Welcoming in "Texas-Style" Frontage Roads

[Jdog]

Now that there's movement on the (IMO unnecessary) First Coast Outer Beltway, is anybody welcoming the idea that "Texas-Style" frontage roads might wind up running 1/3 the length of the highway?  I haven't studied this much, and haven't seen much discussion around regarding this but, personally, I think this sucks.



http://www.tollroadsnews.com/node/5476   

[Trainman]

The frontage roads are neccessary from Old Jennings Rd to Plantation Oaks Blvd to provide outlets for the many subdivisions (mine included) and houses along that stretch. Many of my neighbors and I don't plan to ever pay a dime of toll. By using the frontage roads, most will take Blanding via Old Jennings and some will use Plantation Oaks to Argylle Forest Blvd. From there I plan on taking the new Collins Rd extension to 295. It'll be a cold day in Hades before I use the SR23 toll portion.

[thelakelander]

The frontage roads would basically be modern versions of what already exists on MLK Parkway and Arlington Expressway.  I don't blame any resident out there using the frontage roads to avoid paying a daily toll on something that should never be built.

[jandar]

Like Train says, without the frontage roads, many residents couldn't even leave their driveway, let alone their neighborhoods.

Hell, most of us that live out here would avoid the toll road unless going to I-10. I typically go Blanding right now to I295, although this might change with the Collins Rd ramps, and if so, would avoid the toll road like Trainman would.

[Dapperdan]

I wonder how much of  a light rail system we could build for 1.8 billion? There is never any money for light rail, but there are no issues for this?

[Doctor_K]

I wonder how much of  a light rail system we could build for 1.8 billion? There is never any money for light rail, but there are no issues for this?

+1

[fsujax]

Well, if we use the US average (excluding Seattle's system) we are looking at about $35 million a mile. So we could get about 51-miles of light rail. enough to connect the airport to dt to the beach to OP and maybe the Avenues.

[Jdog]

I'm just thinking through this, so I understand frontage roads out of necessity -- limited access highway outlets as described in some of the comments (maybe the arch-typical example of a necessity is when an existing non-limited access road is being upgraded to a limited access highway). 

You all are travel veterans / road warriors so I'm sure you know my fear: that awful looking Texas phenomenon of highway next to frontage roads next to huge parking lots next to big box and other commercial establishments. 
In parts of Texas I swear the frontage roads are the main streets (highways being the medians).   

[thelakelander]

^That's the type of economic development proponents of the Outer Beltway are hoping for.