Light Rail Commuters in Clay versus the Outer Beltway??

[thelakelander]

My father in law will drive from Doctors Lake drive and head to Branan Field if he is going west on I-10. It allows him to miss the 295/Blanding nightmare. Same path if he visits his brother off of Normandy Blvd. And time wise, it shaves 5-10 mins easily with traffic and lights.

Why can't he continue this without an additional $300 million public expenditure to save an extra 10 minutes or so on his commute?  At least in the scenario of a toll road, the actual user eats more of the costs than the average taxpayer.  I'm all for tolling.

[JeffreyS]

^I don't understand that. If they don't want tolls and they don't want government spending, why don't they come out against the Outer Beltway?

For some reason people don't mind government meddling and government caring for everything as long as they are the direct beneficiary.

[jandar]

My father in law will drive from Doctors Lake drive and head to Branan Field if he is going west on I-10. It allows him to miss the 295/Blanding nightmare. Same path if he visits his brother off of Normandy Blvd. And time wise, it shaves 5-10 mins easily with traffic and lights.

Why can't he continue this without an additional $300 million public expenditure to save an extra 10 minutes or so on his commute?  At least in the scenario of a toll road, the actual user eats more of the costs than the average taxpayer.  I'm all for tolling.

It should be tolled, most of us that live out here understand that. Burden the drivers who use the road. however, witht the new St Vincents Hospital being built, Ambulances should be exempt.

[fsujax]

rescue, fire, police do not have to pay tolls.

[jandar]

Thats what I figured, since the St Vincents center being built will service Clay and part of the westside including Argyle.

[thelakelander]

There will be frontage roads as well between Oakleaf and Blanding, from my understanding.  So it would seem that some toll booths could be avoided by everyday commuters looking to keep a buck or two each way, in their pocket.

[Doctor_K]

There will be frontage roads as well between Oakleaf and Blanding, from my understanding.  So it would seem that some toll booths could be avoided by everyday commuters looking to keep a buck or two each way, in their pocket.

...which then defeats and/or undermines the whole purpose of the toll roads, no?

[copperfiend]

^I don't understand that. If they don't want tolls and they don't want government spending, why don't they come out against the Outer Beltway?

They are probably involved in the construction industry just like the Jacksonville Tea Party frauds. They don't want government spending unless it's lining their pockets.

[jandar]

There will be frontage roads as well between Oakleaf and Blanding, from my understanding.  So it would seem that some toll booths could be avoided by everyday commuters looking to keep a buck or two each way, in their pocket.

...which then defeats and/or undermines the whole purpose of the toll roads, no?

The frontage roads are for the existing residents along Branan Field Rd who otherwise wouldn't be able to leave their driveway as the toll road would cut them off.

One could take the toll road from blanding to argyle, or take the frontage road from blanding to oakleaf, around oakleaf plantation and back onto Argyle.

[thelakelander]

Florida DOT: $2.25 to drive from Interstate 10 to Blanding Boulevard
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-08-17/story/florida-dot-225-drive-interstate-10-blanding-boulevard#comment-456805

[jcjohnpaint]

And the good news is............... you now have to pay a toll! 
I'm still a little curious how this thing is going to work

[Dapperdan]

For a "major" announcement, there is very little detail.

[jandar]

Very little detail, when is it starting, are they following the original plan for development and overpass building before they start the tolls?

[copperfiend]

Agree with the above comments.

[Dapperdan]

All the overpasses are why it costs so much. They have to build one over Oakleaf Plantation, 103rd, and Normandy.