Blanding Blvd./I-295: $161 mil.; Mass Transit: $0

[stjr]

Another example of the one-dimensional thinking of our area transportation "planners".  Do you think that, for even one second, they talked about a mass transit solution?

The Florida Department of Transportation added extra right-hand turn lanes from I-295 onto Blanding a few years ago. That made it a little bit better, but not enough, Corrigan said.

The councilman hopes two projects on Collins Road will get traffic off of Blanding. The city is now widening Collins from two to four lanes from Rampart Road to Blanding for $25.2 million, and the project includes an overpass over I-295.

That project will conclude late next year.

Also in 2010, the Florida Department of Transportation plans to begin construction on a new interchange at Collins Road that will connect to I-295. The $136 million project is scheduled to begin in June and will connect to the overpass now being built by the city, sometime in late 2014.

James Bennett,  an FDOT development engineer, said the Collins Road improvements should help.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-12-19/story/blanding_boulevard_at_interstate_295_voted_worst_jacksonville_intersecti

[stjr]

I love the juxtaposition of quotes by Commissioner Conkey that point up the obtuse thinking of our public officials.  First, he robotically cites the Outer Beltway as the universal solution to all of Jax/Clay traffic issues and then says "we need to work to get traffic off the road".  Now, how does one do that by building more roads?
 
His thinking reminds me of getting rid of the pink ring in "Cat in the Hat".  Just move the problem around, ad infinitum, and hope no one realizes it really isn't ever being solved.  Why our politicians make poor leaders.

Clay County Commissioner Doug Conkey,  whose Orange Park district is near the intersection, said the planned Outer Beltway that would connect Interstate 10 in Duval County to Interstate 95 in St. Johns County could also get traffic off the road.

Adding additional turn lanes from northbound Blanding onto I-295 southbound and working to better time the traffic lights in the area could also help ease traffic, Conkey said.

“Unfortunately this is a problem that has existed for a long time,” Conkey said. “You can’t go back in time to correct the mistakes that were made, so we need to work to get traffic off the road.”

[CS Foltz]

More blind bufoons elected! No vision........no plan! Kinda reminds me of the Mayor and the Council! Politicians are just concerned with getting re-elected .....not serving the people who put them into office!

[tufsu1]

More blind bufoons elected! No vision........no plan! Kinda reminds me of the Mayor and the Council! Politicians are just concerned with getting re-elected .....not serving the people who put them into office!

at this point, I challenge you to do better!

[tufsu1]

First, he robotically cites the Outer Beltway as the universal solution to all of Jax/Clay traffic issues and then says "we need to work to get traffic off the road".  Now, how does one do that by building more roads?

simple...when you build a new road, traffic switches to it!

There is no question that the Outer Beltway WILL minimize traffic on Blanding near I-295....that, and the replacement of the Shands Bridge are about the only redeeing qualities of the project.

[thelakelander]

Personally, I don't think we will ever build Blanding out of congestion.  As long as we keep sprawl development going, new development will quickly eat up the extra capacity created by road widenings and new facilities.  Imo, start considering alternative modes as the top priority.  For those who still choose to sit in traffic when viable alternatives exist, so be it.

[tufsu1]

I agree Lake....but think about it, there's sprawl all over FL...the reason Clay has the worst commute times in the state is because Blanding is just about the ONLY way in/out...

Most cities have a grid network...so expanding the Clay County road network (vs. adding lanes) will help disperse the traffic.

[thelakelander]

^I agree, as long as it's a grid with parallel facilities not spaced miles apart.  Given the amount of money it would take to build a usable grid, I'd still favor implementing an alternative mode first.

[stjr]

Personally, I don't think we will ever build Blanding out of congestion.  As long as we keep sprawl development going, new development will quickly eat up the extra capacity created by road widenings and new facilities.  Imo, start considering alternative modes as the top priority.  For those who still choose to sit in traffic when viable alternatives exist, so be it.

Right on, Lake.  We have tried building out of congestion since WWII and it's never done anything but bring on even more of the same issues.  We need to realize this is a losing battle and move on to mass transit solutions.

Most cities have a grid network...so expanding the Clay County road network (vs. adding lanes) will help disperse the traffic.

Tufsu, at times you express the same concerns as others among us over continued road building and urban sprawl, and then you express the above in an apparent contradiction.  The point I am trying to highlight here is when is "expanding the ... road network" nothing more than perpetuating urban sprawl and road congestion issues and serving as an excuse not to direct resources toward mass transit solutions?  I suggest we are past that point already and this is just more coal on the fire.

[CS Foltz]

tufsu1 I accept! First thing I would do is declare a moratorium on all road building/interchanges and new construction for the next 3 years. I would then set that money aside into a Fund to get mass transit up and running as rapidly as possible. I know where there is $161 Million dollars to start with and not sure what the projected total is for the next 3 years but would guess is is fairly substancial!

Personally, I don't think we will ever build Blanding out of congestion.  As long as we keep sprawl development going, new development will quickly eat up the extra capacity created by road widenings and new facilities.  Imo, start considering alternative modes as the top priority.  For those who still choose to sit in traffic when viable alternatives exist, so be it.
[/quote Building up the grid is fine and dandy but I need to point out that their destination is Jacksonville and not matter how many ways you have to get to here,urban sprawl will negate any road improvement so your roads are limited ultimately. Build mass transit system and relieve congestion! Build more roads and contribute to congestion ......what is so difficult to grasp here? One way in and out, create another.....only one that can carry more than one passenger at a time in a cost effective manner!

[thelakelander]

If people really want to go with only road expansion projects to solve congestion, the only way it would work long term is to institute a building moratorium along with them.  That way, the additional capacity created won't immediately be eliminated by new unsustainable automobile based development.  At the same time, heavily incentivize transit friendly infill and redevelopment inside of the I-295/9A beltway. However, this is a change in thinking that Jax would never go for.

[CS Foltz]

lake I agree! As long as JTA is leading the charge with their version of "Mass Transit" we the people are screwed! This will only spend alot of the taxpayers money and ultimately prove to be a waste! It upsets me that we have such narrow minded blind leadership controlling our future!

[tufsu1]

CS...you continually harp on our City's leadership for not listening/serving their constituents.

What do you think the reaction of the general populace in Jax. if we took all our road money for the next 3 years and put it towards transit?

[jandar]

You have a few issues with Blanding Blvd/I295 traffic that most people seem to ignore.

1. Its in Duval County. For quite a while, the lights at Argyle, Youngerman, I295 were timed differently than Wells Rd. You basically drove to a stop waiting on the light, nothing else.

2. You have dumb ass planners and designers that allow an extra turn lane into Starbucks on Blanding @ Youngerman, rather than making traffic turn at the light. Bright idea there.

3. Blanding/295 traffic is not all Clay County. There is a ton of Argyle Traffic (90% Duval County last I checked)

4. The good ole boy network is alive and well in Clay County. We are trying to vote these idiots out.

5. The outer beltway should have created a new bridge @ 220 and US-17. However, interests in both Clay and St Johns County created enough distraction to push it to the Shands Bridge location.

6. Argyle residents helped kill a Wells Rd extension which would have connected Wells Rd and Argyle. Thus allowing all of those mall shoppers a way to avoid Blanding altogether.

7. A proposed overpass between Wells Rd and Collins Rd over I-295 east of the OP Mall was killed off as well.
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I have sent ideas to FDOT on Blanding traffic a few times and was basically told that I am an idiot, and that it would not work.

here are a couple of those thoughts:
1. Install breakable lane barriers onto Blanding Blvd for the right lane only from about the Clay/Duval line up to I-295, the only opening being @ Argyle and Youngerman. This prevents idiots from trying to go up to 295 and merging into traffic, causing backups. (the same idiot who approved the Starbuck's turn lane laughed at this idea).

2. Change the light cycle @ youngerman to a much slower one during the morning rush hour. The only traffic from Youngerman to Blanding @ 6AM-9AM is commuters turning onto Youngerman from Argyle, trying to bypass traffic.

3. Create a on-ramp only feature from Wells Rd onto I-295 southbound. This alleviates a ton of traffic from the neighborhoods of Orange Park getting onto Blanding. This could be easily done east of the mall where there are a few closed dealerships.

4. Get light rail, or even JTA bus with a direct route to SJTC and Southpoint from Orange Park. Sure I can take the express from OP, then take a connector to Gate Parkway/Southpoint/Baymeadows. But it will take too long. I would have to leave my house @ 5:45AM, sit in the parking lot @ KMart in OP, catch the bus to the FCCJ Station, arriving at 7:15AM. Then catch a transfer from Rosa Parks station over to the Kings St Station to catch SS6, hopefully by 7:40AM. This would get me to SJTC @ 8:30AM. Not bad, only 2.5 hours to go from OP to SJTC.

Or, I can take WS91 from Youngerman and Blanding (after having driven through the worst of the traffic already) and catch WS91 @ 7:10AM, get to the Avenues @ 8:04AM, catch S1 @ 9:03AM (wow, only a 1 hr wait) and get to SJTC area @ 9:30ish.


Nah, I'll drive my car for 45 min-1 hr each way and come and go when I want to.

[thelakelander]

Why did Argyle residents kill a potential direct connection to Wells Rd?