Is Jacksonvile ready for a road diet?
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/1934632052_w4wXS8Z-L.jpg)
Are the residents of Jacksonville willing to have one less four-lane road to create a more inviting atmosphere for pedestrians and bicyclist? Considering a road diet for Kings Road, just west of downtown, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will get the answer to this question and more, when it hosts a Public Hearing this month on the project.
Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2015-aug-is-jacksonvile-ready-for-a-road-diet
I think this is great news for King St. It seems to me that some citizens interpret less traffic lanes as diminishing an areas economic viability. Riverside and Avondale are local examples of why that is not true, at least not at this scale. I think it is safe to argue that more economic activity is going on at 5-points and St. Johns Ave, both two lane streets. I only wish the project included other areas like Golfair/Norwood.
As noted above, some communities view 4-lane roads as a sign of prosperity and economic potential. In those places, it can be an uphill battle showing what is really possible with a safer, context-oriented road design.
The road diet include construction? I-95 seems to have new holes in it daily.
Quote from: tufsu1 on August 10, 2015, 07:59:09 AM
As noted above, some communities view 4-lane roads as a sign of prosperity and economic potential. In those places, it can be an uphill battle showing what is really possible with a safer, context-oriented road design.
True, but with that section cutting right through EWC's campus, you would hope that some of the more.... 'progressive' (read-younger) types attending the college would show up in force to counter the status-quo way of thinking (read - elderly people that have nothing better to do than show up at these types of meetings).
I think Edgewood from Mayflower to Lenox would be a great candidate for this as well.
Edgewood would be an excellent corridor. However, to accommodate bike facilities, you'd probably be better off switching to reverse diagonal parking through Murray Hill.
(http://placemaking.mml.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Back-in-angled-parking.png)
Quote from: thelakelander on August 10, 2015, 10:03:33 AM
Edgewood would be an excellent corridor. However, to accommodate bike facilities, you'd probably be better off switching to reverse diagonal parking through Murray Hill.
Slow your roll a bit, Lake. Too many new concepts; too many old people still driving. ;)
I still haven't been backed into with the way it is, so I'm good. Let's just add the bike lanes for starters. ;D
Haha. Let's simplify things! ;)
How about going with parallel parking and adding a median with a cycle track in the middle of it? 8)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8468/8120881914_b44e81313c.jpg)
(http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/foster_center.jpg)
(http://media.cleveland.com/architecture/photo/east-side-greenway-x-sectionpng-2fc4d3776e8a92e4.png)
Lake - that's awesome. +1 for bike lines in the center.
Just got back from Washington state. The pedestrians there just walk out into the street and don't even look for traffic. The cars stop. It's a cultural thing. In Florida I always look twice before crossing a road and even then my head is on a swivel as I scurry across as fast as I can. A complete separation from traffic is the only thing that's going to be successful in Florida. I've had friends get hit by cars while on bikes.
There was 3 years in the 90s where a bike was my primary mode of transportation. Luckily I was never injured, however, there were many close calls. Now that I'm older there's no way I would ride on a road where the only thing separating me from a car/truck/bus is a strip of paint.
Quote from: NaldoAveKnight on August 10, 2015, 11:20:44 AM
Lake - that's awesome. +1 for bike lines in the center.
Just got back from Washington state. The pedestrians there just walk out into the street and don't even look for traffic. The cars stop. It's a cultural thing. In Florida I always look twice before crossing a road and even then my head is on a swivel as I scurry across as fast as I can. A complete separation from traffic is the only thing that's going to be successful in Florida. I've had friends get hit by cars while on bikes.
There was 3 years in the 90s where a bike was my primary mode of transportation. Luckily I was never injured, however, there were many close calls. Now that I'm older there's no way I would ride on a road where the only thing separating me from a car/truck/bus is a strip of paint.
Amen to that. In Florida, cyclists need a total barrier from car traffic. I don't even know if it's worth the expense creating bike lanes on these roads where the cars are going 45 to 60mph and all that separates the cyclists is a strip of paint. Either create a "car parking" barrier between car traffic and cyclists, slow down traffic on roads designated as "bike compatible", or put a cycle track in the median (not seen this in practice before but really love the picture posted above). Is a cycle track seriously being considered?
Quote from: thelakelander on August 10, 2015, 10:03:33 AM
Edgewood would be an excellent corridor. However, to accommodate bike facilities, you'd probably be better off switching to reverse diagonal parking through Murray Hill.
(http://placemaking.mml.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Back-in-angled-parking.png)
That would be entertaining to watch.
Too many big trucks/SUVs in Jax for such a scheme. Honestly. My mother apparently just bought a full size SUV, and while what she bought can tow 6600 lbs, it's actually small compared to some of things I see around the city/state. This is what we're talking about.
Quote from: NaldoAveKnight on August 10, 2015, 11:20:44 AM
Now that I'm older there's no way I would ride on a road where the only thing separating me from a car/truck/bus is a strip of paint.
I guess you don't want to ride either of my routes?
Short route - from Edgewood to Ortega Rd via US-17 and back through Riveside/5 pts.
Long route - Edgewood to Collins via US-17 and back via Blanding.
I do either one of these maybe twice a week 8 months out of the year and have yet to have even a close call. Knock on wood? I would love an outside line, but it's not really necessary. Stay visible and stay consistent.
I feel safer on these wider highways, even with the speed difference, than I do riding on some of the slower, neighborhood streets because drivers 'feel' safer with that extra margin of a third lane. I've had more close calls on Park and St. Johns than I've ever had on Blanding and 17.
Quote from: exnewsman on August 10, 2015, 03:11:04 PM
Quote from: thelakelander on August 10, 2015, 10:03:33 AM
Edgewood would be an excellent corridor. However, to accommodate bike facilities, you'd probably be better off switching to reverse diagonal parking through Murray Hill.
(http://placemaking.mml.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Back-in-angled-parking.png)
That would be entertaining to watch.
Back in angled parking (although unfamiliar in these parts) has been proven to reduce accidents.
Am I missing something? I thought Jacksonville already went thru road diet. San Marco and Hendricks. Also some roads in riverside too. So kind of late with this.
^Yes, I think Tallulah in Panama Park may have been the last. So is Jax ready for more? IMO, over 50% of the major streets in the urban core would benefit from being right-sized.
Quote from: thelakelander on August 10, 2015, 09:05:11 PM
^Yes, I think Tallulah in Panama Park may have been the last. So is Jax ready for more? IMO, over 50% of the major streets in the urban core would benefit from being right-sized.
I agree
I'd say the answer is yes.
Remember, public hearing this Thursday: http://www.nflroads.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/KingsRoadPublicHearingNotice.pdf (http://www.nflroads.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/KingsRoadPublicHearingNotice.pdf)
Yes, we'll have a story about a few successful road diets to roadways similar to Kings Road, in a few other Florida cities, later this week. One road is a BRT corridor, proving that traffic does not have to "stack" behind a stopped bus. Another has turned into a bonefide pedestrian scale dining and retail district. It strongly suggests that a street where all modes are properly balanced can generate additional economic activity, despite not being 4-lanes anymore.
https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2026/jul/23/proposed-street-project-includes-converting-two-lanes-of-riverside-avenue-in-brooklyn-to-parallel-parking/ (https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2026/jul/23/proposed-street-project-includes-converting-two-lanes-of-riverside-avenue-in-brooklyn-to-parallel-parking/)
Riverside Avenue getting a much needed road diet along with Monroe Street converting to two way traffic.
I can't wait to hear Ron Armstong complain about this ::)
Quote from: acme54321 on July 23, 2026, 02:41:28 PMI can't wait to hear Ron Armstong complain about this ::)
He's got it all figured out with the People's Plan of Jacksonville. Apparently, it's a utopian world where every problem gets solved overnight.
Many diets proposed out in flight. Not sure if any of you drive through St Aug Rd. But that got dieted. 4 to 2 with a suicide lane down the middle and huge bike lanes.
Very commercial and industrial heavy road that needed repairs 10 years ago. Mayport is probably gonna get diet too.
QuoteFor Monroe Street, the proposal is to eliminate one traffic lane of the three-lane street and add bicycle lanes to each side between Interstate 95 and Jefferson Street.
I assume new westbound traffic on Monroe would be routed north on Johnson Street to either Duval or Church. Johnson is the last street before the I-95 exit ramp.
Has the City talked to FDOT about how to handle the transition from the two-lane Monroe Exit ramp to only one lane eastbound on Monroe?
Unrelated, but looking at Google Street View, I saw that the Police Mounted Unit stable is on Johnson, north of Monroe. What happens to that city property if the Sheriff's proposed relocation to the Cecil Equestrian Center is approved in the budget?
QuoteFor Monroe Street, the proposal is to eliminate one traffic lane of the three-lane street and add bicycle lanes to each side between Interstate 95 and Jefferson Street.
LOL. This looks great but Monroe has to be the most expensive local street per mile of pavement over the last 40 years. First, it was going to be THE gateway street to Downtown from I-95. Big $$$ were spent to dress it up, accordingly. Soon after, the City decided to plop the courthouse in the middle of Monroe. Great example of no City master plan for Downtown. Just blowing with the wind. Now, we are changing Monroe again. That's 3 rebuilds, averaging about every 10 to 15 years.
Boy, do we need a Downtown master plan badly!
Quote from: thelakelander on August 24, 2015, 08:54:24 AMYes, we'll have a story about a few successful road diets to roadways similar to Kings Road, in a few other Florida cities, later this week. One road is a BRT corridor, proving that traffic does not have to "stack" behind a stopped bus. Another has turned into a bonefide pedestrian scale dining and retail district. It strongly suggests that a street where all modes are properly balanced can generate additional economic activity, despite not being 4-lanes anymore.
In other words, turn the stroads into streets.