Toll lanes for I-95 Under Consideration

[thelakelander]

The problem is how do we get off this treadmill of roads and cars.  In other parts of the world, it seems mass transit plays a far greater role than in most areas of this country so it can be a success.  If we increased population density, mainly by going vertical and with infill, it would appear that we could get more for our mass transit dollars.  But, it is also a "chicken and egg" since people don't want to give up cars without the assurance of good mass transit.  Hence, the TOD that Ennis and others pontificate on regularly here but that is not done at all, correctly or consistently in Jacksonville or maybe in many other places too.

The day for mass transit will inevitably come (although it may be delayed if self driving shared vehicles becomes a reality for all) because we just can't continue to add lanes to our highways.  When total gridlock is a regular issue, there will be more of an outcry for growing mass transit.  It would be nice to anticipate the ultimate arrival of this day by planning now but, of course, we have no visionaries running the show in Northeast Florida. 

I think some of the frustration here is our officials don't seriously discuss expanding mass transit as a future option to solving traffic issues.  If it is not being discussed, we will never do more than keep adding to roads until we just can't but then it may be "too  late" to fix the issues in any reasonable time period or for any reasonable amount.

Follow the money. Many of the major road projects are tools used to feed money to consulting firms, construction companies, contractors, politically connected landowners, etc. It puts turkeys on many family tables at Thanksgiving. The majority of the new highways in this state aren't needed from a mobility or congestion relief standpoint. However, the planning and construction and the resulting access to virgin land are economic drivers for those that stand to directly benefit from the infrastructure investments. Don't get me started on modeling and how that can be manipulated. Until this issue is resolved in a way that alternative modes of mobility can deliver the same $$$, the money will continue to be funneled into road construction. All the mumbo jumbo about congestion relieve, etc., is just that. Hot air for the most part.

[jaxlongtimer]

^ To follow up on "follow the money," there will inevitably come a time when a new equilibrium will occur where enough people live in developed areas that they will no longer support politicos that don't direct their tax dollars to their neighborhoods vs. the virgin lands.  This will be reflected in the campaign fund raising efforts of the politicos who will no longer get the majority of their support from those benefitting from our road building ways.  I might add that there may also be lots of development-type people who can benefit from mass transit, not unlike roads, such as adjacent property owners and a similar set of consultants, engineers, transit builders, etc.  This would be in addition to the existing residents (vs. very few in the virgin lands ) that would tilt the scales further to mass transit.

The question is when does that happen in a City?  How long before it happens here?  It does appear we are now experiencing a group of developers more focused on infill and the urban core than ever before.  And, at least in Duval County, there are not many corners of the county left that haven't already been exploited.  I can see a day when maybe Jax area citizens aren't as interested in road projects strictly benefitting areas beyond Duval.  But, they might be interested in new mass transit corridors that reach those areas but also include many connections in Duval on the way outbound just as our current roadways tend to do.

[thelakelander]

This is the most conservative major metropolitan area of the state. When the day arrives that the majority in Northeast Florida demand new mass transit corridors over roadway construction, I can promise you that it will be long after that day has passed in South Florida, Tampa/St. Pete and Orlando. As of now, the others are still building new road corridors in virgin lands of their metropolitan areas and widening urban expressways like crazy.

[jaxlongtimer]

^ Ennis, agree.  A long time for here.  I was just focusing on a future with an unknown arrival .

The Florida cities you cite have millions more people and aren't there yet so I can see it is far down the road from this area.

I do take some inspiration from the Washington, DC, suburbs in Virginia and Maryland and the development of the Metro there.  Although, I admit, they have a sugar daddy in Congress who will spend anything to make their living in the area more palatable.  That said, having ridden the Metro many times, I find it well used, convenient, clean, reliable and with plenty of TOD along its stops.  A good model for others?

[Jagsdrew]

I can't find the thread but the I-4 express lanes are open in Orlando and the project is wrapping up altogether.  Additionally, the work in that corridor is not done. More express lanes are coming. Crazy. https://i4beyond.com/