Sav Morn News: Milestone reached in Tide to Town Train in GA's Mother City
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LOCAL
Savannah cuts the ribbon on latest phase of Tide to Town network
Evan LasseterSavannah Morning News
July 7, 2026, 5:05 a.m. ET
- A new section of Savannah's Truman Linear Trail has officially opened, creating 7 miles of continuous trail.
- The completed trail segment includes a protected bike lane on the 52nd Street bridge, improving safety for commuters.
- This trail is part of the larger Tide to Town network, which aims to connect over 60 neighborhoods across Savannah.
For years Savannah’s John Bennett made the “terrifying” trek across the 52nd Street bridge over Truman Parkway on his bike to work at Savannah State University.
Along the winding road to the bridge the shoulders were narrow. It wasn’t a pleasant experience, said Bennett, an assistant professor of public administration at SSU.
Bennett’s once-intimidating bike commute is now a safer ride thanks to a newly completed protected bike lane on the bridge, a key link in the Truman Linear Trail Phase 2B of Savannah’s Tide to Town network. The city cut the ribbon on that portion of the trail Monday morning officially opening the now 7 miles of continuous trail from near Daffin Park to Lake Mayer.
“It’s really about connections,” Bennett said. “There’s a tremendous recreational appeal, but this part of the trail really adds to that activity piece and shows people this is transportational as well.”
Past coverage: Savannah's Tide to Town trail nears completion, but concerns remain
Bennett added that transportation aspect was always part of the vision, having been a part of initial advocacy of the trail’s early phases as co-founder and second executive director of the Savannah Bicycle Campaign (now Bike Walk Savannah).
Completion of the Truman Linear Park Trail marks a milestone in the city’s efforts to develop an over 30-mile core loop across each district of Savannah. Tide to Town’s full scope aims to connect over 60 neighborhoods, 30 schools and three hospitals via its off-road, shared-use paths and protected bike lanes across the city.
The city is moving towards developing amenities and wayfinding in areas where the trail infrastructure is complete. City Manager Jay Melder said some amenities being explored by the city are bike repair stations and water stations.
Melder also said potential wayfinding could include signage to trail entrances, parks along the path and other trail segments in the network.
“Those are going to be the pieces that come as we are laying down the infrastructure and making decisions about where the trails are going to be able to connect,” Melder said.
The groundbreaking: Next phase of Tide to Town breaks ground, will connect trails from Daffin Park to Lake Mayer
New portions of trail are also in the works.
There is currently a phase in design along Middleground Road from Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong Campus to Montgomery Cross Road. Other phases are in planning stages, including a “Heritage Trail” on Savannah’s west side connecting the Canal District to downtown Savannah, and another along Montgomery Cross Road from Lake Mayer to Abercorn Street.
For many, the proof of concept is already on the Truman Trail where bikers, runners and walkers have been aplenty even before Phase 2b’s ribbon cutting. Multiple of the roughly 100 attendees at Monday’s event arrived via bicycle.
Among them was Bennett, who has also been using the trail for his work commute. With Phase 2b in place, it’s like a match made in heaven.
“If you were trying to design a trail to get me from home to campus, this would pretty much be it,” he said.
Evan Lasseter is the City of Savannah and Chatham County government reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at ELas...@savannahnow.com.