by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The latest downtown traffic study is out and one of the most noticeable recommendations is to convert several one-way streets into two-way streets.
Over the last several months, King Robinson, engineering consultants, has examined downtown traffic patterns and how major construction projects — and their planned street closures — and the 2005 Super Bowl will affect traffic flow. Last week, King Robinson presented its preliminary study to officials representing several City entities and other groups with vested interests downtown. According to Director of Planning & Development Jeannie Fewell, everyone in attendance agreed the changes made sense.
“It was well-received by all the agencies,” said Fewell. “They all liked it. A lot of thought went into this and a lot of studying of downtown was done.”
Although it will take several months to implement and require City Council approval, plans are to convert Ashley, Church, Duval, Pearl and Laura streets from one-way to two-way. The proposal also suggests making Julia Street one-way from State to Bay streets and the creation of a new street from Forsyth to Monroe streets between Stuart and Johnson streets at the western edge of downtown. Fewell said the process isn’t easy, but with everyone in agreement, it will be easier to push the projects through all the proper channels.
“The Ashley and Church street changes are part of the downtown Master Plan which was adopted by City Council,” explained Fewell. “That will allow people to circulate around downtown better. The one-way roads tends to take people farther away from where they want to go.”
The new Main Library and Duval County Courthouse complex are major reasons for the proposed changes. City officials want easy access to the library and, with portions of Clay, Monroe and Pearl streets being closed to accommodate the courthouse, changes will have to be made to surrounding streets in order to facilitate the public’s use of the $211 million courthouse.
City Council member Suzanne Jenkins, whose Dist. 4 encompasses parts of downtown, approves of the idea. In addition to helping residents get to public buildings, Jenkins believes the changes will have a positive affect on downtown businesses and help slow down motorists.
“I think it promotes retail as well, which is what everyone wants,” said Jenkins. “Two-way streets will help slow down traffic so you don’t feel like you’re walking next to an expressway.”
The study and subsequent report is the culmination to almost five years of work, much of which has been done by the Downtown Development Authority and the Downtown Parking Task Force. Others involved in the process include the mayor’s office, JTA, Public Works, the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, the Florida Department of Transportation and the Super Bowl Host Committee.
Fewell said even though the study and recommendations were initially approved, a lot of red tape has to be negotiated before the changes take place — and that’s just on paper. Physically, doing the conversion is costly and takes time.
“We won’t close the roads, but we’ll do improvements,” said Fewell. “They also have to be restriped and traffic lights have to be installed.”
The changes, by law, also have to be publicly noticed.