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

[north miami]

Don't expect the recent public chorus directed to TPO singing the praises of "public transportation" to really grab much pavement for a long time.
Almost as if by magic,the beltway and other long established growth dreams are now firmly placed.
Erroneous claims and images of "alleviation" abound,thanks to an ignorant public that always,just when "too late",exhibits stunned incomprehension."Alleviation" benefit of only temporary effect.Smoke & mirrors.
A stand alone Brannon Chaffee was always promoted as "alleviation" for Blanding.Impressive average daily traffic numbers were in fact based in large degree due to the new development B/C would generate.(And who in this world would ever promote a new highway that would not assume expanded/vested devopment??)
Who remembers Mayor Delaney exclaimng we could not build our way out of congestion....only to soon after interject key support in the Florida DOT Brannon/Chaffee permit application placed before the US Corp of Engineers and Water Management District? The DOT application was erroneous in  the premise that the B/C project was "stand alone" with 'no plans at this time' for extension.
I have seen Argyle residents in tears at public hearings concerning proposed roadways that would affect the broad Argyle wetland belts...and their back yards.Many have wisely moved the hell out.

[jandar]

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

Between the Argyle Community groups and other things.

Here's a great read as to why it was "killed" and opposed.
http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/Raymur_Villas/topics/186315
Notice the argument was that the new Mall and Eateries in Argyle down by Oakleaf would alleviate Blanding Traffic, as well as Branan Field/Chaffee. yeah, that didn't happen.

And here is the BCC report about roads in Clay County from 2002 (this included the Wells Rd Connector)
http://www.claycountygov.com/Departments/Engineering/County_Needs_Revenues_Study/TAC%20Report%20to%20BCC.pdf
10 Million to connect Wells Rd and Argyle Forest Blvd in clay.
http://www.coj.net/NR/rdonlyres/etqlk6rhvpx7urqadd5jw3fmv3bolynjp2222maaphixdpirqkjpv36skohniguzqesgjh7cuu4sghi5dcnlad3vkla/J-SW+VISION+Transportation+Plan.pdf
12million in Duval.

[jandar]

I have seen Argyle residents in tears at public hearings concerning proposed roadways that would affect the broad Argyle wetland belts...and their back yards.Many have wisely moved the hell out.

NIMBYism at it's best. They continue to shop in Clay County, want to be associated in Clay County (ask many Argyle residents where they live and most say Orange Park or Argyle never hear them say westside.) Last time I checked, there was only a few neighborhoods actually in Clay County in Argyle, 90% is Duval.

Heaven forbid they work with Clay County to try and get stuff done, instead they block everything they can.

[north miami]

I have seen Argyle residents in tears at public hearings concerning proposed roadways that would affect the broad Argyle wetland belts...and their back yards.Many have wisely moved the hell out.

NIMBYism at it's best. They continue to shop in Clay County, want to be associated in Clay County (ask many Argyle residents where they live and most say Orange Park or Argyle never hear them say westside.) Last time I checked, there was only a few neighborhoods actually in Clay County in Argyle, 90% is Duval.

Heaven forbid they work with Clay County to try and get stuff done, instead they block everything they can.

Time wounds all heels.Opting for Clay in lieu of big bad Duval is proving to be a ripoff.Many should reconsider a move to the First Coast.

[tufsu1]

I have seen Argyle residents in tears at public hearings concerning proposed roadways that would affect the broad Argyle wetland belts...and their back yards.Many have wisely moved the hell out.

NIMBYism at it's best. They continue to shop in Clay County, want to be associated in Clay County (ask many Argyle residents where they live and most say Orange Park or Argyle never hear them say westside.) Last time I checked, there was only a few neighborhoods actually in Clay County in Argyle, 90% is Duval.

Heaven forbid they work with Clay County to try and get stuff done, instead they block everything they can.

oh its even better than that jandar....those folks in Argyle screaming about lost wetlands probably live in homes that were build on filled in wetlands and former farm land....hypocrisy at its best

but that's ok...north miami's answer is to close the door on Northeast Florida and not allow anyione else in!

[CS Foltz]

tufsu1..........I don't remember a whole lot of outcry when the Boy Blunder decided to put some fee's on the populace! Storm Water Fee for one...........now since alot of people can't afford to pay for it, it's being included in your Home Owners Tax! Now that is a really chicken excrement way to circumvent the voters will don't you think? That is not the only one but this thread is about Blanding and the $161 Million we get to spend on exchange upgrade and lane widening! If this is money coming out of the City's coffers that is one thing but I believe this comes from the State which is still our money! Glad to help out Westside and Clay County but that does not help the mass transit situation one iota! Jacksonville needs someone leading from the top and the Boy Blunder continually proves he is a waste of oxygen. We need someone with vision, a plan and some business acumen that is willing to clean house if necessary and start over if needed. Too many buffoons and figureheads in charge (JTA/JEA.....I could go on and on but won't!)

[jandar]

oh its even better than that jandar....those folks in Argyle screaming about lost wetlands probably live in homes that were build on filled in wetlands and former farm land....hypocrisy at its best

I know for a fact that many of those homesites were wetlands. I grew up on the westside and remember hunting and running a 4x4 in those swamps/fields.

[CS Foltz]

I agree jandar! Built a T Mobile cell site smack in the middle of it...............never could figure out just how they managed to get a permit to do so..........compound was built up and the pad was allmost 4' above ground level! Thats alot of concrete for something 20 x 20!

[stjr]

Another $100 million interchange for Jax to begin and FDOT already admits it won't solve the problem!  So, why not spend the money on something that will, like mass transit?  

No shortage of money for FDOT's #1 priority it appears: Roads - whether they work or not.  Not one word about mass transit or even bike lanes.

And, FDOT is saving almost $38 million with this new number over their budgeted amount.  Any word on reallocating it to mass transit projects?  None.

How do you spell FDOT:  "R-O-A-D-S".  FDOT is a clone of JTA.

Collins Road interchange on I-295 hopes to relieve Blanding traffic
Source URL: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-06-16/story/collins-road-interchange-i-295-hopes-relieve-blanding-traffic

By Larry Hannan

If congestion at the intersection of Blanding Boulevard and Interstate 295 is a nightmare, then a planned interchange less than a mile away on Collins Road could allow motorists some peace of mind.

At a proposed $98.6 million, the Jacksonville interchange would connect Collins to I-295 and keep motorists off Blanding where backups are common. Northbound motorists often have to wait through multiple light changes before getting onto I-295 or continuing north.

The Florida Department of Transportation expects to accept bids next month, begin construction by the end of the year and be finished by the end of 2014. The project also includes improvements to Blanding and the construction of four new lanes on I-295, two in each direction, that will be limited to motorists exiting at Blanding or Collins.

The idea is to separate traffic getting off I-295 from traffic driving through, department development engineer James Bennett said.

Will Lyons, the department’s consultant project manager, said the lanes are essential to the design because the two interchanges will be so close.
“The key became getting cars that were going to Collins or Blanding and getting them off the regular I-295 lanes well before arriving at either interchange,” Lyons said.

Called “collector-distributor” lanes, they will have restricted access. Northbound motorists will have to get on them just west of U.S. 17, and southbound motorists will have to get on just south of Morse Avenue.

Motorists getting off I-295 at Collins will still have direct access to Blanding.

“I think you’ll see people traveling into Jacksonville using this new interchange instead of the Blanding one,” said City Councilman Michael Corrigan, whose district includes both intersections.

Cars traveling southbound can also access Rampart Road and Argyle Forest Boulevard.

Last year Times-Union readers overwhelmingly picked Blanding and I-295 as the worst intersection in Northeast Florida in an unscientific survey.

Traffic counts from the Florida Department of Transportation show that south of the interchange on Blanding the average daily traffic is 83,000 cars a day, while north of the interchange there are 38,500 cars.

The project should help somewhat, as the ramp from northbound Blanding to I-295 southbound will get a second lane and there will be a second left-hand-turn lane from I-295 southbound to Blanding northbound. Lyons concedes that Blanding will remain a congested roadway despite these improvements.

From Collins Road to Wells Road, Blanding motorists must drive through eight traffic lights and also deal with about 10 access points to stores and restaurants that don’t have lights. The state will look at improving traffic signals as part of this project, but it’s unlikely that it can solve all the problems, Lyons said.

The cost of building the new interchange has dropped. Last year the Transportation Department estimated it would cost $136 million, but the recession has lowered construction costs and led contractors to bid less, Lyons said

Jacksonville recently finished widening Collins from two to four lanes from Rampart to Blanding for $29.4 million, and the project included the overpass over I-295 where the interchange will be built. It also included new sidewalks, curbs and gutters, city spokeswoman Jennifer Savage said.

[thelakelander]

This has been in the works for years but of course it won't solve anything.  Widening roads only creates more capacity for extra cars.  Its sort of like having a diet of beer, snickers bars, pasta and hamburgers and no exercise and wondering why your weight increases as a result.  While a Collins interchange offers an alternative route to Oakleaf and Argyle Forest, with no second north/south corridor in the immediate area, Blanding will still see congestion.

[St. Auggie]

I did think of all of you as I read this.  It makes you shake your head when they say it "may help some".  That just sounds idiotic to me, and I am not one of those folks on here pounding the drum for mass transit.  You guys just be right that they are clueless.

[jandar]

Like Lake said, without another N/S corridor, Blanding/US17 will always be backed up.
Even if you put in mass transit, there will still be traffic.

Sometimes you look around at intersections around Jax and wonder who the hell thought of the idea.
JTB/95, Kernan/Beach/Atlantic, Blanding/295/Argyle, etc...

[tufsu1]

Another $100 million interchange for Jax to begin and FDOT already admits it won't solve the problem!  So, why not spend the money on something that will, like mass transit?  

do you have any empirical data that shows mass transit will solve "the problem"?

as to your suggestion that FDOT take the savings and allocate them to transit....I've mentioned many times that most transportation funds are in categories...so often road $ and transit $ can not be swapped

[brainstormer]

I don't understand why we keep throwing money into roads to help commuters drive into Jacksonville to work.  I realize it is state money but hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on new interchanges in Jacksonville in just the past few years since I have lived here.  It blows my mind!  If you don't like your commute, then move closer to your job!  I'm fine with people choosing a suburban life but why do we pander to these folks.  A longer commute and traffic backups is something you accept when you choose to live a good distance from your job.  The state wants to stimulate local economies but building a Collins Road interchange won't change much investment in the area and as admitted in the article won't really alleviate traffic.  In fact, if we look at past experiences, it will probably make it worse!  There are still daily backups at the 95/295 interchange and also at the 9A/Butler interchange.  There will always be backups at 95/Butler even though they are proposing hundreds of millions of dollars to try and fix that too.  It will never happen!  We will never have enough roads to guarantee everyone an easy commute!

Think of how many brand new elementary schools we could build that were energy efficient and would save money, or how many more teachers and police officers we could hire, or how many small businesses we could jump start, or the mass transit system we could build with the money we throw at roads!

METRO JAX writers!  My suggestion for an article is a look at the money the city and state have invested in building roads in Duval County in the past 10 years.  Your total will blow people's minds and maybe others will join me in saying enough is enough!  I'm not ok with the way my tax money is being allocated.  I want it spent on other priorities.

[stjr]

Another $100 million interchange for Jax to begin and FDOT already admits it won't solve the problem!  So, why not spend the money on something that will, like mass transit?  

do you have any empirical data that shows mass transit will solve "the problem"?

Com'on, Tufsu.  It's common sense, an alien concept to most planners in Northeast Florida.  Beside, FDOT admits the new interchange won't fix it.  So, why bother with that?  Do you have a better, cost effective, alternative?

as to your suggestion that FDOT take the savings and allocate them to transit....I've mentioned many times that most transportation funds are in categories...so often road $ and transit $ can not be swapped

This is pure idiocy. Thanks, Tufsu, for pointing out once again the absence of common sense.  Any business reserves the right to re-prioritize its plans based on facts and circumstances.  This rigidity in planning and process is more evidence of the lack of vision, imagination, creativity, responsiveness, and flexibility in our government agencies and why they continuously fail to deliver appropriate and timely results.

I don't understand why we keep throwing money into roads to help commuters drive into Jacksonville to work.

METRO JAX writers!  My suggestion for an article is a look at the money the city and state have invested in building roads in Duval County in the past 10 years.  Your total will blow people's minds and maybe others will join me in saying enough is enough!  I'm not ok with the way my tax money is being allocated.  I want it spent on other priorities.

+5 Brainstormer.  Maybe the effective followup punch to advocating for mass transit is showing how wasteful spending on its road building competition is.  I doubt most citizens have a clue as to the real cost of building and maintaining our road network and how it sucks tremendous resources from not only mass transit, but education, public safety, social services, parks, etc.  By splitting funds (i.e. our taxes) between federal, state, and local agencies and allocating various projects among them, we have done a good job of confusing and obfuscating the true total costs of these projects.   I join in your challenge to MJ to put it out there for all to see.