Jacksonville's costliest road redo isn't over - it's coming

[thelakelander]

^I was selected by Brad Thoburn to be a board member but meetings were open to the public and advertised as such.  We actually had pretty good turnouts at all of our Southside meetings.  Our group meetings were held on evenings or Saturdays so more people could attend. 

[deathstar]

Call me old fashioned, but for some reason, these changes to the roadways, downtown, etc.. are changes I guess I saw coming when I reached my 40's, not my 30's. What's to be expected when that time comes is even scarier with this damn town anymore.

[cline]

To be fair, the public did come out and suggest a rail based plan (Scenario D) as their top choice for the 2035 LRTP.  The municipalities didn't want to alter their comp plans, so that one was rejected.  The public also participated heavily in the city's visioning plan process a year ago.  I was a part of the Southeast Vision Plan committee and we specifically developed a vision plan that recommended commuter rail on the FEC to help revitalize the Philips Highway corridor.  Instead, we're being force feed BRT.  

I think public participation is as good as its going to get.  Imo, it's only going to get worse if the public feels their desires are being ignored over and over again.  At some point, we've got to listen to the public for a change to build up comradery and trust.

Meh.  Completely disagree with you. Not so much as to the things which the public suggested and supported at the meetings mentioned, but the manner of how things are being conducted.

This whole process is being conducted in the stone age.  If I remember correctly you were invited to participate by the organization for the Southeast Vision Plan committee.  The rest of the public which would be vitally affected had no clue it was going on.

The reason that the public keeps getting disappointed is because the instruments of public policy is so disconnected from what the public really wants.  Open up the communication and you will get meaningful support from the public instead of just a few horse trading politicians.

Being able to participate and not get fired from your job for missing work is not too much to ask on a public project of the magnitude contemplated by the MPO, for example.

Not being aware that there was even a meeting?  well...thats just ridiculous.

Perhaps you should bring your issues with the local elected officials.  After all, they are the ones that make up the TPO board and make the final decisions.  Doug Conkey (Clay County commissioner) is Chairman Michael Corrigan is Vice Chair, you could start with them.

[fsujax]

http://www.i95overlandbridge.com/i95overland/

[duvaldude08]

Tidbits is not being forced to move...according to the article in the paper, they will choose to move if the project is actually done as proposed....and the other 34 property owners are being notified that their property may be impacted.

That said folks...go to the meeting tomorrow....I think you'll hear this is far from a done deal...and I highly doubt construction will be starting within 2 years.

thats for clearling that up. I was told by my coworker who was reading the article. So I was able to read to retain the information for myself. lol

[fsujax]

I wonder where they will relocate to? further into San Marco?

[Ocklawaha]

Repairing it is one thing--making it bigger is WRONG!  That's how we lost Brooklyn.  That's what hurt Annie Lytle.  They do not need to expand 95.  I fervently believe that with 295 and 9A and B, they should downsize 95 through the City.  The money needs to go into mass transit. 

The top illustration is what JTA is promoting with BRT, and the lower illustration is what MJ is promoting with RAIL. The JTA model will work fine close in, but become unreasonably expensive as it moves out into 874.3 sq miles of Jacksonville, not to mention surrounding "regional service" cities. While the MJ model should not be followed for the close in historic core, it should work with an economy of not only operating expenses but also in Vehicles. Elimination of duplicate miles (in and out of downtown) effectively doubles the headways of buses circulating in the community. For this reason, I'd suggest this plan is a good one.

While I agree in principal, in this case I believe not necessarily expansion but major change is badly needed. The bridge if not brought down by FDOT will come down by itself so there is really no discussion on rebuilding the road there.

I have attended meetings and planning sessions and continuously suggested this as an opportunity to make the FREEway more user friendly. Service roads will provide a long lost opportunity for commercial development along some of the best located land in the city. An FULL interchange at Atlantic and Philips will give much better access to and from the South and East which should be a major boon to San Marco and the struggling INACCESSIBLE Hilton. The FREEway portion of the project is pretty much the same only at ground level.

Buying the right-of-way for the expanded service road will also give us a direct express route for BRT or STREETCAR between Southbank and Saint Nicholas.



OCKLAWAHA

[thelakelander]

^At what point does "community" come into play?  I agree that incorporating an interchange at Philips and Atlantic would be a positive for traffic flow.  However, I'm not so sure that Atlantic "inside of San Marco" needs to be as wide as seven lanes across, forcing a row of buildings to be demolished in the process.  That's overkill.  There, we should be looking at reconfiguring the street to better fit with the urban pedestrian friendly context surrounding it.  Do this right and it could be a good example of FDOT can achieve with proper planning.  Screw it up and its just a repeat the failed transportation planning techniques that forced I-95 through the Northside.

[north miami]

For example, I post frequently here on the subject of transit, planning, and transportation and yet the TPO is an enigma to me.  It shouldnt be.

I'm sure the TPO and other agencies could do more to involve the public....but the public has to meet them at least part of the way.

the TPO provided significant public comment and involvement opportunities as part of the 2035 LRTP, including articles and posts on this site....workshops were held all over the metro arae in the evening...attendance was good at some meetings/forums, poor at olthers...at some point citizens need to step up and make their voices heard, regardless of the venue.

Indeed.

Proactive.

In many instances there can be opportunity for citizen legal action in addressing proposed action,but only via proactive involvement,including garnering 'standing".

Responding to a newspaer article is way late in the game.

On a similar vein, for instance the Florida Wildlife Federation has established a Northeast Florida office in order to acommodate leg work,monitor and engagement.There is also a Southwest Florida Federation office which has won wide applause and "wins" for community service and prudent growth management initiatives-thanks to continuous,on the ground proactive involvement.

[Ocklawaha]

^At what point does "community" come into play?  I agree that incorporating an interchange at Philips and Atlantic would be a positive for traffic flow.  However, I'm not so sure that Atlantic "inside of San Marco" needs to be as wide as seven lanes across, forcing a row of buildings to be demolished in the process.  That's overkill.  There, we should be looking at reconfiguring the street to better fit with the urban pedestrian friendly context surrounding it.  Do this right and it could be a good example of FDOT can achieve with proper planning.  Screw it up and its just a repeat the failed transportation planning techniques that forced I-95 through the Northside.

Lake, I was addressing ONLY the FREEway and service roads + the interchanges themselves.


OCKLAWAHA

[southshore]

I live in the affected area. Surprisingly FDOT has engaged my neighborhood and surrounding areas several times over the past year on the plans for this project. They appear to have listened to input from the previous workshops as I see several of the suggestions included in the revised plan. Personally I am all for it, if the folks losing their property are paid a fair value for the ROW aquisitions.

[Singejoufflue]

I saw today that Tidbits had posted a notice to customers RE: planned I-95 construction.  In a nutshell, they said they are already looking for a new location. =(

[tufsu1]

I went to meeting tonight (along with 150 other people)....Tidbits was mentioned during public commet period....FDOT understands the concerns and is working on some options to mitigate impacts.