Pinellas Trail

Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail
Section of the Pinellas Trail
Length	38.2 mi (61.5 km)
Location	Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Trailheads	Tarpon Springs, Florida St. Petersburg, Florida
Use	Cycling, Walking, Hiking, Jogging, Inline Skating
Hiking details
Trail difficulty	Easy to Moderate
Season	Year round
Hazards	Crime

The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail is a rail trail in Pinellas County, Florida. It stretches from Tarpon Springs in the north to St. Petersburg in the south, passing through the towns of Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Largo, Seminole, South Pasadena, and Gulfport. It is utilized for walking, jogging, cycling, and inline skating. Some trail users are able to commute to work using the Pinellas Trail instead of a motor vehicle.

The distance that the main trail currently covers 38.2 miles (61.5 km).

The Pinellas Trail was named after Fred Marquis, a former Pinellas County Administrator who served from 1979 until 2000.

The Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) and the Seaboard Air Line (SAL) railroads both served St. Petersburg and Clearwater for many years. They merged in 1967 to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL), which consolidated the existing infrastructure. After the SCL joined CSX Transportation in the 1980s, 34 miles (55 km) worth of trackage in Pinellas County was abandoned, which was purchased by the Florida Department of Transportation. After voter approval, the County acquired the property and began construction of the Pinellas Trail.

The first 5 miles (8.0 km) opened in December 1990, linking John S. Taylor Park in Largo to Seminole City Park in Seminole. With the passage of the first Penny for Pinellas one-cent local option sales tax, plans were made to construct additional segments along the former railroad corridor.