Next Up: A Makeover For Riverplace Blvd.

[Metro Jacksonville]

Next Up: A Makeover For Riverplace Blvd.



The Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) is moving forward with plans to rebuild the Southbank's Riverplace Boulevard into a pedestrian friendly strip between Prudential Drive and Main Street. Two conceptual alternatives have been developed for consideration. Take a look and let us know what option you prefer best!

Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2015-jan-next-up-a-makeover-for-riverplace-blvd

[Charles Hunter]

How does this fit with JTA's BRT route that goes along this same stretch of road?

[brainstormer]

Love the combination of a bike path and pedestrian sidewalk! I think I like option 1 better. Angled parking in that area with the large amount of traffic seems dangerous.

[jcjohnpaint]

What would the on street parking even be for?  I like 1 better.  Curious about how the BRT fits in. 

[mbwright]

Who is paying for this?  Are there not other areas that are in worse shape that would be a higher priority?

[acme54321]

It would be nice if this went all the way to Mosh at the roundabout (that's not really a roundabout because it has stopsigns, not sure what's up with that??)

[iMarvin]

You can see a little bus lane in this picture.



Two things:

1. I think it would make more sense to switch the sidewalk and bike path. The bike path should be the one closer to the street.
2. Why does the second lane always merge?

[fieldafm]

Angled parking in that area with the large amount of traffic seems dangerous.

Traffic counts are currently under 40% (37.45%) of the roadway's capacity according to the latest COJ data and vehicle to vehicle accidents are not high (although vehicle to bicylce crashes are high, particularly where Prudential turns into Hendricks). There is ample evidence that supports the structural capactiy for a road diet.

That said, there are positives and negatives. Angled parking generally increases parking capacity and puts drivers exiting vehicles out of harms way of oncoming traffic.

There was a study done in Lincoln, NE which concluded that when compensatig for an increase in parking volume (meaning more cars parked on the thoroughfare... and an increase in supply will have an effect on the raw number of accidents)... there was little statistical difference between the rate of crashes for paralell versus angled parking.

The newest 'innovation' in street parking is the back in angled parking... which has shown to decrease auto accidents when compared to front in angled parking in the dozen communities that implemented this style of parking (granted, the overall sample size in the data set is still relatively low).

[thelakelander]

Reverse angle parking in Baltimore's Hampden neighborhood:

[fieldafm]

Frankly, both options are pretty stale at best.

Why not have something that integrates the pocket park in front of the condos?  How about a plaza area along the undeveloped parcel in front of the condos (this would make a great outdoor seating area for a future restaurant on this site) or fronting the parking lot in front of the hotel (in the future, this parcel of land would make a great pedestrian scale row of shops... careful integration of more useable public space could result in outdoor seating areas for this kind of future use)?

Not to sure the bicycle infrastructure is as safe as can be either. The sidewalk/bike path configuration should be reversed.

Prudential Drive should be the vibrant Main Street of the Soutbank. These plans just place a few concrete bulbs here and there, sprinkles in some on-street parking and calls it a day.

The Southbank deserves MUCH better.

[fieldafm]

Who is paying for this?  Are there not other areas that are in worse shape that would be a higher priority?

The property owners in the area are paying for this. It's money generated from the TIF that is to be used to pay for capital improvement projects for this neighborhood.

[coredumped]

What would the on street parking even be for?

There's some stores in riverplace tower (I know of at least Harbees jewelers), sake house is nearby, a couple of banks, etc. It's also nice to park there rather than the parking garage if you're a visitor to the condos nearby.

I like them, both are good options, I'm just happy there's a REAL bike lane!

[Tacachale]

Bike lanes - especially *real* ones - are much needed on that strip. The current setup is frankly dangerous.

[jaxjaguar]

Both seem fine to me. I just hope we use something other than crap myrtles or scrub oaks for the shade providing trees. I would prefer the "back in" angled spaces though. There's nothing I hate more than the spots in 5-points.... Back up 5 inches, nearly get clobbered, wait a few seconds, nearly get clobbered again. I'd like to know what's coming before getting hit haha.

Also, the green median in front of The Strand and The Peninsula has got to go. It would force all of the residents to use the parking circle to get to the garage or come from the North bound lane on Hendricks, rather than the free flowing way it is now. I can see the traffic jams as residents come home from work / try to turn left now... 

[riverside_mail]

As I do not frequent the area, I am ignorant of the situation, but is there really a need for on street parking or is this just an extension of the city needing or wanting to build a BRT station?