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Streetscape moves closer to funding reality

Eric Cravey
Posted 3/22/17

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – A plan to beautify and slow traffic in the downtown are is one step closer to having a funding plan.

City Council voted March 6 on a resolution that asks the North Florida …

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Streetscape moves closer to funding reality


Posted

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – A plan to beautify and slow traffic in the downtown are is one step closer to having a funding plan.

City Council voted March 6 on a resolution that asks the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization to place its Streetscape 2020 project on the planning organization’s five-year list of priority projects. City Council also agreed to ask for a similar resolution of support from the Clay Board of County Commissioners. With those resolutions in hand, the city will ask that the project be placed on the TPO’s List of Priority Projects.

“The outlook is quite good in terms of funding. We’ve been encouraged to do this and we’re feeling really, really good right now about the possibility of getting some funding through the TPO,” said Scott Kornegay, city manager at the March 6 meeting.

Known as the LOPP for short, the list is then sent to the Florida Department of Transportation for funding consideration and inclusion in FDOT’s five-year plan, which is updated yearly.

“The LOPP is updated annually and is the document that identifies the projects the TPO is recommending to the FDOT to be included in the new fifth year of the [Transportation] Department’s Work Program. Projects are requested from the counties and municipalities and, of course, they determine which projects they want included on the list,” said Marci Larson, public affairs manager for the Jacksonville-based TPO.

Larson said TPO staff works with local governments regarding transportation projects, which are then reviewed by the planning organization’s Technical Coordinating and Citizens Advisory Committees and the TPO Board. Those reviews and approvals are scheduled for the TPO’s June meetings.

Born out of a community meeting held in February 2016, the Streetscape 2020 aims to restore the original main street character to Lawrence Boulevard. In the conceptual design, the project would run from East Walker Drive south to Lakeview Drive on State Road 100.

Prior to passing the resolution, City Council Member Dan Lewandowski said he wanted to see a final design plan before going any further with Streetscape.

“I would like to see a plan and how we’re going to put this all together and what is going to be included in what phase or are we just going to wing it,” Lewandowski said. “I don’t see a plan.”

The project calls for adding street benches, crosswalks and what are called bump outs, traffic calming concrete sections that extend into and narrow the roadway at intersections.

Lewandowski also expressed concern that parking places would be lost in the downtown area.

“Anything we do, is going to be a great improvement to what we’ve got,” said Mayor Tony Brown. “Parking-wise, honestly, I don’t think we’re losing anything.”

Donnie Bowles, senior designer with Michael Baker International, who has been consulting with the city on the project, said this resolution is the first step to funding. He also explained the overall goal of Streetscape 2020.

“What we’re trying to achieve is a beautification process, if you will. TPO has an initiative through the state where they are trying to do just projects exactly like this and actually Keystone is on the pioneering end of it all. So, a lot of eyes are on this project, at least with the state and that’s why this project is at the top of the Clay County list at this point,” Bowles said.

Bowles said the project does not include a roundabout as previously proposed by the FDOT.

Once placed on the TPO and FDOT lists, the city must then move forward to develop final Streetscape plans detailing how the project will look when complete.

“My vision is that we, at first, would come all the way to Lakeview, but because of money…safety should be our first priority with FDOT,” Brown said.

Lewandowski said he just wanted to ensure the city doesn’t agree to something they can’t back out of.

“Maybe it’s my ignorance of the process that’s causing this, but I don’t want us to get locked in to something that we haven’t had a chance to review it, look at it and see what the long-term benefits are,” Lewandowksi said.

City Council also voted unanimously to ask the TPO to place funding for the Rails to Trails Trailhead on its new five-year plan.

The next City Council meeting is April 3.