I-95 Express Lanes from Butler to Downtown

[Jagsdrew]

http://www.nflroads.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/I-95%20EL%20Flyer.pdf

More express lanes coming to Jacksonville

[coredumped]

Hahahaha, just when you think construction is ending. I95 has been under construction in Jacksonville for over 15 years, what a joke.
The bigger problem is these Lincoln lanes favor people with more money. What's next, paying extra to jump the line at the DMV?
We're taxed on our income, taxed when we spend it, taxed annually to own a car, taxed each fill up, taxed on property we own, and now they want us to pay MORE to drive on roads? I won't be partaking.

[jcjohnpaint]

I knew this was coming. 

[chipwich]

Not happy with the proliferation of "express lanes" in Jacksonville.  We as a city need to make it clear that adding needed capacity on the roadways should not incur extra taxes and user fees.  We voted against tolls once before.  We shouldn't have to lobby to remove them yet again.

It's a growing city.  The extra capacity is needed and cars are king.  Extra lanes are an obligation for a growing city.  That's that. 

[Jagsdrew]

What's funny is that on North Florida roads website, it's not even listed on future projects page. They see a revenue opportunity and prioritize this to the top. It will be shovel ready in 6 months.

Unfortunately, with this project and the narrow real estate they are working with to expand the highway, a lot of homes will be affected and demolished which is sad.

[ProjectMaximus]

It's a growing city.  The extra capacity is needed and cars are king.  Extra lanes are transit is an obligation for a growing city.  That's that.

Got it.

[thelakelander]

Hahahaha, just when you think construction is ending. I95 has been under construction in Jacksonville for over 15 years, what a joke.
The bigger problem is these Lincoln lanes favor people with more money. What's next, paying extra to jump the line at the DMV?
We're taxed on our income, taxed when we spend it, taxed annually to own a car, taxed each fill up, taxed on property we own, and now they want us to pay MORE to drive on roads? I won't be partaking.

I doubt you'll see a day that there's no construction on I-95 and other interstates in the area. Traffic aside, there's too many businesses that rely on the business of roadway construction and maintenance.

[southsider1015]

Anyone planning on going to the meeting? 

Based on this forum's success of driving change, I'd think that someone here would want to go and provide an informed opinion.

[thelakelander]

If I'm in town, I'll try to attend. However, I don't know about attempting to drive change.  That stretch of I-95 is one of the few areas in Jax where Lexus lanes make some sense.  I also assume, this will mean they'll rebuild some of the outdated interchanges like at Emerson and University?

[southsider1015]

If I'm in town, I'll try to attend. However, I don't know about attempting to drive change.  That stretch of I-95 is one of the few areas in Jax where Lexus lanes make some sense.  I also assume, this will mean they'll rebuild some of the outdated interchanges like at Emerson and University?

Lexus Lanes can make sense?  You should be quoted on that.  FCN Maybe?

And yes, vertical clearance issues, ramp improvements, Emerson interchange reconfiguration.  Oh, and the pedestrian overpass replacement next to Englewood.  Lots of opportunties for neighborhood improvements ti support revitalization.

[remc86007]

I don't know if this is the case here or not, but there are situations where "Lexus Lanes" make sense. If there is a road with too much traffic on it, and there is not sufficient funding to expand it without adding another revenue stream, it makes sense to add "Lexus Lanes" so long as they are able to pay for themselves.

[thelakelander]

The reality is that roads will never pay for themselves.  Adding toll lanes simply reduces the amount of subsidies needed to build and maintain them.

If I'm in town, I'll try to attend. However, I don't know about attempting to drive change.  That stretch of I-95 is one of the few areas in Jax where Lexus lanes make some sense.

I also assume, this will mean they'll rebuild some of the outdated interchanges like at Emerson and University?

Lexus Lanes can make sense?  You should be quoted on that.  FCN Maybe?

Lol, I never said I'm against road expansion.  I'm not crazy about many of the political driven projects but there are cases where upgrades are actually needed.  This stretch of aging roadway is one of them.

And yes, vertical clearance issues, ramp improvements, Emerson interchange reconfiguration.  Oh, and the pedestrian overpass replacement next to Englewood.  Lots of opportunties for neighborhood improvements ti support revitalization.

Good. It seems like an opportunity for multimodal improvements and improved east/west connectivity throughout Englewood through the use of roadway expansion funds.

[Transman]

The Toll Lanes will never pay for themselves, that is not the idea.  My understanding is that they are only going to allow you to actually get somewhere on time if you need to.

The overall plan in Florida is not to be like Atlanta where building more lanes just makes bigger parking lots.  Build express lanes, then express buses with flyovers into the lanes.  In time as traffic increases, people will realize the express buses or light rail will be the way to go.  FDOT knows they can't build their way out of this.  Also, they are keeping a close eye autonomous vehicles, since they may solve the capacity issues.

Building more lanes is not the answer, I think everyone can agree on that.  Getting people out of cars is the goal in the end or self-driving cars.

[thelakelander]

Ultimately, land uses need to change and be more coordinated with transportation infrastructure investments.  The ideal scenario is that you'd have several corridors and "neighborhood centric" nodes of mixed use activity (preferably along reliable transit corridors). This would reduce the amount of short local trips currently sucking up capacity on major roadways, while also creating an environment where alternative modes of mobility are viable options for users.

[spuwho]

FDOT is trying to "raise" the cost of driving so it can justify charging a fare on future transit.

I have read several studies and comments in FDOT transit materials about how to raise the cost of driving to support a future transit system.

No one will take transit if the time and expense of driving is less. FDOT will not invest in transit until the time and expense of highways dont compete with it.

Solution is on demand tolling.

The one thing FDOT cant control, is business flight from the core.  Thats a local issue.