by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Years of lobbying and negotiating are finally paying off for Riverside residents. Two major roads in the historic neighborhood are expected to be converted to two-way traffic.
According to legislation filed by City Council member Michael Corrigan, state roads College and Post streets could be turned over to the City and restriped with the required double yellow lines before the end of 2006.
Corrigan, a one-time Riverside Avondale Preservation president, said that two-way conversion would enhance Riverside’s “neighborhood aesthetics by reducing traffic flow and crime, improve property values, facilitate communication between neighbors and property owners and hasten improvements in derelict properties ...
“We’ve come to the conclusion that, while one-way streets do work in a downtown setting, they really don’t serve any real purpose in a residential setting,” said Corrigan. “The neighborhood has wanted this for a long time and, when I was running for Council, I made it one of my campaign platforms.”
Eighteen years to be exact. In 1987 RAP and Riverside residents began a campaign to make the switch. The Florida Department of Transportation and elected officials were contacted, but little happened. But as work to build a new Fuller Warren Bridge wrapped up and efforts to construct a new I-95 interchange are beginning, Corrigan said it makes sense to move forward with converting the streets to two-way traffic.
“Since the bridge was completed, traffic has continued to drop through there,” he said. “We don’t have any reason to think that’s going to change.”
But before the City assumes responsibility for the roads, Corrigan said the FDOT would repave and upgrade both of them.
“That’s the idea,” he said. “Ever since these discussions began, the City has made it clear that we would like the roads to meet an appropriate standard.”
The City would then be responsible for all subsequent maintenance and improvements. Corrigan was unsure what that would cost, but did say it would likely not be an issue for at least a few years.
“When we assume responsibility for College and Post streets, I can’t imagine we would have to do anything to them for a long time,” he said. “The City will exercise a lot of caution, really look under the asphalt and into the infrastructure to see how they look. We wouldn’t accept roads that are in terrible condition.
“After all of the work that’s gone into making this happen, we owe it to the neighborhood to do it right.”