A New 11.4-Mile Trail Is Taking Shape Through Bonita Springs and Estero — Here's Why It Matters to Your Property
If you own, manage, or are considering investing in real estate in Bonita Springs or Estero, there's a major infrastructure project you should have on your radar: the Bonita Estero Rail Trail, known locally as BERT. It just cleared one of its biggest hurdles, and it's worth understanding what it is, where things stand, and what it could mean for property values in the years ahead.
What Is BERT?
BERT is a planned 11.4-mile paved, multi-use trail for walking, running, and biking, built along the inactive Seminole Gulf Railway corridor. The project will preserve roughly 180 acres as a conservation greenway alongside the trail itself. Once complete, BERT will connect to the John Yarborough Trail to the north and Collier County's Paradise Coast Trail to the south — making it a key link in the larger 400-plus-mile Florida Gulf Coast Trail network, which will eventually stretch from Collier County all the way to Tampa.
The corridor runs through the heart of Bonita Springs and Estero, from Estero Parkway south to Wiggins Pass Road at the Lee/Collier county line, with a planned connection to Coconut Point, the area's primary shopping and dining destination.
Map courtesy of Friends of BERT (bonitaesterorailtrail.com)
Who's Behind It
The trail is being advanced by Friends of BERT, an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2022 that has grown to more than 4,000 members. The organization is working in partnership with the Trust for Public Land, the City of Bonita Springs, the Village of Estero, and Collier County to bring the project to life.
Photo courtesy of Friends of BERT (bonitaesterorailtrail.com)
Where Things Stand Right Now
This is a project that's moving from concept to reality, but it's important to set realistic expectations. Here's the current timeline:
The 180-acre corridor has a negotiated purchase price of $60 million, split across the three participating jurisdictions: the City of Bonita Springs ($28.6 million), the Village of Estero ($19.8 million), and Collier County ($11.6 million).
On August 18, 2026, Bonita Springs voters approved a $35 million bond referendum to fund the city's share. That approval secures the city's portion of the purchase price and clears what had been the project's last major funding hurdle. Due diligence — title research, appraisals, surveys, and environmental review — is underway now, with a target closing date for the land purchase in October 2026.
Once the land closes, the project moves into an 18- to 24-month design phase, addressing road crossings, trail width, accessibility, and amenities like pocket parks and shaded rest stops. Old rail infrastructure will be removed separately and isn't expected to hold up design work.
Rendering courtesy of Friends of BERT (bonitaesterorailtrail.com)
In short: funding is now essentially in place, and the land deal is on track to close this fall — but this is a multi-year process. Construction, and an eventual opening, are still a few years out.
Why This Matters If You Own or Manage Property Here
Photo courtesy of Friends of BERT (bonitaesterorailtrail.com)
Trails like BERT tend to have a measurable, positive effect on the neighborhoods they pass through. Nationally, proximity to well-designed multi-use trails is consistently linked to higher nearby home values, increased buyer interest, and stronger foot traffic for local businesses. For a corridor running directly through Bonita Springs and Estero — two of the most active real estate markets in Southwest Florida — that's a meaningful long-term tailwind.
There's also a safety dimension worth noting. Lee County has ranked among the more dangerous counties in the country for pedestrians and cyclists, with more than 1,200 crashes and 71 fatalities recorded in 2021–2022 alone. A car-free corridor separated from high-speed roads like US-41 directly addresses that risk, which is increasingly a factor buyers and renters weigh when choosing a neighborhood.
Perhaps most telling is the level of community buy-in this project has already earned. More than 31 HOA and community associations — representing over 25,500 homes — have formally endorsed BERT, alongside organizations like Lee Health, Arts Bonita, the Blue Zone Project, and the Bonita Springs-Estero Realtors association. That kind of broad, cross-community support significantly reduces the "will this actually get built" uncertainty that often surrounds large public infrastructure projects, and it's a signal worth sharing with clients evaluating property here.
What We're Watching
Photo courtesy of Friends of BERT (bonitaesterorailtrail.com)
As land closing approaches in October and the design phase gets underway, we'll continue to track BERT's progress and what it could mean for specific neighborhoods along the corridor. If you're weighing a purchase, considering how a property might perform as a rental, or simply want to understand how projects like this could affect your investment over the next several years, we're happy to talk it through.
Have questions about how BERT or other neighborhood improvements could affect your property value or investment plans? Reach out to the Sands RE/PM team — we're always tracking what's changing in the Bonita Springs and Estero market so you don't have to.
Thinking About Buying or Selling Near the Trail Corridor?
Projects like BERT can shift buyer demand and pricing in the neighborhoods along its path. If you're considering listing your home or looking to buy in Bonita Springs or Estero, let's talk about how this project — and the broader market — could factor into your timing and strategy.
Own a Rental Property or Considering One as an Investment?
If you own — or are evaluating — a rental property in the area, it's worth understanding how amenities like BERT could affect long-term rental demand and returns. Get a free, no-obligation rental analysis from our team.