FDOT meeting planned for Murray Hill's Post Street

[thelakelander]

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) intends to make road improvements to Post Street. The $6.52 million project will start in early 2025 and is estimated to be completed in Summer 2026. Here are the details for a FDOT hybrid meeting scheduled to be held Thursday, April 25, 2024.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/fdot-meeting-planned-for-murray-hills-post-street/

[Jax_Developer]

Jacksonville sure does have some of the most unique intersections. This isn't my world, but this looks so confusing. Is that supposed to be a roundabout that's shaped like a pear?

[jax_hwy_engineer]

The limited right-of-way and confluence of so many approach streets seems to necessitate the odd shape of this.

I think this would be a huge help for this intersection. The signals there are such a pain to navigate and often lead to people queuing up on the train tracks.

I don't know of any other roundabouts that have a RR crossing in them; usually the crossing is on an approach leg, but not through the circulating lane(s) of the roundabout. This will be interesting but when the trains aren't running thru there, this should improve traffic flow greatly.

[jax_hwy_engineer]

(despite my name, I am not on the design or review board of this intersection, I'm just speaking as a resident of this area that thought a roundabout would be a good solution for this intersection a while ago, but could never visualize how it would look, and am pleased to see FDOT also thinks it's a good idea) 

[Charles Hunter]

Jax-Developer, your assessment is correct. The unusual part of this roundabout (pear-about?) is that it includes two railroad crossings.  For example, if you are coming from the north on Old Roosevelt (like from College Street), you can currently make left turns onto Post Street eastbound or McDuff southbound, or can continue straight on Old Roosevelt to Edgewood. After completion, you would have to go around the roundabout for any of these movements. Similarly for traffic coming from the east on Post Street going to McDuff or Old Roosevelt south.

Note this is advertised as an "access management" meeting, probably because the roundabout will change how people access nearby properties, as described above. The (apparently currently closed) Glass Station site and the BW Tire store appear to be the properties most affected.

I have a question about the map in the meeting notice.  The map key doesn't say what the yellow (pear-shaped) area in the roundabout is to be. What does FDOT envision there?

[Charles Hunter]

According to an internet search
There's roundabout with railroad in Sandersville, Georgia https://www.themunicipal.com/2020/11/unique-roundabout-is-the-first-of-its-kind-in-georgia/

And this article covers them more generally, and includes mention of Jacksonville's "Mister Roundabout" Michael Wallwork -
https://www.annarbor.com/vielmetti/car-train-roundabouts/

[jax_hwy_engineer]

The legend shows railroad ballast (a gravel-like material) which would be strange... I would think it would be a raised concrete traffic separator.

Also, the tire shop is closed, too. Neither of those businesses are active. The tire shop even had the parking lot concrete ripped up, it's a dirt lot leading up to the garage bay doors.

[Charles Hunter]

The legend shows railroad ballast (a gravel-like material) which would be strange... I would think it would be a raised concrete traffic separator.

Also, the tire shop is closed, too. Neither of those businesses are active. The tire shop even had the parking lot concrete ripped up, it's a dirt lot leading up to the garage bay doors.

Ah, the benefit of hyper-local knowledge.    When the Street View was imaged (Feb. 2021, the tire shop was open - but it does look like what you describe on the recently updated aerials. Regardless, FDOT has to consider access to adjoining properties.  At least anyone going into either of these will know what to expect.

It didn't look to my old eyes that the key color for railroad ballast matched the color of the "pear" in the roundabout.

[Charles Hunter]

I have confirmed with FDOT that jax-hwy-engineer is correct. I still think it is strange. Who will maintain it - FDOT or CSX?

[Jax_Developer]

I have confirmed with FDOT that jax-hwy-engineer is correct. I still think it is strange. Who will maintain it - FDOT or CSX?

In my RE world, it is typically the entity that makes the improvement that is responsible for its upkeep. But, we need Marcus to chime in on if there are any oddities with Railroad companies.

[Charles Hunter]

I suspect it will be in FDOT's court to maintain the area outside the RR ROW.

[acme54321]

RR Ballast in that whole area seems really strange.  Why not some landscaping on portions of it or something?  I know that isn't exactly a great corner but give it some love.