$7.7 million to widen Kernan?

[thelakelander]

Is this segment right?  Unless I'm missing something, Kernan (already four lanes) between UNF and Butler seems to flow pretty well, when viewed in comparison with some of the city's truly congested corridors.  So is this about the segment between Atlantic and Monument?  If not, that's $7.7 million that could be better used plugging some other underfunded hole in our budget.

The council also agreed to authorize an additional $7.7 million in spending to widen Kernan Boulevard from two lanes to six between the University of North Florida and Butler Boulevard.   That money won't be needed in 2014, but Councilman Richard Clark said it's important to get the roadwork, which was envisioned in the 2000 Better Jacksonville Plan, in the pipeline.

"The voters expect to see it finished," Clark said, stressing it would have "zero dollar effect on this year's budget."

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-09-25/story/jacksonville-council-leaves-tax-rate-air-recesses-early-wednesday-until#ixzz2fuCskrIc

[fieldafm]

So is this about the segment between Atlantic and Monument?

I believe he must be misquoted b/c Kernan between Atlantic and Monument has been waiting on money for road widening for years.

[PeeJayEss]

So is this about the segment between Atlantic and Monument?

I believe he must be misquoted b/c Kernan between Atlantic and Monument has been waiting on money for road widening for years.

Is that area of Kernan congested at rush hour? I feel like I've been teleported out into the country every time I drive there. I wouldn't even think the people that live in those neighborhoods (East Arlington?) would want the road widened.

I don't suppose there will be room for any bike lanes after they build 6 luxury lanes for vehicular traffic in an area that needs only 2-3. Even better, widen the sidewalks that are already significantly offset from the road surface and stripe separate uses on there.

[fieldafm]

I don't suppose there will be room for any bike lanes after they build 6 luxury lanes for vehicular traffic in an area that needs only 2-3.

There is already a great (protected) multi-use trail that lines Kernan and links up to the (unprotected) striped bike lanes on Monument.

You can take a sidewalk from any subdivision on Kernan and stay on a sidewalk all the way up to the Wonderwood Bridge or the Cobblestone Publix (or Sleiman's Publix shoping center at Beach/Kernan for that matter).

Altantic Station (Kernan/Atlantic) is about to get three new developments moving in.  One will be multifamily.  A hospital will also be going in across the street from Atlantic Station next to where the hotel recently went up.

[thelakelander]

^There's ample room for bike lanes, multi-use trails, etc. on the stretch between Atlantic and Monument.  The ROW is certainly there.  The Kernan widening between Atlantic and UNF is probably the best suburban example of a context sensitive street in Jacksonville.

[jcjohnpaint]

I drive this everyday.  I don't really think it gets that congested, even during rush hour.  Not sure why this is needed.  I know UNF wanted to re route the street around the outside of the campus. 

[PeeJayEss]

There is already a great (protected) multi-use trail that lines Kernan and links up to the (unprotected) striped bike lanes on Monument.

You can take a sidewalk from any subdivision on Kernan and stay on a sidewalk all the way up to the Wonderwood Bridge or the Cobblestone Publix (or Sleiman's Publix shoping center at Beach/Kernan for that matter).

Altantic Station (Kernan/Atlantic) is about to get three new developments moving in.  One will be multifamily.

Okay. It looked that way on Google Maps, but I didn't think it was much wider than a sidewalk from the road driving by. Good to know.

[John P]

I watched some of it at home last nigth and Richard Clark has a lot of nerve. When it came to keeping the downtown library open and Shands hospital he lectured everyone about them not being thankful for what they have and how they are just coming with their hands out. But he did not spin it that way when he wanted his special projects!

[thelakelander]

Of course he didn't. The the library or Shands would have been in his district his argument would have been completely different.  That's just politics as usual.

[Tacachale]

The Kernan widening at UNF is actually a rerouting to move Kernan to what's now First Coast Tech Parkway. This has been the plan for years; as it is now, Kernan is unfinished as the improved section (with the multi-use path) abruptly ends as it gets to UNF - before it gets to JTB. The article isn't clear; the Parkway is the part that's currently two lanes; that current stretch of Kernan is four.

The former First Coast Tech Parkway property is already part of UNF; this project would reroute Kernan so that it no longer cuts through the campus. It would also mean UNF can finally work on connecting the campus pedestrian/bike infrastructure to Kernan. This was supposed to be part of the BJP and UNF has already given millions of dollars for our portion of it. The Kernan/JTB interchange is a disaster at rush hour, especially if you're going east, and that won't change until this gets done.

[fieldafm]

The Kernan widening at UNF is actually a rerouting to move Kernan to what's now First Coast Tech Parkway. This has been the plan for years; as it is now, Kernan is unfinished as the improved section (with the multi-use path) abruptly ends as it gets to UNF - before it gets to JTB. The article isn't clear; the Parkway is the part that's currently two lanes; that current stretch of Kernan is four.

The former First Coast Tech Parkway property is already part of UNF; this project would reroute Kernan so that it no longer cuts through the campus. It would also mean UNF can finally work on connecting the campus pedestrian/bike infrastructure to Kernan. This was supposed to be part of the BJP and UNF has already given millions of dollars for our portion of it. The Kernan/JTB interchange is a disaster at rush hour, especially if you're going east, and that won't change until this gets done.

So then these monies would be used to widen FCTP that runs in front of the old AOL Building and effectively rename this stretch of roadway as Kernan?  Will the current 'Kernan' be closed to vehicular traffic b/w the UNF entrance and the signalized intersection now?  Do you have any renderings of what that plan looks like?  How much did UNF contribute?

[thelakelander]

So this is for the southern segment?  How will the widening of Kernan impact eastbound traffic flow on JTB?

[copperfiend]

So this is for the southern segment?  How will the widening of Kernan impact eastbound traffic flow on JTB?

I don't honestly see it being that beneficial. The slowdown on the exit to Kernan from what I can see is that you have people heading east on JTB and people exiting off 9A duking it out for position. From about 1700-1830, that stretch is a disaster. I am surprised there are not more accidents to be honest.

And the real losers are anybody trying to get from Kernan south on to JTB east. They have a stop sign and those exiting JTB do not. And it is a pretty constant flow. It seems like you basically have to wait for someone who is a little slow on the gas. Or maybe a big truck. Otherwise it's "YOLO" when you have a small gap between cars and just hope for the best.

[Mattius92]

http://www.coj.net/departments/better-jacksonville-plan/road-details.aspx#KernanP6

Kernan Blvd. Phase 6 (JTB to Glen Kernan)
Reconstruct/realign to a six-lane divided roadway with landscaped median(s), bike lanes, sidewalks and curb & gutter on both sides.
Project Estimate: $6.5 million

That is what the official BJP record says for the project. What that actually means can be up to interpretation.

[Mattius92]

http://www.unf.edu/uploadedImages/anf/masterplan/2005-2015_Master_Plan/2005-2015_Master_Plan_Figure.jpg

The above link does show UNF re-routing Kernan down the 1st Coast Parkway. I am looking further into the UNF Master Plan to get more info. As an UNF student this topic is particularly interesting.