by David Ball
Staff Writer
Many Downtown workers may complain about the sometimes long and often aggravating commute from the suburban fringes into the heart of Jacksonville, but not Tim Forrest.
And if anybody has the right to complain, it’s Forrest, who travels across the Georgia border twice each day during his 60-mile trek from his home in St. Simons Island to his job at Legal Art Works at the corner of Laura and Bay streets. But for Forrest, the more than two-hours of daily driving is a welcome break.
“My view for me is water, marsh views across bridges, and it allows me to really de-stress,” said Forrest, who takes I-95 nearly the whole commute.
“The other reason,” Forrest quickly added, “is that I have triplet 5-year-olds at home.”
Forrest, 43, said he uses the hour drive home to relax in his plush Lincoln Towncar before commencing his fatherly duties of play time, bath time and bed time.
The drive into Downtown is even more peaceful in the morning hours, Forrest said, as few cars clog the highway until he reaches Jacksonville International Airport north of Downtown.
Forrest said the drive is a small price to pay to work as an account manager at Legal Art Works, a company that specializes in graphic and animated presentations for use in court trials. The company creates computer images of injuries and recreates animated car accidents, and Forrest works with current clients while attracting new ones.
Forrest even drove from his home to the office during a recent weekend to resolve a quick issue with a client.
“That was no big deal,” he said. “There’s no traffic on the weekends anyway.”
His commitment is appreciated by Legal Art Works President Jeff Davis, who previously traded Downtown living for a home on the Southside after the birth of his child.
“I used to wake up and within 40 seconds I’d be in the office of a start-up company, which was like waking up and walking into a tornado,” David said. “It’s nice to have that time to just let (the job) flow out.”
Forrest’s commute is definitely longer than the average Jacksonville resident’s commute, which the U.S. Census Bureau estimates is more than 26 minutes, but it may be a lot smoother.
Heavy development and growth near Southside and the beaches have increased congestion on major Jacksonville thoroughfares such as I-95, J. Turner Butler Boulevard, Beach Boulevard and Atlantic Boulevard. Detours, such as the closure of the Matthews Bridge, also add to rush-hour delays, as do accidents.
“One person (at Legal Art Work) lives at the beach,” Forrest said, “and I think sometimes I probably beat him home if there’s an accident on his way.”
Jacksonville is currently ranked as the city with the 10th highest reports of road rage, according to monkeymeter.com, a Web site that compiles road rage statistics through user input and surveys.
Forrest said he’s never experienced road rage and likely never will, as long as his drive remains the least-stressful part of his day.
“I hear people say, ‘I’ve got this long commute, so I’ve got to get out of here,’” Forrest said. “It reminds me of someone who was complaining about their twin 5-year-olds.”