FDOT Announces More Road Projects For Northeast Florida

[thelakelander]

FDOT just announced they'll be sending more money Jacksonville's way.  In addition to the Mile Point, Outer Beltway, I-295 toll lanes, I-95 Overland Bridge and the I-95/JTB interchange projects, three more major projects are now on line:

US 301 Starke Bypass.....$90 million in 2016

SR 23 extension from I10 TO US 90......$50+ million in 2015

I95  - I295 interchange (Northside) rebuild......$150 million in 2016

Since I assume that similar announcements are being made across the state, the main question I have is where is FDOT finding all the money after crying broke a few years back? 

[tufsu1]

Lakelander is correct....these announcements have been happening all over the state....the Governor's proposed budget shows a 10% increase in transportation funding...and it comprises over 10% of the entire budget (wow!).

Here's an interesting quote from an article in the St. Pete Times

In many ways, it's an approach that's a throwback to 20th century road politics, where highway construction was viewed as a job creator and a solution to gridlock. While other states have moved to road alternatives like transit and rail, Florida's spending includes only about $400 million in direct spending on transit, or less than 5 percent. Scott is still remembered for rejecting $2.4 billion in federal dollars that would have paid for a high-speed rail link between Tampa and Orlando.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/growth/to-boost-economy-scott-wants-to-spend-more-money-on-roads-ports/1275828

[thelakelander]

Just a couple of random observations....

1. The Starke bypass will result in the decline of Starke's existing commercial business strip once all the 301 traffic is diverted. In Jax, just look at what happened to Main Street, Philips Highway, and Kings Road after the construction of I-95 and the 20th Street Expressway (MLK).  You can also see this in all the little Georgia towns with bypasses.

2. Is FDOT still to broke to fund the Mayport Ferry?

[dougskiles]

Since I assume that similar announcements are being made across the state, the main question I have is where is FDOT finding all the money after crying broke a few years back? 

An election must be around the corner.  If I read the article yesterday correctly about the JTB/I-95 flyover, these are "planned" projects, however they are not in the funded capital projects list.  (In other words, the money hasn't been found yet.)

[Ocklawaha]

The evil project on this list is definitely STARKE, this will absolutely murder one of the last vibrant small towns in the region.

[thelakelander]

Doug, the projects are funded.  It will show in the updated LRTP that will come out this fall. 

Ock, yes Starke is screwed.  However, the alternative (widening the road through town) would probably take most of the commercial corridor out anyway.  It might be time for some serious visioning efforts in that community.  With less traffic, perhaps redeveloping that corridor as a multimodal context sensitive street has some merit.

[tufsu1]

Since I assume that similar announcements are being made across the state, the main question I have is where is FDOT finding all the money after crying broke a few years back? 

An election must be around the corner.  If I read the article yesterday correctly about the JTB/I-95 flyover, these are "planned" projects, however they are not in the funded capital projects list.  (In other words, the money hasn't been found yet.)

Yep....the Governor came here to announce the JTB project because it will be funded in FY 2014.  The other 3 projects are funded in 2015 or beyond (after the next election)

[tufsu1]

Doug, the projects are funded.  It will show in the updated LRTP that will come out this fall. 

the 2040 LRTP Update won't be finished until the end of 2014....that said, all of these projects will be included in the current LRTP and 5-Year FDOT Work Program...funding comes from "cost savings" around the state on other funded projects

[Ocklawaha]

Ock, yes Starke is screwed.  However, the alternative (widening the road through town) would probably take most of the commercial corridor out anyway.  It might be time for some serious visioning efforts in that community.  With less traffic, perhaps redeveloping that corridor as a multimodal context sensitive street has some merit.

It appears that the 6-lane alternative is doable, but there appears to be a short list of buildings that are already WAY too close to the roadway. A wider road and better signal coordination might do the trick. The unbelievable part of this is the insane crap that FDOT claims will be benefits of the 'by pass FREEway'. Check this out and note the highlighted section.
Cool-Aid anyone?

Alternative Analysis
The No Project Alternative would leave U.S. 301 in downtown Starke as a five-lane undivided facility carrying a projected 49,200 vehicles per day in the year 2030; and in the rural areas south of town a four-lane divided facility carrying 39,600 vehicles per day. The existing facility does not meet the SIS design criteria with regards to access, level of service, average speed, and typical section. Nor does the current level of service meet the goals, policies, and objectives of the City of Starke Comprehensive Plan.

The No Project Alternative was considered along with other "Build" alternatives for comparison purposes, even though it does not meet the SIS criteria with regards to access control, typical section, level of service, and travel speed.

The Urban Alternative (expand existing U.S. 301 through town) is developed as a six-lane controlled access arterial roadway centered on the existing alignment of U.S. 301 for much of the project length. The alignment varies only in locations where the existing curvature will not meet design speed standards or where land use constraints require shifting of the alignment to allow for a reduction of impacts. Within the downtown area of Starke a segment of the proposed alternative would be widened to include an auxiliary lane as a continuous right-turn lane.

The Rural Alternative (Bypass) is developed as a four-lane limited access freeway facility intended to route through traffic around the more developed and congested segments of U.S. 301 including the City of Starke. A limited access facility is proposed because it will: 1) afford increased safety; 2) have a higher average travel speed; 3) have a greater lane capacity; and 4) reduce the potential of urban sprawl in the rural areas.

Yep, higher speed roads running between the city and the local 'beach' will increase safety! And everyone knows that building beltways and bypass FREEways is the prefect way to stop unsupportable sprawl.

[tufsu1]

getting the heavy trucks out of downtown would help with safety...unfortunately, many of the cars will leave too...and that will hurt the Starke commercial strip

[thelakelander]

The commercial strip is done.  I'm pretty sure properties are already being purchased for future development along the proposed bypass route.

[jax1435]

Holy cow, I'm gonna miss my favorite lunch stop , Mickey D's! I've been going there for years when visiting G-ville and I sure would hate to see it go :0

[Ocklawaha]

If they want to bypass a pain in 301, they should build it around WALDO!    Come to think of it, Waldo might hold the better answer to Starke, police the hell out of it and ticket anyone exceeding the speed limit by up to 1/2 mph. Big trucks blow through most towns along the route but when they reach the WALDO sign, you can hear the Jake-Brakes.

[tufsu1]

umm Ock...the same thing happens in Lawtey and Starke...and in the case of Starke, the speed limit on US 301 goes down to 30mph....in the other two, its never lower than 45mph....Starke is far more of a bottleneck to intercity travel than any other town on the Tampa-Jackonville route (which I drive once or twice a month).

[Ocklawaha]

Yeah I know about Lawtey, but I've personally never had any problem in Starke and I'm passing through there almost weekly to the VA Hospital in Gainesville.  I can't remember ever seeing anyone pulled over in Starke, not that they don't do it, they must be much more clandestine then the bold Waldo approach.