by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Representatives from several City departments and independent agencies met at City Hall Monday to determine what needs to happen before signage downtown can be effectively developed and implemented.
A sub-committee chaired by City Council member Suzanne Jenkins has been working to improve the current system, “a good concept good awry,” for months.
In January, the group’s efforts were derailed after new federal guidelines seemed to present a direct conflict.
Though finding favor among the Downtown Development Authority, Downtown Vision, Inc. and the Jacksonville and the Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau, color-coded signs corresponding with the various downtown sub-districts won’t be further pursued unless an appeal from the State is granted.
According to Jim Scott of the Florida Department of Transportation, that likely won’t happen any time soon.
“You can try,” said Scott, “but it was my understanding the new guidelines were developed so there would be consistency throughout the country, no matter what city you’re in. They wanted to simplify the system.
“Because people were having different interpretations of what was acceptable before, they wanted to be as clear as possible.”
According to the Federal Highway Administration Manual, with respect to State and federal roads, “Different color sign backgrounds shall not be used to provide color coding destinations.”
Scott said Ocean, Main, Beaver and Union streets, the streets comprising much of the proposed plan, are all under State domain.
City traffic engineer Richard McCubbin said the City would follow federal standards on non-state roads.
Jenkins and Eric Lindstrom from the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission questioned the validity and scope of the new standards.
“This, to me, seems like an unintended consequence,” said Jenkins. “I don’t think these guys thought the new rule all the way through before it was implemented. It’s too broad.
“I don’t think they even thought about the State roads that run through the city.”
Before abandoning the color-coding option, Lindstrom said an appeal was worth a try.
“I think it would be wise to try to take an avenue through the rule,” he said. “[Color-coding] would reduce the amount of confusion we have now and also help establish district identities.”
Reaching an apparent standstill, the group said it would continue to work toward more attainable goals, including adding “downtown” to markers from the interstate and developing free-standing maps for pedestrians away from the downtown streetscape.
It was unclear what would be ready in time for the Super Bowl next February.
The group hopes to compile more information and turn it over to a consulting firm over the next few weeks. After model signs are developed they will be reviewed by the FDOT.