Task Work Plan Deliverable 7 Agency Meeting Summaries

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Herbert Simpson
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Task 1.4.4 Work Plan Deliverable 7 Agency Meeting Summaries St.

1 Task Work Plan Deliverable 7 Agency Meeting Summaries St. Augustine Transportation and Parking Master Plan Phase 1 June 2016

AGENCY COORDINATION MEETINGS May 18, 2016 Summary Littlejohn staff traveled to the Jacksonville area to meet with local and regional agencies that have a stake in the decisions and outcomes of the St.

2 AGENCY COORDINATION MEETINGS May 18, 2016 Summary Littlejohn staff traveled to the Jacksonville area to meet with local and regional agencies that have a stake in the decisions and outcomes of the St. Augustine Transportation and Parking Master Plan. In order to be efficient in time and budget, Littlejohn conducted four meetings on May 18, 2016, in the offices of the North Florida Regional Council, North Florida TPO, Northeast Florida Regional Transportation Commission, and Florida Department of Transportation District 2. Northeast Florida Regional Council 6850 Belfort Oaks Place Jacksonville, FL AM Attendees: Brian Teeple, AICP, CEO Margo Moehring, AICP, MRTPI, Managing Director of Policy and Planning Martha Graham, PE, St. Augustine Director of Public Works George Kramer, AICP, Littlejohn Joel Graeff, AICP, Littlejohn Allison Reagan, Littlejohn Brian began the discussion by summarizing the three duties of the Regional Council: Local government technical assistance and Comprehensive Plans. Regional Council has established a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designated as the Regional Community Institute. The organization seeks to address regional challenges. Two current items include sea level rise and climate change. The Regional Council works in the field of emergency preparedness through the development of local emergency planning committees. Lastly, economic development is a role the Regional Council plays with regards to assisting in business relocations incorporating the use of the REMI (Regional Economic Model Incorporated) software, which projects economic development benefit/cost data. Other discussion topics included: The Regional Council runs the Northeast Florida Leadership Academy, a program whose graduates work with or for other nonprofits. The Regional Council has created a Think Tank that is working on issues and concerns regarding water supply. In addition, it is involved with agencies dealing with affordable housing and transportation for the 1

3 disadvantaged. The Regional Council believes it has an ability to fundraise for these efforts when issues are clearly defined and not focused on policies. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation allows the Council to fundraise with other agencies as a charitable contribution. The meeting discussion then concentrated on transportation and mobility issues relative to the City of St. Augustine. Any study of mobility in St. Augustine should include a comprehensive and holistic strategy. As a coastal city, emergency preparedness should be very important consideration in the plan. Council members said that the plan should provide a long-range vision; their impression is that there needs to be action associated with the plan. In addition, they indicated a focus on communication, including discussions on funding and partnerships. Littlejohn was also directed to focus on how people move around the City. Within the context of the plan, implementation is the key. Discussion items involved safety, walkability, and control over tour operators. Also discussed was the number of plans written over the years that just dealt with singular topics. There is a need to integrate all modes in the plan. Their key was reducing the number of vehicles entering the City. The next discussion topic was regional trends. The Regional Council mentioned that the overall number of visitors topped 100 million visitors last year. They discussed the idea that there should be more emphasis to market small/rural communities. One way discussed included the Sea to River bike trail. Transit services were discussed with respect to coordinating current and future transit services in the City, with the Council mentioning bringing the Coordination Board into the planning process. Meeting attendees also talked about the mandate of transit for citizens in need via a Transportation Disadvantaged Service Plan by Sunshine Bus. Ch 427 Florida Statute (Transportation for the disadvantaged/trust fund/obligations) in the law. There was discussion regarding an uptick in non-greenfield redevelopment, including the tens of thousands of entitled lots in St. Johns and evidence of some real urban infill choices that would affect future traffic conditions. The St. Augustine parking garage was also discussed regarding the levels of usage during weekdays compared to the weekends or special events. The possibility of another garage was talked about generally. In addition, there was talk about Flagler College building a new garage on the west end of King Street. There was conversation of permitting public use of the garage when school is not in session. The topic of wayfinding came up in conversation about directing visitors to the parking garage. Other projects and considerations discussed included the King Street plan to address storm water issues; the Sebastian Inland Harbor PUD; possible connection between St. Augustine Beach and the City (trolleys cannot legally run on A1A, but transit buses could); how events at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre impact downtown; and how the TDC (Tourist Development Commission), a St. Johns County agency, promotes recreation, promotes the beaches, and handles promotion. 2

North Florida TPO 980 North Jefferson Street Jacksonville, FL 32209 1:00 PM Attendees: Wanda Forrest, AICP, Transportation Planning Manager Marci Larson, ABC, Public Affairs Manager Martha Graham,

4 North Florida TPO 980 North Jefferson Street Jacksonville, FL :00 PM Attendees: Wanda Forrest, AICP, Transportation Planning Manager Marci Larson, ABC, Public Affairs Manager Martha Graham, PE, St. Augustine Director of Public Works George Kramer, AICP, Littlejohn Joel Graeff, AICP, Littlejohn Allison Reagan, Littlejohn Littlejohn presented the components of the Master Plan and the Framework, the Phase 1 effort. The TPO discussed their Cost Feasible Long Range Plan containing two St. Augustine projects, including along San Marco Avenue to the Bridge of Lions. In addition, the King Street drainage improvement project is in their Plan. The group discussed the importance of identifying constraints in Phase 1 of the Transportation and Parking Master Plan because most roadway widenings are not feasible. In addition, the Phase 1 work should take local residents into consideration. The group also discussed how the City plays host to many modes of transportation that sometimes cause conflicts and inefficiencies. TPO staff discussed the Mobility Institute study conducted by consultant HNTB. The work and input was completed in three days for three corridors (King Street, Anastasia Boulevard and San Marco Avenue). The TPO relayed that people liked the streetscape renderings produced. The TPO said that citizens often feel the City does not care about their opinions. Projects identified as a part of the effort are finding their way to the TPO s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). Other general comments brought up by the TPO at the meeting included that some modes of travel (e.g., pedicabs and golf carts) should not be permitted on the Bridge of Lions to mix with typical automobile traffic. 3

Northeast Florida Regional Transportation Commission 980 North Jefferson Street Jacksonville, FL 32209 2:00 PM Attendees: Joe Stephenson, Executive Director Martha Graham, PE, St.

5 Northeast Florida Regional Transportation Commission 980 North Jefferson Street Jacksonville, FL :00 PM Attendees: Joe Stephenson, Executive Director Martha Graham, PE, St. Augustine Director of Public Works George Kramer, AICP, Littlejohn Joel Graeff, AICP, Littlejohn Allison Reagan, Littlejohn Joe Stephenson started the meeting by outlining his experience and history with St. Augustine. Currently, he is in charge of the Regional Transportation Commission, and he previously ran the TPO in St. Augustine. He remarked that many recommendations have been made in the past, including a US 1 Mobility study conducted by JW Buckholz in 1994 that suggested satellite parking and shuttle services. He mentioned that Doreen Joyner-Howard was the Project Manager of the US 1 Mobility Study. The group discussed the very limited roadway capacity that could be gained in the City because of the current street network and roadway right-of-ways. Discussing alternative mobility, Stephenson noted that bikes are allowed on the Bridge of Lions; however, there are no dedicated lanes. There are sharrows on the two bridge lanes. We also discussed SR 312, but noted that, technically, there are no bikes allowed on this roadway. He also mentioned that satellite parking needs to focus on the entry corridors for US 1, A1A, SR 16 and SR 207. He concluded that his impression is that people want to see improvements to the street network, streetscapes, parking, and ITS. 4

FDOT District 2 2198 Edison Avenue Jacksonville, Florida 32204 3:30 PM Attendees: James Knight, PE, Urban Planning and Modal Administrator Karen Taulbee, FDOT Planning Martha Graham, PE, St.

6 FDOT District Edison Avenue Jacksonville, Florida :30 PM Attendees: James Knight, PE, Urban Planning and Modal Administrator Karen Taulbee, FDOT Planning Martha Graham, PE, St. Augustine Director of Public Works Xavier Pellicer III, PE, St. Augustine, Mobility Coordinator George Kramer, AICP, Littlejohn Joel Graeff, AICP, Littlejohn Allison Reagan, Littlejohn Littlejohn discussed the components of the Master Plan: a Parking Plan and a Capital Improvement Program designed to serve as the implementation and funding plan. Littlejohn also discussed the possibility of funding projects either through mobility fees and or through public-private partnerships. Project implementation would also be accomplished through a phased approach. The group discussed the FDOT Transportation Improvement Program process as being a five-year plan. The Bridge of Lions is scheduled for a $2.2 million paint project. There was additional discussion regarding the intersection of the Bridge of Lions with Avenida Menendez. Jim Knight suggested that the bridge is not operating efficiently because of traffic volumes and signal operation. There was a discussion regarding the elimination of the westbound left-turn movements or the through movement to Cathedral Place as two options to improve traffic congestion around the Plaza as well as the bridge and Anastasia Boulevard. FDOT mentioned there are some potential obstacles and challenges when working in St. Augustine, including the historic nature of the City. There was discussion that roadway right-of-way is minimal with low possibility that any roads would be candidates for widening. Also, there are hundreds of Section 106- eligible properties. Another issue discussed was that the State is providing very limited funding for non- SIS (Strategic Intermodal System) facilities, and those funds are very competitive. Littlejohn expressed to FDOT that King Street is not just any state road, but a main street in the oldest city in the US. Other area projects discussed include the San Marco Avenue resurfacing and US 1 s new sidewalks to be constructed in

7 St. Augustine Planned Transportation Projects (St. Augustine Capital Improvement Program, FDOT District 2, North Florida TPO TIP) 6

8 Future (non-maintenance) Construction Projects St. Augustine North Florida TPO TIP Project Number: /2014 Name: SR A1A, FEASIBILITY STUDY Project Length: mi Description: PEDESTRIAN CASTILLO DE SAN MARCO FORT Project Number: Name: KING STREET (SR 5A), DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS Agency: FDOT MALAGA STREET to AVENIDA MENENDEZ Project Length: mi Design done, construction process in need of funding Project Number: Name: SR A1A (MAY ST) FROM SAN MARCO TO MAGNOLIA AVE Work Mix: DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS Project Length:.373 MI May Street intersection project stemmed from San Marco Avenue (SRA1A)/San Carlos Avenue/ May Street Intersection Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Traffic Study located under Planned Future Projects folder. Project Number: Name: US 1 (SR 5) TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES/SYSTEM From SR 207 to SR 16 Project Number: Name: US 1 (SR SAN CARLOS AVE. INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS - ADD LEFT TURN LANE(S) Project Number: Name: SR A1A (Vilano Beach Area) DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS PALMETTO AVE to SAND CASTLE LANE Project Length: mi Project Number: Name: SR 313 FROM SR 16 TO US 1 (SR312 EXTENSION) Agency: Managed by FDOT Work Mix: NEW ROAD CONSTRUCTION LRTP: 832 Project Length: In Preliminary Engineering Phase 7

9 FDOT Five Year Work Plan Transportation System: INTRASTATE STATE HIGHWAY District 02 - St Johns County Description: BRIDGE REPLACEMENT US 1(SR 5A) OVER SAN SEBASTIAN RIVER BRIDGE Schedule: PD & E NTP starting 6/14/2016 Environmental Certification (FED. Funded only) 11/06/2017 Type of Work: BRIDGE REPLACEMENT Item Number: Length: Transportation System: INTRASTATE STATE HIGHWAY District 02 - St Johns County Description: D2-ST JOHNS COUNTY TRAFFIC SIGNAL MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT Type of Work: TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES/SYSTEM *North Florida TPO LRTP mentioned work to be down from US1B San Marco to Bridge of Lions for and listed as context sensitive solutions ST. Augustine CIP CIP Improvements are largely maintenance/resurfacing related 8

Project Evaluation Criteria

Project Evaluation Criteria Goals and Objectives were developed to guide Envision 35 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) Update. These guiding principles were based on the requirements included in the