A New Look For San Marco Boulevard
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In the upcoming months, San Marco Boulevard will be reconstructed to enhance walkability between one of Jacksonville's densest neighborhoods and the Downtown Southbank.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-nov-a-new-look-for-san-marco-boulevard
I didn't know this was in the works. Extending the pedestrian-friendly environment to I-95 is a great idea. I doubt that it could be successfully extended to the Southbank Riverwalk though. Good time to take and post some 'before' pictures.
One question. Why are they going to landscape by 95 when that is going to be ripped up for the new Overland Bridge project?
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/108/257227668_b6c8f3e055.jpg)(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/Transporte%20Bus%20Truck%20HIGHWAY/bus3_thumb.jpg)(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/Transporte%20Bus%20Truck%20HIGHWAY/bus1_thumb.jpg)
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/Transporte%20Bus%20Truck%20HIGHWAY/Berlin_vintage_bus-1.jpg)
One of only two possible streetcar routes on the Southbank and it looks like we're about to slam the lid on it. While I agree that the Skyway is a superior tool in this area as it travels not only over the narrow street but also OVER THE FEC tracks. Taking the Skyway from Kings Avenue to Atlantic on the West side of the FEC, would give us access 24/7/365. Something South Jacksonville has begged for since at least 1923. The rebuilt street would be very cool with vintage "Heritage Bus" as the circulate in this neighborhood. Any streetcar idea would have to cross the river either at or just west of the Acosta Bridge, or north of the Fuller Warren, squeeze between buildings and head into San Marco avoiding the busy FEC tracks.
OCKLAWAHA
Please indulge me, as I am obviously not privy to how our City government runs - but, how is it that there is money to make all these improvements in the Mayor's neighborhood? Surely there are other projects needing to be done, with the "need" emphasized. ???
Reednavy: One question. Why are they going to landscape by 95 when that is going to be ripped up for the new Overland Bridge project?
Right-hand, left-hand dude...
And they don't really care to compare schedules, as I'm sure it's 'not their job'.
we have got to be one of the largest purchasers of palm trees in this recession. is this a case of a budget needing to be spent before the year runs out?
Quote from: sandyshoes on November 30, 2009, 10:19:43 AM
Please indulge me, as I am obviously not privy to how our City government runs - but, how is it that there is money to make all these improvements in the Mayor's neighborhood? Surely there are other projects needing to be done, with the "need" emphasized. ???
This sort of project was probably funded several years ago. When the grants come in it's a use it or lose it proposition. Quote from: Cliffs_Daughter on November 30, 2009, 10:45:05 AM
Reednavy: One question. Why are they going to landscape by 95 when that is going to be ripped up for the new Overland Bridge project?
The I-95 project shouldn't interfere with this project on San Marco, in fact the contracts might even being done in concert with eachother. Whatever they do to 95, it will continue of fly over San Marco. Quote from: hightowerlover on November 30, 2009, 11:02:27 AM
we have got to be one of the largest purchasers of palm trees in this recession. is this a case of a budget needing to be spent before the year runs out?
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GREAT hightowerlover, as you can see, they have been our "trademark" since at least 1911. A salute to our historic roads and appearances is long overdue. OCKLAWAHA
Quote from: hightowerlover on November 30, 2009, 11:02:27 AM
we have got to be one of the largest purchasers of palm trees in this recession. is this a case of a budget needing to be spent before the year runs out?
They have a seperate fund specifically for trees, shrubs, etc. to be used during the year. I believe it is about a half million per year.
Even if we are in a recession, it is very wise to invest in landscaping to improve the city.
Has anyone heard anything about a Lethal Yellowing-type disease that effects Sabel Palms?
Am I missing something, or is the parking plan shown in front of European Street in Panel Two slanted the wrong way, against traffic?
^ I noticed that too. I even made awkward hand gestures of imaginary traffic flow to confirm that they are in fact the wrong direction.. Maybe the spaces are designed to be backed into....?
Maybe the COJ is "formalizing" its a*s backwards planning policies?!
Those are back-in parking spaces.
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LOL. That should be fun to watch. People can't park straight going forwards... they are sure to hit cars backing in! How proven is this "new idea" to Jax? What's motivating this change?
The primary motivation is so vehicle don't have to back out of spaces...where they are blind to on-coming traffic....lots of cities are doing this
Quote from: Ocklawaha on November 30, 2009, 11:25:57 AM
Quote from: Cliffs_Daughter on November 30, 2009, 10:45:05 AM
Reednavy: One question. Why are they going to landscape by 95 when that is going to be ripped up for the new Overland Bridge project?
The I-95 project shouldn't interfere with this project on San Marco, in fact the contracts might even being done in concert with eachother. Whatever they do to 95, it will continue of fly over San Marco.
Not quite Ock....the Overland Bridge project will involve changes to the parallel C/D road, extending it back to the San Marco off-ramp...so there is likely to be some effect in the area.
Great, formalizing one of my pet annoyances - people who insist on backing into parking spaces!
Somebody has a lot of faith in Jax's ability to back into parking spaces. Think I'll break out a lawn chair and some popcorn Cartman-style and take in the Friday lunch rush show sometime.
This is it: http://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/palm_prod/pdfs/Sabal-palmetto-Infected-with-Phytoplasma-in-Florida.pdf
Not good news. I remember when South Florida was covered with Coconut Palms, very tropical. Now, they are few and far between. If a similar plague hits the Sabal Palm, our landscape will be seriously f*cked.
Quote from: cayohueso on November 30, 2009, 01:37:17 PM
Somebody has a lot of faith in Jax's ability to back into parking spaces. Think I'll break out a lawn chair and some popcorn Cartman-style and take in the Friday lunch rush show sometime.
why would this be so hard...people often back into parallel parking spaces, and that's much more difficult
Bike Lanes????
^I feel the same way. Imo, bike lanes are more important then the center turn lanes and medians.
Landscaping vs I-95
As I recall the I-95 re-construction will be less impact on the San Marco intersection. THe north side of I-95 at San Marco will be untouched at that point. The south side gets an extra lane onto I-95 southbound, but unless there is a bridge pier at that location they can work around the island.
Besides all that the last time I talked to the FDOT they didn't have any $$ for that project and it was thought to go on delay.
Back In parking spaces
One of the vehicles I drive is a 4x4 full size pick up. Backing into a space is better than pulling in. The turning radius backing is better than pulling in.
^ Another Lane going south?? This sounds like it will cause everything to have to be changed all the way to where the Acosta and Fuller Warren SB lanes merge. I didn't realize how big this project was I guess.
A PDF on back in/head out angle parking:
lda.ucdavis.edu/LDA191/.../05-Back_in_Diagonal_Parking.pdf
Quote from: Overstreet on December 01, 2009, 11:58:21 AM
Landscaping vs I-95
As I recall the I-95 re-construction will be less impact on the San Marco intersection. THe north side of I-95 at San Marco will be untouched at that point. The south side gets an extra lane onto I-95 southbound, but unless there is a bridge pier at that location they can work around the island.
Besides all that the last time I talked to the FDOT they didn't have any $$ for that project and it was thought to go on delay.
Nope, it is "on" (from the TPO website's really awkward interactive "TIP")
http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/view_online.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnftpotip.edats.com%2Fattachments%2F%2Fn4BS9nS2s2_Duval%20County%20State%20Highway%20Projects%20%28FDOT%29.pdf (http://www.pdfdownload.org/pdf2html/view_online.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnftpotip.edats.com%2Fattachments%2F%2Fn4BS9nS2s2_Duval%20County%20State%20Highway%20Projects%20%28FDOT%29.pdf)
Type in page "78" to go to the project. Not much detail there, except that it looks like construction is in 2011/12.
From what has been said here, it looks like the I-95 project might affect a little of the proposed landscaping right at the intersection. Given the length of the San Marco project, not much impact.
QuoteSan Marco merchants brace for road reconstruction
They expect to enjoy outcome, but worry of losing customers now.
Over the next two years, that will change. Next month, the city is taking bids from contractors, and expects to begin construction in March on a $15 million project that will add parking spaces and beautify San Marco Boulevard from Prudential Drive to Naldo Avenue. The city will spent about $12 million; JEA about $3 million.
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-12-18/story/san_marco_merchants_brace_for_road_reconstruction
Avondale Merchants area is slated for work in 2010 after the holidays as well. Getting the "new park and king" look. YAY. How about a trolley to downtown with it?
When is this supposed to happen?
Construction should start right after Fuddruckers opens.....
They were suppose to have started in March, so your guess is as good as mine at this point.
Yeah we were walking through there and I noticed that nothing had been done. IMO this area needs it much more than Avondale did.
I think they may find that JEA does not always approve of the trenchless sanitary sewer installations.
Quote from: Captain Zissou on December 01, 2009, 12:06:06 PM
^ Another Lane going south?? This sounds like it will cause everything to have to be changed all the way to where the Acosta and Fuller Warren SB lanes merge. I didn't realize how big this project was I guess.
They are removing the north bound lanes and structure from the TV tower to near San Marco and replacing it with a dirt suported elevated road bed. More fill less bridge. They say maintenance cost on the old via duct is too high. It will be a big thing. Disrupting a lot of traffic.
From the Pensacola News-Journal:
http://www.pnj.com/article/20110510/NEWS01/105100312/First-day-parking-system-struggle-some-drivers?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE (http://www.pnj.com/article/20110510/NEWS01/105100312/First-day-parking-system-struggle-some-drivers?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE)
Quote
First day of parking system a struggle for some drivers
Written by
Thyrie Bland
tbland@pnj.com
Haley Von Haven hesitated Monday before backing her Mini Cooper into a parking space on North Palafox Street.
"It was pretty tricky," said Von Haven, 21, of Pensacola. "I have never had to do it before."
Anyone who had business to take care of Monday on North Palafox Street between Chase and Gregory streets noticed something new â€" angled, back-in parking spaces.
The back-in parking is the brainchild of the Downtown Improvement Board, which plans to take away most of the parallel parking spaces along a three-block stretch of Palafox and add back-in parking spaces.
When the project is complete, the parking spots along the stretch of street will increase from 69 to 174.
The DIB hopes the additional parking spaces will attract new businesses to that portion of the street.
Most drivers were able to get their vehicles into the parking spots without any problems Monday morning, but the new way of parking in downtown Pensacola is getting mixed reviews.
Harvey Harkness, 67, of Pensacola said the back-in parking is easy to do, but he doesn't like that Palafox is being reduced from two to four lanes for the parking spaces.
"To me, that just defies logic," said Harkness, who works downtown. "I haven't seen any problems."
Von Haven works at Style, a hair salon on North Palafox. She said there are pros and cons to the new parking.
She said some people will find it difficult to stop and back into a parking space. But she said getting out of a space will be easy since you won't have to back out of it.
"I think it's going to take some time getting used to, but I like that it adds lots of spaces," Von Haven said.
Kim Kimbrough, the DIB's executive director, said he knows it will take some time for some motorists to catch on, but they will eventually be backing into the spaces with no problems.
"I am not going to tell you it will be perfect every time because all the other cities we have talked to essentially told us ... there is a 'get used to' period that folks have to go through because it's different and it's new," he said. "Those range from 90 days to several months, but we are confident that folks in Pensacola are going to catch on just like they have in every other city it's done."
The angled spaces confused Susan York, 56, of North Carolina, who is here helping her mother-in-law deliver flowers. She tried to pull in "nose first" rather than backing in.
"I came in, and I noticed it looked funny," she said.
Cory Ricci, 18, spent his day working for the DIB. He sat on the sidewalk in a chair, armed with fliers that explain how to park correctly in the new spots. Ricci talked briefly with York after her mistake.
York said she thinks the new parking will cause some problems.
"What if somebody is behind you?" she asked. "Then they have to back up so you can back in."
Carla Seeker, 40, of Gulf Breeze said she found it difficult to back her sport utility vehicle into one of the spaces. She was in downtown for a hair appointment at Style.
"If you have a smaller car, it would not be a problem," said Seeker, who drives a GMC Denali. "You could probably whip in and out."
Seeker said she will try to avoid the back-in parking on future trips to North Palafox Street.
"I just learned my lesson," she said.