by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
People throughout Jacksonville may not realize it, but they come in contact with the Better Jacksonville Plan (BJP) on a regular basis.
Improvements to the intersection at Beach and Kernan boulevards are being finished with the help of $43.12 million in BJP funding and similar improvements are underway at Atlantic and Kernan boulevards for about $45 million with the goal of reducing traffic congestion.
This was one of the goals of a plan the citizens voted to approve in 2001 and this plan receives a regular review shortly after the end of July every year.
“We’ll get the information about a week before the meeting,” said City Council Auditor Kirk Sherman. “The FAC-PAC (BJP Finance and Project Administration Committees) meeting usually takes place on the last Friday of the month and JTA, Public Works Department, JEA and Finance Committee meet to discuss the status of projects.”
The BJP is a $2.25 billion growth management program that provides funding for road and infrastructure improvements, environmental preservation, targeted economic development and new and improved public facilities. The plan is funded partly by a half-cent sales tax approved by Duval County voters in 2001.
The funding for the plan is broken up into four categories: roads/infrastructure/transportation ($1.5 billion), public facilities ($525 million), environment/quality of life ($165 million) and targeted economic development ($60 million).
Two of the biggest road projects underway, currently, are the Atlantic and Kernan boulevard intersection and the Beach Boulevard Intracoastal Waterway Bridge. Both projects aim to provide relief for traffic congestion and the improvements at Atlantic and Kernan will be similar to the measures used a little south at the intersection of Beach and Kernan. The latter is awaiting review of some “punch list” items before it is considered completed, but the overpass is used by drivers every day.
The Beach Boulevard Intracoastal Waterway Bridge was widened from four lanes to six lanes between San Pablo and Penman roads. This process included the replacement of two existing two-lane bridges with high level bridges of three lanes each.
“We started the Atlantic and Kernan project in the first quarter of 2009 and it should be completed by the end of 2010,” said Mike Miller, spokesperson for JTA. “The Beach Boulevard Intracoastal Bridge project should be done by the end of this year, so we are right where we are supposed be.”
Public facilities projects include the new Duval County Courthouse, which has seen foundation work begin on its property. BJP has provided $211 million for the project which is scheduled for completion in late 2011. Other vertical projects within the Better Jacksonville Plan that are complete and in use include the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, the Arena, the Main Library, several new branch libraries and renovations to others and the Equestrian Center.
One phase of the Environmental/Quality of life category that is nearing completion is the Septic Tank Remediation Program. Six areas in the city were designated as “nuisance” areas for septic systems and chosen for phase out of the systems. Pernecia, Lake Forest, Murray Hill, Scott Mill Hill, Glynlea and Oakwood Villas received the assistance through the phase-out program.
JEA reported in January that Oakwood Villas was the last area to receive assistance through the program and construction was underway to provide that area with connections to the City sewer system.
Targeted economic development projects, “were strategically chosen to leverage existing resources to encourage growth in areas that traditionally lagged in development opportunities.”
Facilities including the Jacksonville Equestrian Center and Jacksonville Zoo and the Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund benefit from funding from this category.
The status of BJP projects will be discussed at the next FAC-PAC meeting July 31 at 9 a.m. in the JTA board room at 100 N. Myrtle Ave.
356-2466