by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
The schematics behind road closures, rerouting and other transportation concerns downtown during the Super Bowl have been finalized. The public unveiling of that information will arrive via the internet by early 2005, organizers say.
A concerted effort between the City, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, the Sheriff’s Office and a host of others, the site, to be named www.superbowltraffic.com is targeted for a mid-January launch.
JSO Super Bowl spokesperson Lauri-Ellen Smith said five key zones will be addressed on the site including the entire Southbank, areas flanking Alltel Stadium and portions of A. Philip Randolph Boulevard.
“We’re really looking forward to the site coming online for a lot of reasons,” said Smith. “There are going to be some great links on there that should answer just about any question that may come up as the game approaches.”
The bulk of those questions, she said, will likely be related to getting to and through downtown.
“The Super Bowl is obviously going to be a very exciting undertaking for the city, but what we’re focusing on is educating people on how to get through it with as little frustration as possible,” she said. “With a little planning ahead, things can and will go smoothly.
Even without the Super Bowl, Smith said, driving in Jacksonville isn’t what it used to be.
“That’s a tough mindset we’re up against, but people have to understand that they can’t just get in their cars and be where they want to be in 20 minutes,” she said. “We encourage everyone to look at the map we’ll have available and determine the route that best suites them. We keep saying it, but planning is going to be absolutely key.”
Downtown Vision Inc.’s Lyn Briggs agreed, adding that even with the relatively limited access to some of downtown’s primary arteries including much of East Bay and Water streets, there will be some flexibility with the system.
“No matter what roads may be closed,” she said, “there are going to be police officers on every corner who will allow downtown business owners and employees to get to where they need to be.
“We all want to be able to manage expectations and be as accommodating as we can be.”
Just be prepared to have the proper identification, Smith said.
“We want to keep things moving, so probably the smartest thing you can do at that time is have a business card or something of that nature that you can show to an officer,” she said. “Aside from that, we want to make sure everyone is aware of the free flow that will be available on Ashley, Duval and Monroe streets.”
In conjunction with the site, Smith and Briggs said a series of public workshops will also be held.
Spanning over a week, each session will be targeted at various downtown groups, including restaurant owners, property managers and residents.
Likely taking place at City Hall, the dates of those meetings have not been determined.
“It’s going to take some careful planning,” Smith said, “but it can work.”