by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
City Council member Lake Ray advocated Wednesday a policy shift that will consider a $75 million Intelligent Transportation System as a possible alternative to controversial interchange improvements already approved by Jacksonville voters.
Ray has been one of the City’s strongest supporters of ITS, a high–tech system that routes traffic away from clogged intersections toward open lanes. During a Council workshop, Ray said, in addition to cutting commuters’ transit times, committing to ITS will make the City a more attractive business destination and would keep Jacksonville in line to receive State and federal transportation dollars — some of which are tied to the system.
Further, Ray suggested that ITS could help solve the City’s overpass dilemma. Although the Better Jacksonville Plan includes $251 million to build 12, traffic–relieving intersection overpasses, neighborhood activists have protested the massive concrete structures as harmful to property values.
By Ray’s estimate, four of the overpasses will not survive the political process, leaving $80 million the City could use to install ITS.
“Some of the overpasses have been contentious issues,” said Ray. “It’s just a guess, but I’d estimate about a third of them will not survive. If you kill four overpasses that leaves $80 million that could be spent to see that everybody in the City benefits.”
Mayor John Peyton, in a recent speech to the Rotary Club of Jacksonville, said he was aware of the controversy generated by the overpasses, but said he presumed they would be built. Peyton’s policy chief, Steve Diebenow, who sat in on the workshop, declined comment on Ray’s suggestion.
Ray emphasized that ITS would only be part of the solution. Matt Dominy, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s deputy executive director, said some interchange improvements would still be necessary.
“This urban legend that you can install ITS and you won’t need to build any overpasses; it’s just not accurate,” said Dominy. “In terms of helping with traffic flow and easing congestion; it can be an effective tool.”
The discussion over the comparative advantages of the overpasses and ITS occasionally became cluttered with high-tech language. Council member Faye Rustin focused the discussion on its essential points.
“Some of this is going way over my head, and I don’t think I’m the dumbest person in the room,” said Rustin. “What I need to know is how much time is this [ITS] going to save commuters? How much is this going to cost? And where’s the money coming from?”
Ray responded that ITS would cut five minutes off the average Jacksonville commute. It would cost between $50 and $100 million. The money would come from leftover overpass funds, State and federal funding and yet to be identified sources.
Think of the money as an investment Ray said. By cutting 10 minutes from the average commute (to and from work), ITS would essentially earn commuters an extra work week each year. Additionally, Ray said every dollar spent on ITS would save the City $10 to $30 in road improvements.
ITS has cut Tallahassee’s traffic congestion from 15 to 30 percent and shown better results elsewhere, said Ray.