FDOT finds $120 million: Fuller Warren to be widened

[David]

I do. I just want more lanes for passing during non peak hours.

[I-10east]

Thanks for the Interstate/pedestrian sidewalk compilation Lake. Way more than I thought they would be (after I learned the few earlier today).

22. I-80 Yolo Causeway bridge, between Sacramento and Davis, CA - approximately 3-mile section over the Yolo Bypass that includes a bike path physically separated by a barrier from the westbound traffic lanes

LOL, You Only Live Once!!!! Sound like it should be a BASE jumpers paradise or something.

[spuwho]

Hey Lake,

This seems pretty sudden. No public hearings, no studies.

Was this in the TPO plan?

I agree, they should include a pedestrian way.

I would like to see the study that shows how much traffic in that space is local vs regional/national.  I-95 hosts a lot of pass through traffic.

[thelakelander]

No, this was not in the TPO plan. It and the funding just materialized out of the blue.

[spuwho]

No, this was not in the TPO plan. It and the funding just materialized out of the blue.

Hmmmm. then there has to be something of a higher priority than this, geez, it's not even in the TPO plan.

When these projects appear out of blue I usually start sniffing around the political angles.

[dougskiles]

I thought I read that it was coming from the Outer Beltway fund?  I wonder how the Clay County Economic Development folks feel about that?

[thelakelander]

I heard it was coming via the postponing of adding manged lanes on I-295 between Dames Point and I-95.

[Kay]

No, this was not in the TPO plan. It and the funding just materialized out of the blue.

Hmmmm. then there has to be something of a higher priority than this, geez, it's not even in the TPO plan.

When these projects appear out of blue I usually start sniffing around the political angles.

What could the political angle be?  Someone doesn't want to merge left to Roosevelt so they requested an unneeded flyover?  Add lanes to the bridge which I don't even understand.  When you get on at Park you have to go left unless you want to go to San Marco so how does another lane on the right help anything?

[spuwho]

No, this was not in the TPO plan. It and the funding just materialized out of the blue.

Hmmmm. then there has to be something of a higher priority than this, geez, it's not even in the TPO plan.

When these projects appear out of blue I usually start sniffing around the political angles.

What could the political angle be?  Someone doesn't want to merge left to Roosevelt so they requested an unneeded flyover?  Add lanes to the bridge which I don't even understand.  When you get on at Park you have to go left unless you want to go to San Marco so how does another lane on the right help anything?

When a reason is found to build something when that reason didn't exist before, it should make one pause as to why. Especially when it doesn't fall in the planning process.  No reason to get paranoid or anything, but road construction is usually not an altruistic process.

[thelakelander]

Because the project is considered an "Operational Improvement" and not a "Capacity Improvement" it does not have to be in the TPO LRTP. 

[Kay]

Can you explain how it improves the operation?

[Ocklawaha]

Pedestrian paths? You've got to be joking, of course it's impossible, this is Jacksonville.

For 34 years I/We've been pushing for a 'money losing streetcar,' now within a year or two, we've found $150 million for a 'money losing highway.' Will channel 4 report it that way? Will the radio? Will the TU? Business Journal? etc? 

What the hell is a pedestrian? You wouldn't mean those two legged creatures with the big targets painted on their backs would you? Keeping score, we're number 3 in the nation, why stop now? Let's go for number one!

A six story building? Insurance company and office space? Who needs them downtown, they can move to Orange Park, or St. Johns, or maybe way out by Town Center. You guys lack imagination, just think somewhere along Roosevelt or University, they could put up their very own big bright plastic sign complete with bright lights and a ½ acre of parking. It's only jobs after all.

I suspect the right exit to go south/west on I-10 has more to do with the curvature/radius and the Stockton Street exit, exiting on the left would have shortened the curve and probably brought the exit lane much farther up the flyover and THAT would have increased the cost. So mark it down as probable a safety and money decision.

[thelakelander]

Can you explain how it improves the operation?

From what I understand, they claim it will reduce the need for existing traffic to merge within a short distance. I don't know if that's worthy of a $136 million investment but some at FDOT believe so.

[tufsu1]

No, this was not in the TPO plan. It and the funding just materialized out of the blue.

Supposedly this is an "operations" project, not a capacity project....only capacity projects are included in the TPOs LRTP.

That said, all projects have to be included in the TPO's 5-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP),,,,and this brand new one to be funded in 2016 isn't in there (yet)

[tufsu1]

I thought I read that it was coming from the Outer Beltway fund?  I wonder how the Clay County Economic Development folks feel about that?

nope...they are still moving full steam ahead on that...in fact there is over $100 million proposed for ROW acquisition for the next segment (between Blanding and US 17)