Last public hearing on I-95 urban core improvements

[thelakelander]

Today is the last public hearing by FDOT regarding the design of the all-important 'improvements' to I-95 from I-10 to Beaver Street/Kings Road. Over time, local impacted roads from this project will include Kings Road/Union Street, Beaver Street, Church Street, Monroe Street, Adams Street, Forsyth Street, Forest Street, Park Street and Myrtle Avenue. And the Emerald Trail. If you care about any of these corridors, LaVilla, Rail Yard District, Brooklyn, Mixontown, Five Points or Downtown, you should consider attending this final hearing or providing your comments through email.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/last-public-hearing-on-i-95-urban-core-improvements/

[Steve]

These renderings make no sense. On the southbound side, they're widening the bridges/roads starting just south of Union, ending just past church, but no roads leading up to the widened sections.

It's like they're widening them for another project?

All of that said, the worst part of this today is the hard curve to the left and back right if you're traveling southbound. This doesn't do anything to address.

[Josh]

$200M for that shit.

Notice how the presentation only talks population numbers because they know the actual traffic volume studies don't show what they want them to show.

[thelakelander]

There are a lot of things in this plan that makes me wonder if proper coordination with adjacent plans, neighborhoods and developments has taken place. Forcing SB Myrtle Avenue traffic to turn left at Forest means anyone leaving that Columbia Ventures mixed use project (and all future Rail Yard District/Emerald Trail development) to use narrow Price Street to access Park to reach Brooklyn, Five Points and the riverfront. I doubt most will turn left and wait at that long Forest Street/I-10 signal to make a U-Turn. The plan also doesn't account for the cycle track that will be built on Myrtle to tie into the Emerald Trail/McCoys Creek restoration project (which is already under construction). The project also does not align with the road diet vision for Park Street between Brooklyn and Five Points. Seriously, do we really need duel left turns to Forest from Park Street?! There's more spots I question but at this point, I'd rather see the traffic analysis performed (TMCs, AM/PM Peak existing/horizon year projections, Synchro, VISSIM, etc. or whatever was used) to better understand why such decisions were made.

[Charles Hunter]

makes me wonder if proper coordination with adjacent plans, neighborhoods and developments has taken place.

Now that I have stopped laughing hysterically ...

My guess on the southbound Myrtle Ave traffic being forced into a right turn (you said left) is that FDOT will say that traffic can use the new roundabout at Forest Street. But you are right, the intervening signal at the I-95 southbound ramp will make that choice less appealing. Especially since the signal will likely be biased for traffic exiting I-95.

Seriously, do we really need duel left turns to Forest from Park Street?!

I don't know what that movement will be after the Park Street road diet, but in the few times I've been through there around rush hour, the left-turn from northbound Park to Forest backs up well beyond the Edison Avenue signal.

I'd rather see the traffic analysis performed (TMCs, AM/PM Peak existing/horizon year projections, Synchro, VISSIM, etc. or whatever was used) to better understand why such decisions were made.

At the project website link provided in the Jaxson article (but here: https://nflr2.com/StorymapFrame.aspx?ProjectName=I-95FromI-10ToBeaverStreet&sid=611df833496c46ba82449b190cf15be2 ) under the Downloads tab (scroll all the way to the right on the tabs at the top of the page) they have the Systems Interchange Modification Report and the Appendices. It looks like they used VISSIM, perhaps among others. Interestingly the SIMR limits continue north to the MLK interchange, so this project is a subset of the study.

[jaxlongtimer]

Interestingly the SIMR limits continue north to the MLK interchange, so this project is a subset of the study.

FYI, I recall this project is just Phase I.  Phase II will follow from Beaver Street/Kings Road to MLK when this project finishes.

[Charles Hunter]

One thing I noticed at the I-95 (Fuller Warren) and Park Street interchange is that traffic exiting I-95 to Park will no longer be able to continue straight ahead to Peninsular Place, as Peninsular Place will have a cul-de-sac west of Park.

It also looks like Lee Street will be interrupted at Beaver Street (US 90), so if you are northbound on Lee, you will have to turn right or left on Beaver. However, it is unclear if Lee will be removed between Beaver and Union Streets. Hoping so, as this should have been done as part of the last project in this area. Traffic making a ninety-degree turn from Lee onto Union makes a good target for high-speed traffic exiting I-95.

[thelakelander]

Interestingly the SIMR limits continue north to the MLK interchange, so this project is a subset of the study.

FYI, I recall this project is just Phase I.  Phase II will follow from Beaver Street/Kings Road to MLK when this project finishes.

Yes, I'm at the hearing now. There are unfunded plans to extend improvements up to MLK.

[thelakelander]

It also looks like Lee Street will be interrupted at Beaver Street (US 90), so if you are northbound on Lee, you will have to turn right or left on Beaver. However, it is unclear if Lee will be removed between Beaver and Union Streets. Hoping so, as this should have been done as part of the last project in this area. Traffic making a ninety-degree turn from Lee onto Union makes a good target for high-speed traffic exiting I-95.

Yes, Lee is being closed between Union and Beaver.

Also, there has been some discussion back and forth on the best way to address having the Emerald Trail cross an on-ramp where trucks and cars don't stop.

[Charles Hunter]

Looking forward to your report on the meeting.
If I weren't so tired from this upper respiratory thing, I would like to have made it over.

[Lunican]

Any improvements for the surrounding neighborhood? Sound walls or maybe just removing all the dumped tires on FDOT property?

[thelakelander]

No, not really, other that some potential landscaping down the road. Amazingly it was said that houses right next to I-95 in LaVilla don't meet the sound wall requirements. There will possibly some money for aesthetics but they were quick to push much of that on as a COJ responsibility.

[Jagsdrew]

Got a response back from the FDOT about enhancements and tying into more of the area

 “Thank you for submitting your comments regarding the I-95 project between I-10 and Beaver Street. It is our intent to incorporate aesthetic enhancements into this project, and a separate landscaping project will follow. Details such as lighting and bridge names, however, originate with the local municipality (the City of Jacksonville, in this case) rather than with FDOT. The City would also have a key role to play in adding any kind of feature within the center of a roundabout. Chapter 127 of the FDOT Design Manual provides more information on the approval process.”

[thelakelander]

^That's a punt answer that won't get Jax anywhere. Definitely the type of non answer that generally comes out the PIO office. Both COJ and FDOT should be flooded with emails.

[Tacachale]

This is a cluster in the making. Hopefully we can push for some serious improvements while the thing is still on nice, cheap paper.