Staff Writer
The realization of a regional transportation authority hasn’t diminished. It’s just going to take a little longer.
The concept has been on the minds of North Florida Transportation Organization board members and officials for several years, with the group forming a task force last year to further explore the possibility.
Gov. Charlie Crist signed HB 1213 during the 2009 legislative session that charged the Jacksonville Transportation Authority — with North Florida TPO lending its services — with conducting a far-reaching study into the framework of such an authority. A deadline of Feb. 1, 2010 was set to file a report with a summary and recommendations on how to proceed.
Following the meetings involving seven Northeast Florida counties, several additional one-on-one meetings with county officials and hammering out the framework, the report was filed on time with the recommendation the Florida Legislature form a Regional Transportation Study Commission to finalize the analysis and begin to draft legislation to form the authority.
“They were very good sessions,” said Mike Miller, JTA’s director of external affairs, during his update to North Florida TPO members. “It deserves and needs more study time.”
Findings and themes from the JTA-led study cited the need for such an authority, as it’s the only major region in Florida without one despite the fact the region serves as a gateway to the rest of the country.
The yet-to-be formed Commission, said Miller, would further study four key points identified by the report: its powers and duties, governance structure, the coordination with other local government and transportation entities and its funding structure.
Miller added that the recommended Commission conclude its work and sunset Dec. 31, 2012.
“This will help take care of our future transportation goals and area needs,” said North Florida TPO Chair Doug Conkey.
In other news and notes from Thursday’s North Florida TPO meeting:
• Alan Mosely, the recently named Florida Department of Transportation Dist. 2 secretary, wasn’t in attendance at the meeting. James Bennett, FDOT Dist. 2 planning manager, told the group Mosley, would begin the position Feb. 26.
• Bennett also made a presentation to members detailing the recent programming of SIS funds toward the regional transportation management center and Jacksonville Port Authority area improvements. The funding will allow North Florida TPO to reallocate dollars toward other projects, including the recommended bumping up scheduled rights-of-way acquisitions.
• The organization discussed extending its boundaries an additional 808 square miles. Such a move would add portions of Keystone Heights and possibly include the addition of a board member from the Keystone Heights Airport.
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