Replace Outer Beltway with New Link To Gainesville, I-75, Tampa

[stjr]

I wonder how many existing bridges we could repair with the money it will take to build 9B?  I believe the money is there.  The issue may be on what it's being spent on.

How about $470 million worth!  That would possibly pay also for raising the Dames Point Bridge to 200 feet or higher so we could get cruise and mega-cargo ships into the all the existing port areas!

Per the Times Union article posted above:

Short term there are no plans to toll any other roads in Northeast Florida. Baldwin said Florida 9B might end up as a public-private partnership, but that’s the only other road in Northeast Florida that might be tolled.
The first phase of construction of Florida 9B would go from U.S. 1 to Florida 9A and cost $170 million. The long-term plan is to connect Florida 9B to Interstate 95 before the road ends at County Road 2209 in St. Johns County. The cost of building the rest of the road is about $300 million.
Transportation department spokeswoman Gina Busscher  said the state still hopes to get funding to build Florida 9B. But if that money doesn’t come, officials will look into a partnership.

[thelakelander]

There you go.  So instead of rebuilding crumbling infrastructure, we're searching for ways to fund more sprawl producers.

Btw, here is what's proposed where 9B will meet I-95 and Race Track Road.  This should help reduce traffic in the area.

[Jason]

That's sad.

[Jason]

Build an interchange at Racetrack and use the 9B funding elsewhere

[stjr]

Let's hope this hits a brick wall before it gets done:

On the Road: Jacksonville toll road gets approval of state legislature

Submitted by Larry Hannan on Fri, 05/08/2009 - 14:54.

The state legislature has passed a bill that will allow a private company to build the First Coast Outer Beltway.

The $1.8 billion road is too expensive for the Florida Department of Transportation to build, so the state agency is looking for a private company to partner with. That private company will build the road, and then collect tolls when construction is finished.

Plans to construct the road came to a halt last year because it was unclear if the private company would have to pay property taxes on the land the Outer Beltway would be on.

The legislation that passed earlier this month exempts the company from property taxes. Gov. Charlie Crist still has to sign this bill for it to become law.

Pitfalls still remain for this project. FDOT needs to choose a private partner, and opposition to the project remains in Clay County.

I'll be coming back next week with a story that examines what will happen now.

From: http://www.jacksonville.com/interact/blog/larry_hannan/2009-05-08/on_the_road_jacksonville_toll_road_gets_approval_of_state_legi

[reednavy]

Build an interchange at Racetrack

I support this post.
It'd sure help releave San Jose a good bit.

[urbanlibertarian]

Shouldn't FDOT be afraid that a privately run highway will be operated and maintained so much better than the public ones that people will wonder why?

[Ocklawaha]

Wow, 7 OUT PARCELS in Bartram Commons!

Sonic?
Krystal?
What-A-Burger?
KFC?
Bojangles?
Arbys?
Pizza Hut?

AWESOME....

"Hey, wait a second, I just bought a place in Orangedale, World Golf Sprawledge"

OCKLAWAHA

[reednavy]

Shouldn't FDOT be afraid that a privately run highway will be operated and maintained so much better than the public ones that people will wonder why?

Ask Metro Orlando residents.

[Ocklawaha]

This may shock some, but I'm not totally against the Outer Beltway. The number one reason to support at least the Eastern most leg, 295/9A - I-95 South, is for the benefit of our port access. Taken to the extreme check out what "Might" happen within 20-30 years, I-22, left off the Interstate Highway System but planned by MO., AR, TN, MS, AL, GA, FL since the mid 1960's is DONE from roughly Springfield MO - Birmingham. If it is ever completed it would enter the city on the far Northwest corner and most likely align with MLK/20TH st Expy.. If the Outer Beltway was completed around the NW side of the city, it would pull the trucks off as a bypass, and allow Port traffic to move on to 295 or MLK/20TH and the Port.

Consider most large mature ports have a choice of railroads and offer some close freeway access, while we can offer the latter we do not have a consistant Harbour-Side Expressway. Something that could take a truck from Blount Island to Talleyrand in minutes. The extension of 20TH/MLK as a full blown expressway from TALLEYRAND - to 295 would make sea to rail access much better.  Considering that most of our Port does NOT have rail choice.

I don't like what the highway will do in the SW corner, as it will NOT relieve Clay - Jax traffic, it will spread more of the same until the next 50 miles looks like Arlington.

Perhaps the thing I'm MOST AGINST, is having this thing cut in on LEE FIELD in Green Cove's old Naval Air Station. Talk about a place where the Navy could return... Master Jet Base LEE FIELD has a ring to it. But it won't with a stupid highway cutting the approach to the runways so they would have to stay WWII length. I believe they are 8,000 ft. and 6,000 ft.  (Any fly boys know without me digging it up?) Sure the chance is slim to none, but even a flicker of hope isn't worth trashing with a toll road. Besides as the urban area grows, the SW sector will need a quality business airport.  Green Cove and Switzerland are the only ones around, and Switzerland looks like toast.

Now, to stop hijacking this thread and bring it back to the original thought, JAX - GAINESVILLE. Some thoughts:

Normandy or I-10 to 301 to Waldo to Gainesville is about as good as we could get even with a expressway.
The ONLY other route would be right down the middle of Blanding. You see there is a reason White House Field, Yellow Water, Cecil, Branon Field, Clay Bomb Range, State Forest, North Camp Blanding, and Camp Blanding are laid out end to end. It was 100% MILITARY LAND. The Navy swapped Camp Blanding for NAS with the Army, and the State got the forest in the deal. So unless you plan to blow away about 1/2 of everything down one side of Blanding, it's a no go. "THEY GOT TANKS AND LIVE FIRE OUT IN THEM WOODS!" They even have their own US ARMY RAILROAD some 15 miles or so.

You mention it could even have rail built on it someday.... The rail is already there and it's excellent track. 79 MPH. It runs, JAX - BALDWIN - STARKE - ALACHUA - GAINESVILLE, the Starke - Gainesville segment is good for about 45 MPH, but the speed could rise with traffic control signals (federal cap without em').

Bottom line for me?

Build the SE and NW segments of this road and scrap the rest for better CLAY - JAX access.

Rebuild Jacksonville Terminal as our Transportation Center, with no less then 8 tracks so we can be a TRUE TERMINAL and dispatch trains from our own facilities.

Get that AMTRAK - REGIONAL RDC car up and running 4x each way daily between Jax and Gainesville.

Somebody in Green Cove Chamber of Commerce, go grab John Mica by the pant leg and BEG to get that damn base back.

Johnny Boy if we simply MUST pour concrete, why not try something novel like FINISH the Commodore Point Freeway? How about just put some street lights up? Why can't I get on I-95 from your Stupid Kings Avenue parking garage heading South (you know toward St. Johns County where you live!). If you want to take a cold shot at redevelopment, ever heard of the Arlington Expressway? Matthews Bridge? Say, I've got an idea, why not connect the "Emerson Connector" so it connects something? Say, I-95 South, and Arlington Expressway on a REAL Emerson Connector? What would that do for University Johnny Boy? Must we live forever with an unfinished MLK/20TH and there is STILL no interchange in that idiotic CORNER in the middle of a freeway. Give Roosevelt the Arlington Expressway treatment... Wouldn't that help some? Oh yeah, my neighbors in Ortega would scream, can't have the high rollers unhappy... Jesus Johnny... Jesus is your answer! God knows you need all the help you can get.

OCKLAWAHA

[Ocklawaha]

Shouldn't FDOT be afraid that a privately run highway will be operated and maintained so much better than the public ones that people will wonder why?

Ask Metro Orlando residents.

Yeah, I hate that Mickey Mouse Freeway System, CHA CHING! CHA CHING! Something like $7 bucks to go from I-4 to I-4... When the big sign says I-4 downtown is at a standstill.

CHA-CHING! !@#**$!*(@)!&*@)(*!$&(*@%!^@)*@$_!

OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

Shouldn't FDOT be afraid that a privately run highway will be operated and maintained so much better than the public ones that people will wonder why?

Ask Metro Orlando residents.

sorry, but none of their toll roads are private

[reednavy]

/quote]

I know that, I was just sayin though. They're much better maintained than any section of I-4 is or will be.

[tufsu1]

Maybe this will happen w/ the Outer Beltway too?

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/may/23/co-keep-alligator-alley-in-taxpayers-control/

[heights unknown]

I say keep the outer beltway and "add" a new super highway link to Gainesville; we really need the beltway, but come on, not all that many people commute on the highway between Jacksonville and Gainesville, or do they?

Heights Unknown