I-95 Express Lanes from Butler to Downtown

[Steve]

Update: The Express lane users can technically get off at JTB when going south on I-95. I think it's going to be ugly though if many people get off of the express lane just south of Bowden, and have to come all the way over to use the exit.

[acme54321]

Oh man, people are going to go ape shit over the diamond interchange at Emerson.  Heads will explode.  Someone also doesn't know their railroads either.

[dbjax]

Oh man, people are going to go ape shit over the diamond interchange at Emerson.  Heads will explode.  Someone also doesn't know their railroads either.

I've traveled through some of these in Atlanta. While it takes some getting used to, after a couple of trips, the system is pretty convenient and safe. It just requires the travel lanes to be well marked and (gulp) people paying attention.

[Jim]

Likes: Diverging Diamond interchange at Emerson.

Dislikes: Insane amount of ROW acquisition.

[acme54321]

I've traveled through some of these in Atlanta. While it takes some getting used to, after a couple of trips, the system is pretty convenient and safe. It just requires the travel lanes to be well marked and (gulp) people paying attention.

Oh I think they're great but whenever they are introduced to a new area the locals go crazy.  It's entertaining.  Just check the TU comments whenever they run an article on it.

[remc86007]

I love the idea of the diamond interchanges. As far as people getting used to it, people have survived the ever-changing overland bridge construction traffic patterns, so I'm sure they'll be fine. Putting several of them throughout the city will help the transition happen quickly.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Didn't they use a diamond interchange at 295 and Old St. Augstine Rd?

I recently drove through there and it felt weird with both sides getting lights at the same time and crossing over lanes together.  I survived and can definitely see how it allows less congestion at the signals.

[thelakelander]

[brainstormer]

Why do they always target homes for ROW acquisition and not businesses? Those gas stations are dumps and the ponds could easily go there instead of making people move out of their homes.

I honestly think all of the express lane segments are going to be an absolute disaster. If you only have sections here and there it isn't going to work. The merging into and out of express lanes will cause just as much of a traffic slowdown as there is now.

[thelakelander]

I'd love to see some of the blighted commercial properties, like that old Days Inn off University taken out.  However, I assume the residential properties are considered cheaper ROW.  I also wonder if there's a way for NB traffic coming from JTB to access the toll lanes?  Other than that, I can see a scenario where express lanes are extended from this project, all the way across the Fuller Warren Bridge.  Nevertheless, where these lanes merge with the general lanes will probably end up being points of congestion.  They tend to be a mess on I-95 during rush hour in Miami and Northern Virginia.

[Jagsdrew]

After looking at the sketches, I'm not sold on this project. I think they can do a lot better on the locations of the retention ponds, access to the express lanes and just the overall layout.

95N offramp to Bowden
Congestion happens because of the close proximity of two intersections: Offramp for traffic to turn left onto Bowden and Spring Park Rd/ Bowden. If anything, demolish the Speedway Gas Station to make it one intersection not two to create a better flow

Retention Ponds
I agree with Lake, take a look at a lot of commercial properties not in the best of shape as well as the property at University and 95.  That corner hasn't been developed in 10+ years after an old hotel was demolished.

Bowden on ramp to 95S
Motorist are going to try to cross three+ lanes of traffic to catch the JTB flyover, I think there is a better way to avoid that by having a barrier to prevent this and direct cars to utilize the JTB off ramp.

Express Lanes
I guess the project is designed for no access between the starting and ending points which means a lot of bottlenecking will happen once these lanes merge with the general purpose lanes.

Did anyone attend and if so, did they elaborate on any of these?

[thelakelander]

I wanted to attend but the workshop ended at 6:30pm.  On a regular day, the earliest I get off is at 6pm.  Once I noticed the material was online, I decided to keep working on my deadlines.

[southsider1015]

Well, that's......interesting:

It seems like moving those walls would be really expensive. It seems like FDOT should have to make this work while leaving the wall. I get the six lanes though:

- 3 General Purpose
- 2 Express, merged back in
- the on-ramp from Emerson turns into a late

I think either they should dump the shoulder on the inside, or dump the sixth lane coming in.

It also seems VERY odd that the express lanes don't have access to JTB. Seems like a HUGE miss. I realize that you have to balance the amount of traffic coming into the lanes, but this doesn't make sense to me.

With regard to the ponds, couldn't they take it from the parking lot at Metro Square, and work with them on a one level garage? It seems strange to take houses versus using those awful-looking lots. I realize that the pond square footage overall is larger than the parking lot and it won't solve everything, but I've never been a fan of taking houses like this, especially when there is a lot of commercial property that is either vacant or underutilized.

A WB JTB flyover to NB I-95 EL is not technically in the project...yet.  The envelope is there, the concept is there...but the money just isn't...yet.  FDOT realizes this, and is shuffling funds to make it happen.

[southsider1015]

Update: The Express lane users can technically get off at JTB when going south on I-95. I think it's going to be ugly though if many people get off of the express lane just south of Bowden, and have to come all the way over to use the exit.

Nope.  No lane shifts necessary for SB I-95 EL to the new flyover to WB JTB.  The egress lane becomes the inside left lane on the flyover.

[southsider1015]

Likes: Diverging Diamond interchange at Emerson.

Dislikes: Insane amount of ROW acquisition.

Expect for the actual ROW acquisition to be about 1/3 of what is shown now for ponds.