by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Stay the course.
That was ultimately the decision among North Florida Transportation Planning Organization board members regarding the 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan. The plan brings transportation, government, business and civic leaders together to create a long term transportation vision for the region.
The study was at a crossroads, though, and at a critical decision point regarding a transition of phases from the “how to grow” to the “needs” aspect.
Multiple options were presented before the board comparing growth alternatives to the one predicted in a County comprehensive plan – one that reflects the current local land use policies and developments of regional impact that calls for significant redevelopment of Downtown Jacksonville with traditional suburban growth on the edges of exisiting suburban area – with the question of whether to follow it or follow one of the created plans that might allow higher densities needed to make transit work better.
The current trend scenario dealing with economic growth and environmental protection issues as well as the potential doubling of region populations were all factors. One choice that allowed for more growth along existing traffic corridors and called for structural infill was popular with stakeholders – who unanimously liked the plan – and planning organizations – which favored the plan over three others, yet sided with the current trends plan – that had seen the presentation before.
In the end, it was a discussion of transportation and land use policies and inconsistencies with already adapted land use plans and insufficient discussion with local officials that caused the aforementioned planners and ultimately the North Florida TPO board to vote in favor of moving forward with the current trends plan.
The work on the alternative plans was not in vain, though, as the issue and such plans will be looked at in the future. Additionally, all four alternative plans will be given to proper community agencies for further study.
The board’s decision to continue with the current trends growth plan, though detailed and debated, was the easy part said North Florida TPO Executive Director Denise Bunnewith. Now come the difficult decisions in the future regarding cost feasibility of projects that will need to be addressed in the chosen growth plan.
“Brace yourselves for the tough decisions,” said Bunnewith.
Other news and notes from Thursday’s North Florida TPO meeting:
• During his report, Florida Department of Transportation District No. 2 Secretary Charles Baldwin said with the Florida Legislature’s recent sweeping of $120 million from the transportation trust fund and the governor’s impending signature, the state will no longer be able to potentially receive redistributed stimulus funds. The funds would be available if transportation projects from other states were deemed ineligible, or if other state officials didn’t accept such funds. The taking from the trust fund, said Baldwin, violated a “maintenance of effort” stipulation that was included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for transportation and infrastructure projects that required states to maintain funding effort from the date of the enactment – Feb. 17, 2009 – through Sept. 30, 2010. “We can no longer stand in line,” said Baldwin.
• The organization had a few overseas visitors sitting in on its monthly board meeting. As part of the Group Study Exchange 2009 Urbanization Florida, five urbanization officials from the Netherlands observed the meeting as part of the experience to understand the cultural and professional differences between Florida and the Netherlands.
356-2466