by Rachel Witkowski
Staff Writer
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority needs more than $326 million to continue its road projects for the Better Jacksonville Plan through next year, but it could be 2010 before some of the projects are complete.
A funding request by JTA for $165.2 million from the City was recently made to support transportation program projects through September. An additional $161.6 million was requested through September 2007. However, according to JTA director of external affairs Mike Miller, the money is not additional funding to what is budgeted for JTA’s revised projects.
JTA is also seeking additional funding from the state, specifically for the state road projects, though it is not yet clear exactly how much money it will receive, said Miller.
“We have $140 million worth of bonds ourselves in order to meet construction costs,” he said. “Every day that we wait, the cost of construction continues to go up.”
The cost of construction is among several factors that have driven the need for additional funding and delayed projects. The number of workers available is another issue that Miller said he is concerned about. As new developments sprout up all over Jacksonville, the number of local contractors available and vying for road projects becomes smaller.
“We might only get a couple bids because everybody’s out at work,” he said. “It’s great for the economy but it’s challenging for us.”
Right of way costs to buy land from homeowners for road projects is another factor that affects funding.
“I don’t think anybody really knew what it was going to be,” said Miller of the costs associated with buying right-of-ways.
In the original 2001 Better Jacksonville Plan budget, more than $35.6 million was set aside to fund JTA transportation and infrastructure projects, according to JTA statistics. The total projected cost has skyrocketed by an additional $809 million to more than $834 million.
“We are proceeding as rapidly as possible to achieve our project timeliness,” said JTA Executive Director and CEO Michael Blaylock, in a funding request letter to Dan Kleman, chief administrative officer for the City.
The Transportation Authority revised its BJP road projects last year to list the top 20 of 32 projects that need to be complete. Some of those 20 projects are in the design phase or construction phase, but all are fully funded, said Miller. Most of the projects will not be complete until 2010 but the timing is still fluid, he said.
The No. 1 project that was added to the BJP during its revision was the Wonderwood Connector, expected to be complete in 2008 at a projected cost of $40 million, according to JTA. One of the most costly projects will be the new Mathews Bridge, said Miller. The design for the bridge is estimated at $40 million but could cost $819 million by completion, he said. The bridge is currently not funded.
“More people are moving into Jacksonville,” he said. “The roads need to be built, they need to be widened and bridges wear out.”
Some projects were changed in the revised design plan from overpasses to at-grade solutions in order to decrease the costs. The Greenland/Loretto/St. Augustine roads intersection decreased from $5 million in the revised budget to $3 million in total projected costs. And the Parramore Road extension project decreased $822,400 from its revised budget, according to JTA statistics.
Miller said JTA is also cooperating with the City on roads that are not designated to JTA in order to make sure Better Jacksonville road projects are done correctly and on time. JTA also meets with the community about projects in the specified area during every phase to communicate with those who are affected by the construction, said Miller.
“I think people understand that a lot of the projects mean inconvenience,” he said. “But it is going to be a much better transportation system. It will help.”