by David Chapman
Staff Writer
It’ll be a meeting of the minds between transportation officials from several Northeast Florida organizations Friday at the World Golf Village as the Urban Land Institute hosts the first part of its “Going Regional” series.
The seminar, “Mobility Check: The Reality of Regional Transportation,” is one of three such seminars that are a part of Reality Check First Coast, a visioning exercise on regional alternative growth scenarios through 2060.
“It’s a program to discuss (between ULI and transportation officials) what we’re doing currently and what we will see in the future for transportation needs and growth,” said ULI of North Florida member Rob Palmer. “We’re hoping to elevate the level of conversation.”
One focus of discussion will be a potential Regional Transportation Authority — the logistics, potential funding and identification of the need for one — in North Florida.
Palmer said he expected close to 100 people to attend.
A panel discussion, moderated by Mayor John Peyton, to analyze the topic includes: Florida Department of Transportation Dist. 2 Secretary Charles Baldwin; Jacksonville Transportation Authority Executive Director Michael Blaylock; North Florida Transportation and Planning Organization (TPO) Executive Director Denise Bunnewith; and Northeast Florida Regional Council CEO Brian Teeple.
For many of the panel officials, it’s not the first foray into a potential regional transportation authority, but it does present an opportunity to continue idea sharing on a grander scale.
“For the last five to 10 years, we’ve had an emphasis on regionalism,” said Marci Larson, North Florida TPO public information manager. “The program is separate from what we (North Florida TPO) do, but it’s something we’ve had a lot of discussion.”
Although North Florida TPO’s internal discussions among board members regarding a regional transportation authority have been shelved until incoming board members can be caught up on the process, Friday’s program is still an opportunity to bring the organization’s ideas to the table and see how they fit in with that of other organizations, said Larson.
Along with Blaylock, JTA Director of External Affairs Mike Miller will attend and agreed with Larson’s idea of this being a key opportunity to relay his organization’s regional ideas — including commuter rail and waterborne craft — on transportation.
Attendees will also be able to hear from a current regional transportation success story within the state, as Citrus County Commissioner John Thrumston will give a presentation on the Tampa Bay Regional Transportation Authority.
“They’d like me to tell our story, how we came to fruition and the importance and benefits of thinking regionally,” said Thrumston, who serves on the TBARTA board. “We’ve really been aggressive and worked hard at it.”
Thrumston said one of the toughest, but most beneficial, challenges was getting the right people on board with the idea of thinking about transportation regionally instead of locally.
It’s a point he’ll also bring up during his presentation, he said.
“Congestion and roadways don’t stop at county lines,” he said, “and by working together we have a stronger ability to get a seat at the table for federal funding.”
For Palmer and ULI of North Florida, though, the discussion is just one part of thinking long-term for the area — albeit a big part.
“Mobility and transportation is a large piece of our ultimate, seven county envisioning series (Reality Check First Coast),” said Palmer. “It’ll be interesting to see and hear what everyone has to say and we’re excited about the anticipated turnout.”
For more information about ULI of North Florida, go to www.northflorida.uli.org. For more information on Reality Check First Coast, go to www.realitycheckfirstcoast.com.
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