The Beginning of the End for Regency and Arlington.

[stjr]

When the Matthews Bridge gets replaced, it should have some form of rail incorporated into it.  That would be the start of rail down the Arlington Xway AND Atlantic to the Beach!

See this MJ thread to witness the roots of today's Regency mess:
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,5600.0.html

[thelakelander]

Replacing the Matthews is probably 20 years away.

[stjr]

Replacing the Matthews is probably 20 years away.

The money spent on 9B would be better put toward replacing the Matthews Bridge sooner, than later.  Another example of misplaced priorities.  TPO needs to overlook St. Johns County politics.

[thelakelander]

Is it possible to have a private company replace the Matthews if the new bridge collects toll?

[stjr]

Is it possible to have a private company replace the Matthews if the new bridge collects toll?

I don't think Arlington residents would ever allow a toll to return to the Matthews.  They were leaders in getting rid of tolls to begin with.  It's business as usual - everyone wants everything for nothing! 

[tufsu1]

FYI...the Mathews Bridge is also high on the TPO Prioirty list....and will likely be funded in the 2035 Cost Feasible Plan (as it was in the 2030 Plan)...but the work that was done last year should allow the existing bridge to last another 15-20 years.....when it is replaced, there is expected to be some type of transit envelope included.

[tufsu1]

The money spent on 9B would be better put toward replacing the Matthews Bridge sooner, than later.  Another example of misplaced priorities.  TPO needs to overlook St. Johns County politics.

Not that I'm a big fan of SR 9B...but why should a regional transportation organization overlook the top priority project for one of its local governments...and for that matter, the fastest growing one?

[stjr]

The money spent on 9B would be better put toward replacing the Matthews Bridge sooner, than later.  Another example of misplaced priorities.  TPO needs to overlook St. Johns County politics.

Not that I'm a big fan of SR 9B...but why should a regional transportation organization overlook the top priority project for one of its local governments...and for that matter, the fastest growing one?

If TPO is truly a REGIONAL agency, then it should make decisions that provide the most benefit to the OVERALL community and the most people.  Promoting urban sprawl for people yet to come, if they ever do at this point (at least, perhaps, decades away), over the hundred to two hundred thousand people or more that might benefit from a new Matthews Bridge seems to me to be an incorrect decision.

It's a cold blooded fact that most TPO decisions need to benefit Jax because that's where most activity is located and where most of the regions population resides.  It also happens to be the most effective choice because road building to support future urban sprawl is poor planning, inefficient, and corrosive to our quality of life.

Really, TPO should be taking the 9B money and putting it into mass transit infrastructure, even before a new Matthews Bridge, unless it's to create a new mass transit river crossing.

P.S.  Even if I look at this from St. Johns County perspective, 9B is a waste.  It's been designed by politicians, not planners.  Improving I-95 interchanges and creating 8 lanes would do St. Johns a lot better.  Maybe a few more east-west and north-south local arterial roads that network into I-95.  Don't get me started on the Outer Beltway.  It's more of the same.

[stjr]

Why is it that the planners are the hardest ones to convince that their sprawl based planning is destroying the fabric of the communities they serve?

Stephen, one word, MONEY.

I offended Lake, Ock, and a few others a long time ago when I suggested that not all planners and consultants worked to better the community's best interests above their own paychecks.  But, like any profession, there are all kinds, and this one is no different.  Yes, there are lots of "good guys", just not enough.

[tufsu1]

I encourage all of you to do some research and get involved....what you will find is that things are changing, and possibly at a pretty quick pace.

BTW....it is likely that the money for 9B will come from FDOT funds...most of which can not be reprioritized to transit...whether any of us like it or not, there are funding sources and the money can't just be moved from one pot to another....its just reality!

[tufsu1]

If TPO is truly a REGIONAL agency, then it should make decisions that provide the most benefit to the OVERALL community and the most people. 

Just remember that most of these agency boards are comprised of local elected officials...that often only get re-elected by taking care of their constituency.

[tufsu1]

Who are the elected officials on the TPO?

you can look it up...under the "About Us" tab

http://www.northfloridatpo.com/

[tufsu1]

ok...you're entitled to your opinion regarding the poor planning....but just beacuse you didn't know about something doesn't mean that no citizen knows about it.

What I do agree with is that Duval County has enough representation on the board to steer the discussion...but it does require everyone to speak with one voice.

[DavidWilliams]

Many parts of Jacksonville are becoming bad and crime-ridden. Why the sudden focus on Arlington-Regency? Personal opinion....stop with all the Section 8 housing. It destroys neighborhoods (I live in one and can personally attest to its property value drops)...

[vicupstate]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/business/story/978675.html

Charlotte's Eastland Mall, like Regency, was successful and drew shoppers from any miles in it's younger days. I remember my sunday school class driving from 115 miles away, to shop there in the '70's.

The mall has fallen on hard times in the last 1-2 decades.  The situation is so bad that the city is considering buying the entire site so that it can hopefully be demolished and redeveloped. 

Could this be the futue of Regency Mall ?