Ponte Vedra – South Ponte Vedra Coastal Storm Risk Management
Announcements
Preliminary Beach Trolley Concept Meeting
St. Johns County will host a community meeting to introduce a preliminary concept for a beach trolley system that could serve South Ponte Vedra Beach and Vilano Beach.
Meeting Details
When: Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Where: Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach
The meeting will provide information about the preliminary concept, answer questions, and gather community input before any decisions are made regarding potential trolley stops or whether the option will ultimately be pursued.
The same presentation will be offered at 4, 5, and 6 p.m., with each presentation followed by breakout stations where attendees can ask questions and provide feedback.
The presentation will be recorded, and a transcript of the question-and-answer sessions will be made available online for community members who are unable to attend. These materials will be published here online following the meeting.
Depending on community interest, the County may schedule additional meetings to provide further opportunities for input during this preliminary stage.
Project Overview
- This project is a 50-year federal partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
- Project extends from 2589 SPV Blvd to just south of the SPV Ocean Club (formerly Serenata Beach Club), from FDEP reference monuments R-78 to R-103.5.
- Initial construction is potentially slated for 2029, with 10-year renourishment intervals.
- Initial construction of this project would place 2.15 million cubic yards of sand along the project shoreline.
- Pre-construction Engineering and Design for this project is slated to begin November 2026.
- The project will require 251 easements for privately-owned parcels within the project limits.
- Shoreline is eligible for FCCE renourishments after large storm events at no cost to the County.
Funding
- County staff are currently exploring potential funding sources for the construction of this project. Public access plays a major role in decreasing the local share.
- The proposed Beach Trolley project would enhance public access in this section of St. Johns County’s coastline and increase federal cost-sharing responsibilities while lowering local cost-share responsibilities.
- With current conditions, the local cost share for the total 50-year project is estimated to be 69%, or $94,800,000 without a trolley system.
- If a trolley system were added to the South Ponte Vedra area, the local cost share for the total 50-year project would be reduced to 47%, or $65,500,000.
- With a trolley system, the initial local construction cost would be reduced by $14.4 million dollars.
Anticipated Timeline
Project is currently projected for kickoff in November 2026. Initial construction is projected to take place in the Summer of 2029.