The Mathews Bridge: historic or an expensive relic?

[thelakelander]

If a new bridge were built adjacent to the existing one, it would definitely include a shared use path component. My guess is that path would end at University. The big question I'd have about a new bridge would be the path. Especially over the Eastside. Something would definitely have to come down to make room.

[Charles Hunter]

Yes, there will be a considerable amount of right-of-way needed, on both sides of the river, to add capacity in the Mathews Bridge corridor. Also, at the very least both the MLK/Sports Complex and University Boulevard interchanges will need to be totally rebuilt.  This is easily a billion-dollar project.

[acme54321]

Yes, there will be a considerable amount of right-of-way needed, on both sides of the river, to add capacity in the Mathews Bridge corridor. Also, at the very least both the MLK/Sports Complex and University Boulevard interchanges will need to be totally rebuilt.  This is easily a billion-dollar project.

That sports district interchange is a total cluster.  It's crazy to look at the street grid in that area.  If that mess could be simplified and the street grid in that area partially restored it would be awesome.

[marcuscnelson]

Yes, there will be a considerable amount of right-of-way needed, on both sides of the river, to add capacity in the Mathews Bridge corridor. Also, at the very least both the MLK/Sports Complex and University Boulevard interchanges will need to be totally rebuilt.  This is easily a billion-dollar project.

The best time to have begun planning this was probably a decade ago. The second best time is now. No reason we can't put together a vision and then find the funding when we can.

[thelakelander]

Mathews has definitely been a problem and ignored because of the cost. When I was on the Northeast Florida Regional Transportation Commission, it came up during one of the Long Range Transportation Plan updates. It was like a billion dollars and at the time, there was a set budget for projects that had to be split between six counties. Mathews got pushed aside because it would have ate most of that budget, leaving the surrounding counties needs largely unmet.

[heights unknown]

Understood Lake; but I think we all agree they need to tear down the old Matthews and rebuild/reconstruct a new one.

[Charles Hunter]

Lake, if I remember correctly, the Billion Dollar price tag included both approach expressways, but I could be misremembering.

heights, but where are you going to get the Billion? It's not on the Interstate system, or even Florida's Strategic Intermodal System - hgihly doubtful we can squeeze that much out of the BBB.

[jaxlongtimer]

Lake, if I remember correctly, the Billion Dollar price tag included both approach expressways, but I could be misremembering.

heights, but where are you going to get the Billion? It's not on the Interstate system, or even Florida's Strategic Intermodal System - hgihly doubtful we can squeeze that much out of the BBB.

We could start by reallocating the funding for the U2C.  A nice down payment.  Not a fan of redirecting mass transit funding to a bridge but if we are going to blow it anyway, might as well spend it on something needed and useful.  Might be able to justify it further by including dedicated mass transit/bicycle/pedestrian pathways.  LOL.

[thelakelander]

Different funding pot than the U2C and organization (JTA vs FDOT) altogether.

[Charles Hunter]

There is nothing preventing JTA from partnering with FDOT on a new Mathews.

[thelakelander]

^JTA itself. I definitely don't see a world where JTA would shift local U2C money to the Mathews Bridge.

[Charles Hunter]

^JTA itself. I definitely don't see a world where JTA would shift local U2C money to the Mathews Bridge.

You are probably correct. Only a wholesale change in the appointed Board, which is unlikely unless there are significant changes in the people doing the appointing - Governor in Nov. 2022, and Mayor in May 2023.

[marcuscnelson]

As much as I would like to see them do something else, I don't think there's enough support for a complete sea change in that project. A lot of the problem is that people at large don't understand enough about autonomous vehicles to not believe the confidence of JTA. Another issue is that appointments like the JTA board are to often awards for political donors or allies, much moreso than for technical experience in transit. All that aside, I doubt any candidate for either office is going to see U2C as a big enough issue to make it a serious point of their campaign.

[jaxlongtimer]

As much as I would like to see them do something else, I don't think there's enough support for a complete sea change in that project. A lot of the problem is that people at large don't understand enough about autonomous vehicles to not believe the confidence of JTA. Another issue is that appointments like the JTA board are to often awards for political donors or allies, much moreso than for technical experience in transit. All that aside, I doubt any candidate for either office is going to see U2C as a big enough issue to make it a serious point of their campaign.

Agency, and now even college (see UF's handling of the new FL surgeon general joining their faculty), boards are mere tools of politicians that appoint them to further their agendas.  Just look at SJRWM, JEA, JPA, JTA, DIA, DDRB, etc. to see the local versions of such effectively non-independent boards rubberstamping staff actions, such staff, in turn, kissing the rings of elected officials who appoint them and/or control their agency's budgets, etc.

How bad does the information have to be to get the JTA board to abandon U2C or the JPA board to have nixed the dredging project?  No matter the negatives, these approvals were all foregone conclusions and the negatives had no chance of persuading the boards to veto or curtail such projects.

Boards are supposed to be part of a checks and balance system but it is nowhere close to working.  Maybe boards should be elected like our school boards to get better accountability.  It's odd that the do-nothing Soil and Water Conservation Board is elected but all the boards with potential real power are not.

[heights unknown]

Lake, if I remember correctly, the Billion Dollar price tag included both approach expressways, but I could be misremembering.

heights, but where are you going to get the Billion? It's not on the Interstate system, or even Florida's Strategic Intermodal System - hgihly doubtful we can squeeze that much out of the BBB.

Charles, understand where you're going; but IMO it's up to the people in power, i.e. the powers that be that get paid the money by the taxpayers to "find that money," and "squeeze that turnip," so to speak. If the bridge needs to be replaced, and we all agree that it does, those whose job it is to get the bridge built and to find the money to get it built, need to "turn to," and get er done; I know, easier said than done; but again, it's not our job, and, that's what we pay them for.