestions from the first meeting. This is a chance to see the latest plans for the trail – and to speak with leadership overseeing the project. 

Monday, April 17 – 5:30-7:30 pm
Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’Lakes Blvd, Land O’ Lakes, FL 34639

Tuesday, April 18 – 5:30-7:30 pm
Pasco County Historic Courthouse, 37918 Meridian Avenue, Dade City, FL 33525