Is Jacksonville Dangerous By Design?

[Kay]

one easy way to solve that problem is to restrict right turns on red...and for that matter, left turns on red on one way streets...while I love them as a driver, they are awful for pedestrians...at minimum, they should not be legal downtown

Man, I couldn't agree more.  Take Park and Post for example, you've got cars continuously turning right and the left hand turns.  It is practically impossible to walk across that intersection.  I think allowing right turns on red was a major mistake and encouraged impatient driving.

[sheclown]

-- a memorial on Main and 18th St.

[Dashing Dan]

Thank you Dashing Dan, for telling me about the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. I was there and it seems like a great group of people with useful insights. I was also pleasantly surprised to see none other than Don Redman in attendance. I'm glad to see someone in city council take up such a cause. And if he won't help us utilize the Shipyards, then at least he's involved in another very important component relating to our quality of life here in JAX. Hats off to Redman for choosing this cause!

Next BPAC meeting is coming up - this Thursday July 7 at 5:30 pm in Jacksonville City Hall - Lynwood Roberts Room. 

At around 6:30 pm we will adjourn to a nearby drinking and/or dining establishment - any suggestions?

[tufsu1]

Zodiac

[thelakelander]

Maybe I'll try to stop by.  Our transportation transition team meeting should end around 6ish.

[Dashing Dan]

Maybe I'll try to stop by.  Our transportation transition team meeting should end around 6ish.

The first item on the agenda will be the mobility plan, so if you are already familiar with that item, then it won't hurt at all for you to arrive a little late.   

The end of the agenda will include presentations on:

* pedestrian and bicycle aspects of the Overland Bridge project, and
* connecting the existing bike lanes on Hendricks and Riverside Avenues, via the Acosta Bridge.

[thelakelander]

^Sounds good.  Regarding the Hendricks & Riverside Avenue connection, has there been any thought to coordinating bike lanes as a part of JTA's BRT project?  There is certainly enough ROW along Riverplace Blvd. and even Broad & Jefferson in their preliminary engineering plans.  That project alone, could provide the connection between State/Union, Riverside Avenue and Hendricks.  Tie it in with their north BRT corridor and you'll connect with Shands, the new VA Clinic, FSCJ, S-Line bike trail, 8th Street, Springfield, New Springfield and Brentwood.  However, unless things have changed, they aren't putting them in.

[Dashing Dan]

My understanding is that this will be more of a short term project, i.e. mainly done with paint and signs.

[thelakelander]

Which project?  JTA's DT BRT (Hendricks-to-State & Union) is already funded and is/was estimated to begin construction later this year, with a completion date of 2012.  If that timeline is still accurate, it may make sense to coordinate permanent bike safety and connectivity improvements into the JTA project.   This is one project that definitely needs a complete streets approach.  However, we have nothing on the books at the moment to direct JTA in that way.  Btw, other than Jefferson Street, we could probably save millions with a paint & sign approach to JTA's DT BRT plan as well.

[Dashing Dan]

By "project" I'm only referring to the item that will discussed at the BPAC meeting today.  It's not a project in the sense that anyone has programmed it or even seen it yet.

[thelakelander]

Ok.  I was just wondering the timeline for project implementation.  If JTA's BRT project breaks ground this year, a paint and signage program could be a waste, if not properly coordinated.  I don't think anyone wants that to happen.  Btw, has there been any discussion with JTA about how their project will address cyclist and pedestrians?

[Dashing Dan]

Based on the map that you posted, coordination with FDOT, the city and JTA would be a logical next step.  FDOT and city reps will be at the BPAC meeting today, so that will give us a nice head start.

[Dashing Dan]

Another great BPAC meeting last night.  Thanks to all who attended - it was a big crowd. 

The meeting began at 5:30 and adjourned at 7 p.m.

There were some good ideas about interfacing bike lanes with the BRT on Riverplace Blvd.

More details later.

[Dashing Dan]

City of Jacksonville
Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee
AGENDA â€" 5:30PM, July 7, 2011
Actions Taken

City Hall at St James, 117 West Duval Street, Lynwood Roberts Room

“The mission of the City of Jacksonville BPAC is to promote bicycling and walking, to advocate for bicyclist and pedestrian rights, and to improve bicycling and pedestrian safety throughout Jacksonville, through education, advocacy and community.”


1.   Greetings and Introductions.
The meeting began on time at 5:30 p.m.  All present introduced themselves.

2.   Context Sensitive Design Policy â€" Laurie Kattreh
The chair requested that the report that was presented be posted for review by BPAC members, and that BPAC members be given an opportunity to submit comments.  A limited number of printed copies were made available to meeting participants.

3.   Letter to Mayor Brown â€" James Reed/Linda Bremer
After comments were made on the draft that was distributed at the meeting, the chair announced that prior to the next BPAC meeting; Linda, Steve Tocknell and Chris LeDew would meet to consider revisions to the letter.

4.   Acosta Bridge Updateâ€" Chris LeDew
Chris presented a sketch plan for bike travel between San Marco and Riverside via the Acosta Bridge.  Issues involving the JTA BRT project were discussed, particularly in relation to Riverplace Blvd.

5.   SORBA update â€" Troy Mayhew
Troy gave a status update on existing and planned facilities for off road cycling at Hanna Park, “Beach and Peach”, Tillie Fowler Park, and “somewhere out in west Jacksonville.”

6.   Critical Mass. â€" Kirk Tsonos
Kirk distributed an announcement of monthly “critical mass” rides.  Riders are encouraged to wear helmets and follow applicable traffic regulations.  Routes are selected for high visibility.  Participation is growing.

7.   Old Business
i.   Cyclist’s and Pedestrian’s “Bill of Rights” as BPAC Policy â€" Bert Shaw/Valerie Feinberg
The Bicyclists Bill of Rights was adopted as BPAC policy, with Randal Bold voting “nay” and all others present either abstaining or voting “aye.” Action on the Pedestrian Bill of Rights was deferred to the next BPAC meeting. 

ii.   Previous Motion â€" Solicitation of TPO involvement (Acosta Bridge). 
See Acosta Bridge update above.

iii.   Previous Motion â€" Proposed DOT Operatio and Use Feasibility Study (Acosta Bridge â€" Chris LeDew).
See Acosta Bridge update above.

iv.   Previous Motion â€" FDOT Presentation for Land Bridge improvements (I-95 â€" Chris LeDew).
Chris reported that this project will not add any new impediments to pedestrian or bicycle circulation beneath I-95. 
Chris will research and report back to the BPAC on two items:
1-How will Maintenance of Traffic provide for bicyclists and pedestrians?
2-How much traffic will be diverted to surface streets by the elimination of the traffic weave from Main Street to I-95 South?

v.   Mobility Plan - http://www3.coj.net/Departments/Planning-and-Development/Community-Planning-Division/Mobility-Plan.aspx

vi.   Bike/Ped Page - http://www3.coj.net/Departments/Planning-and-Development/Community-Planning-Division/Transportation-Planning/Bicycle-and-Pedestrian-Planning.aspx

8.   New Business.
Roger Porzig distributed copies of aerials showing I-295 near Blanding Blvd and Collins Road, and noted locations where pedestrian travel is limited by the existing configuration of intersections and sidewalks.  Traffic signal concerns were also discussed.  Chris Ledew will research the Collins Road project and report back to the BPAC with his findings.

9.   Public Comment and Adjournment.
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.  Several individuals stayed afterwards to discuss issues one on one with each other.

[Charles Hunter]

Did anyone attend the JCCI lunch meeting today about bicycle/pedestrian issues?