Brannon Field/ Chaffee Toll Road

[Dapperdan]

Does anyone have any detailed plans for the planned toll road down Chaffee ? There are signs up on the new Cecil Commerce road and also all the way down Chaffee past Oakleaf that this road will be a future toll road. I am just not understanding how this will work as it goes through may road crossing and lots of residential people use this road, me included, to go to work everyday. I understand it will eventually go over the river and connect to 95, but what about all the people that use it ona  day to day basis? Will we have to pay tollss to get to our house?

[tufsu1]

As I understand it, the new toll expressway will be built with local c/d roads on each side in the Oakleaf/Argyle area...those will remain free.....north of that point, the expressway will follow a new alignment and existing Chaffee Road will remain.

Go here for all the info.

http://www.fdotfirstcoastouterbeltway.com/index.asp

[CrysG]

I'm also confused(I've already been to the website). I have family that live on Branan Field(not Oakleaf). No one is being told how they will be able to get to and from their house. Also how are people going to be able to access the new Walmart on Branan Field from Blanding, pay a toll to shop?

I don't understand how they can change a public road that was paid for with public funds and then say it's a toll road you have to pay to use? Didn't we already pay with our taxes?

[tufsu1]

the local road will remain...either on one side of the expressway...or with c/d roads on each side

[CS Foltz]

Public funds build the road and it will become a toll road? Gee......if I remember correctly that is inside Duval County so I guess the City Council took it upon themselves to make this decision? If they did not then they approved this to happen.........I don't remember anything about that on the ballot I cast last go around! I think it is time to get rid of some Council members..........you know the ones that do what their builder buddies pay them to do or the ones that look out for themselves and f*** the people who put them into office to represent their constituents! John Meserve is supposed to represent me.....I did not vote for him last time and I will not vote for him next time! Time for a change!

[thelakelander]

Are there plans to build local service roads on the segment from Argyle Forest to 103rd Street?  I can easily envision a toll booth going between these streets, meaning if you're going from Oakleaf/Argyle to Cecil or I-10, you'll have to pay or go out of the way to take Old Middleburg Road and work your way back to Chaffee.

[reednavy]

Public funds build the road and it will become a toll road? Gee......if I remember correctly that is inside Duval County so I guess the City Council took it upon themselves to make this decision? If they did not then they approved this to happen.........I don't remember anything about that on the ballot I cast last go around! I think it is time to get rid of some Council members..........you know the ones that do what their builder buddies pay them to do or the ones that look out for themselves and f*** the people who put them into office to represent their constituents! John Meserve is supposed to represent me.....I did not vote for him last time and I will not vote for him next time! Time for a change!

The city council had input? I don't think so, this was FDOT all the way.

[tufsu1]

CS...you're starting to sound like a broken record (against Johnny, Daniel Davis, etc.)

Fact is very little public funds have been used...because the toll road hasn't been built yet....and FDOT intends to recoup from the potential private operator what little has already been spent.

[tufsu1]

Are there plans to build local service roads on the segment from Argyle Forest to 103rd Street?  I can easily envision a toll booth going between these streets, meaning if you're going from Oakleaf/Argyle to Cecil or I-10, you'll have to pay or go out of the way to take Old Middleburg Road and work your way back to Chaffee.

I'm not sure all the details have been worked out yet...but it will likely be similar to the Veterand Expwy. in Tampa...a portion of the already existed as a local road (from Memorial to Hillsborough)...when the expressway was built, the local road was rebuilt on either side...so one can avoid the toll by taking the local c/d roads and go through opne traffic light.

[thelakelander]

I figure it will be like the Polk Parkway in South Lakeland.  Harden, South Florida, Lakeland Highlands and US 98 are the main N/S routes in that city.  The Parkway serves as one of the only direct east/west routes connecting these streets.  Service roads were built between Harden and South Florida, partially because this highway segment was constructed over Drane Field Road, a street will a ton of existing development already in place.  East of South Florida, a mainline toll booth was constructed and no local c/ds were built.  So today, you can pay a $1 to travel four miles between South Florida and US 98.  Or fight congestion and stoplights to go a mile north on South Florida to Edgewood, Edgewood to US 98 and a mile south down 98 to get to the same point for free.  So you're choice becomes if a $1 is worth saving 10-15 minutes on your travel time.  I'd expect the Outer Beltway to present similar choices in the westside.

[stjr]

The Outer Beltway is another project people will long regret that is being shoved down our throats by well connected special interests.  I expect there will be controversy over the road itself, its effects on the communities it butchers, the tolls charged, and the contract with a private contractor who will have a state supported monopoly and guaranteed profits (see City of Jacksonville public-private parking garages fiasco).

Want to see urban sprawl at its best?  Look at this map of all the future roads in yellow dashes planned for Clay and St. Johns to tie in to the new Outer Beltway.  Nothing will be spared!

Map:  http://www.fdotfirstcoastouterbeltway.com/forum_docs/Pink_11x17_rev.pdf

From the FDOT web site, lame doublespeak (with my comments in parentheticals) is already apparent as they try to justify why FDOT should suddenly duck its responsibilities and hand off to the private sector.  Just part of the same propaganda tactics used to "sell" 9B.

Some of the primary reasons for public agencies to enter into public-private partnerships include:
# High priority projects can be finished faster (if the project is worthwhile, the state could bond this as well or better as any private sector entity and complete it on the same time scale);
# Use private business management talents for large and complex programs (you mean this project is larger and more complex than others experienced by decades of FDOT road building?  Including all of I-95, I-75, I-4, etc.);
# Use new ideas developed by private businesses (such as....?);
# Use private business experience to develop funding (what's cheaper funding than state backed revenue bonds?);
# Provides an opportunity for private businesses to develop, own and operate roadways, (yeah, so what's the advantage to that?  Excess and guaranteed profits for a politician's friend?)
# Public Agencies can use staff and resources from private businesses instead of having to hire more staff and need more funding. (Private or public, the taxpayers/toll payers pay for it all.  What's the difference?)

[CS Foltz]

tufsu1 ....have to differ with you on this one! I have been on "Polk Parkway" and traveling the length of it cost more than a dollar! Enter from the Bartow end and start adding up..........I think it cost me $3 and there was a fair amount of traffic on it.........nothing like 98 but a fair amount! As stjr says "Whats cheaper funding than state backed revenue bonds"? Private/Public Enterprise at what expense to the taxpayers over the long period of time.............tolls to be charged at what figure? I will not use a toll road unless forced to! Based on that why don't we just toll I 95 or the 295 by pass and really make some money.......include 9A at the Bridge side across the river

[thelakelander]

Yes, to travel the full length of the parkway costs $3.  When I worked in Lakeland, I'd only use the parkway if I was running late to get places in South Lakeland, Winter Haven or Tampa.  When I had the time, I'd keep the money and take local streets.  At the end of the week, a $1 saved here or there, begins to add up into an extra lunch or two.

[JeffreyS]

I would vote for tolls to provide streetcars or commuter rail but I don't think I would be in the majority.

[thelakelander]

I'd vote for tolls period.  Its insane to think that you have to have fares for mass transit but not for roads.  Pay as you play is fine with me because it evens the playing field.