Blueprint 2000 Intergovernmental Agency Meeting · Blueprint 2000 Intergovernmental Agency Meeting...

Blueprint 2000Intergovernmental Agency Meeting

2727 Apalachee ParkwaySuite 200Tallahassee, Florida 32301Phone: 850-219-1060

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November 14, 2011

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INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGENCY MEETING

November 14, 2011 2:30 pm (immediately following the CRTPA Board Meeting) City Commission Chambers

Chairman: Bryan Desloge

Agenda I. AGENDA MODIFICATIONS

II. INFORMATION ITEMS

No Items

III. CONSENT No Items IV. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSION

1. Franklin Boulevard Flood Relief Project Update and Wayne Tedder/ Roadway Options Gary Phillips

V. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD *Citizens desiring to speak must fill out a Speaker Request Form; the Chair reserves the right to limit the number of speakers or time allotted to each.

VI. ITEMS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE VII. ADJOURN

Agenda Item

SUBJECT/TITLE: Franklin Boulevard Flood Relief Project Update and Roadway Improvements

Date: November 14, 2011 Requested By: Blueprint 2000 Contact Person: Wayne Tedder Type of Item: Discussion

STATEMENT OF ISSUE: The purpose of this agenda item is to brief the Board on the flood relief project modeling results for Franklin Boulevard and determine the preferred roadway cross section to be constructed along the corridor. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: The Board was provided considerable information in its September 19 Agenda Item. Key points included:

• Discussions have been held with COT Electric. Their overhead facilities will be temporarily relocated to the southbound inside lane to meet OSHA safety requirements during construction. OSHA requires a 20-foot clearance from all electrical conductors.

• The current construction approach is to use the northbound lanes as a construction staging area with construction from the east side of the ditch. Lane closures and detours will be required.

• The end result of the currently bid project will be a sodded median over the concrete box culvert (See Attachment 1 – Current Design Typical Section).

• Sidewalks and turn lanes are desired by the surrounding neighborhood, and are included in the ultimate design. Current HUD funding is only for the interim drainage improvements (box culvert). The inclusion of sidewalks in this project is being reviewed for feasibility and funding.

• The proposed temporary drainage design meets federal requirements for floodplain conditions, but approvals will still be required with FEMA in the future, before implementation of the ultimate drainage scheme.

• Blueprint has been approved for the fast-track permitting process for the COT permits. • The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been prepared, reviewed by Blueprint,

and is currently under review by COT Growth Management. • 100% Construction Documents have been prepared and submitted to Leon County and

the City of Tallahassee for review and comment. • The design was completed in September; permits will be received by December;

Construction Bids were opened November 8, 2011 with M. Inc. as the apparent low bidder at $5,400,000.00. Construction Notice-to-Proceed is anticipated in early January 2012. Construction will be complete by August 2012.

ITEM #1

Blueprint 2000 Intergovernmental Agency Agenda Item Item Title: Franklin Boulevard Flood Relief Project Update and Roadway Improvement Meeting Date: November 14, 2011 Page 2

• Per email from Harry Reed, Director, CRTPA, the Tentative FDOT Tentative Work Program for FY 2013-FY 2017 includes $700,000 for the Franklin Boulevard sidewalk in FY 2016. This amount will be reduced to approximately $500,000 if the roadway cross section is reduced to 2 lanes.

Previous Board Actions:

• On June 20, 2011, the Board took the following action: Option 1: Authorize the advertisement for Construction Services for the Franklin Boulevard Flood Relief Project at a cost not to exceed $ 3,600,000 (UPDATED 11/14/11: Blueprint has found that this amount did no take into account previous expenditures for environmental studies, design and project delivery and the correct amount of available revenue for construction is $3,300,000) which includes 20% for CE&I services and project contingency.

1. Authorize the Intergovernmental Management Committee to advertise, negotiate and award a contract with the selected construction firm and if negotiations are unsuccessful be authorized to move to the next firm in sequence. 2. Authorize the IMC to negotiate and approve a scope and fee with the CE&I firm selected under a separate procurement.

• On September 19, 2011, the Board took the following actions: Option 1A: Authorize the advertisement for Construction Services for the Franklin Boulevard Flood Relief Project at a cost not to exceed $5,400,000 ($1,800,000 more than currently authorized), which includes 20% for CE&I services and project contingency.

1. Authorize the Intergovernmental Management Committee to advertise, negotiate and award a contract with the selected construction firm and if negotiations are unsuccessful be authorized to move to the next firm in sequence. 2. Authorize the IMC to negotiate and approve a scope and fee with the CE&I firm selected under a separate procurement.

Option 1B: Based on input received through TCC members and City/County staff, authorize Blueprint to redesign the northbound roadway 10 feet to the west (at a cost of up to $200,000) which will accommodate a 10-foot wide inside lane, 13-foot wide outside lane and a future 6-foot sidewalk, and negotiate a Construction Change Order with the selected construction firm at a cost not to exceed $700,000, bringing the total authorization to $6,300,000. Direct staff to work with the CRTPA to identify a funding source for the sidewalk on the east side. Additionally, the IA directed staff to address citizen issues on sidewalks, bike lanes, and the number of travel lanes at an upcoming project community meeting. Since that time, staff developed three options, Option A (four-lane with sidewalk), Option B (four-lane with sidewalk and shared use lane), and Option C (two-lane with bicycle lanes, sidewalk and multi-use trail). These three options are further described below in the October 27 Public Meeting Section.

Blueprint CAC Actions:


• CAC Meeting on August 25, 2011: Although a quorum was not present, the CAC members in attendance concurred that the proposal to reconstruct the northbound lanes further to the west to accommodate a sidewalk on the east side of the road was the proper action to pursue. This action would help improve the pedestrian connectivity from the neighborhoods to Cascades Park.

• CAC October 20, 2011 Meeting: The CAC reviewed and discussed the 2-lane option. Issues ranged from the need to slow down traffic on Franklin Boulevard and addition of the on-street parking, to reduction of traffic capacity on downtown roadways (Gaines, Tennessee Street, Franklin) and how that would affect developers’ traffic impact ‘fees’. Four (4) pieces of correspondence were received for the CAC’s consideration, and are attached in the public comments. The CAC voted in support of the two-lane option. (A quorum was present.)

October 27, 2011 Public Meeting:

• A Public Meeting was held on October 27 at City Hall to present information on the flood relief project and to gauge public reaction to the Franklin Boulevard roadway options. Approximately 85 citizens attended (See Attachment 2 – Attendee Locations)

• Citizens in attendance voted for their preferred option by placing a “dot” on the appropriate board:

o Option A (Attachment 3): 4 lanes, 11-feet each, with sidewalk: 2 votes o Option B (Attachment 4): 4 lanes, northbound lanes reconstructed with 10-foot

inside lane and 13-foot outside lane, with sidewalk: 11 votes o Option C (Attachment 5): 2 lanes, 11-feet each, with 4-foot bike lanes, sidewalk

and trail: 57 votes • A cost comparison of Options A, B and C, including the shortfall is shown in the related

attachments. • Verbal and written comments received at the meeting, and additional comments received

by Blueprint 2000 since the meeting are included as Attachment 6. • The Informational Handout distributed at the meeting is included as Attachment 7.

Presentations to CRTPA Committees:

• The roadway options were presented to the CRTPA’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and a combined Citizens Advisory Committee-Multimodal Advisory Committee (CAC/MAC) at their meetings on October 31.

o The TAC did not take formal action, however the following was questioned or noted:

Will the box culvert reduce the roadway flooding to the point that the “level of service” standard, requiring that the lanes remain open, would be met?

With the reduced lanes, what was the resulting roadway level of service? Did Gadsden Street, Monroe Street, or Magnolia Drive have the capacity

to accommodate the diverted north-south volumes?


As related to the currently-bid-out design (putting the northbound lanes back in their current location) and the likelihood of a design change of some type, the issue of “quantity changes and unit costs” may be problematic.

o The CAC/MAC did not take formal action, however the Chair person indicated a general consensus for the two lane option.

The CAC/MAC wanted consideration taken for pedestrians and bicyclists crossing Franklin Boulevard, stating that it could be harder for people to get across the travel lanes now with increased traffic (fewer gaps) on Franklin due to reduction of number of lanes.

They liked the connectivity of the trail to Cascades Park above all other things.

Concern that turning vehicles will block thru-traffic where no turn lane is provided.

In an effort to address roadway capacity issues, staff has obtained traffic counts (AADT) for Gaines Street (as four lane facility) and Franklin Boulevard (before road detour). The counts are: Gaines Street (four-lane section) – 25,000 Vehicles/Day Franklin Boulevard (prior to road detour) -10,000 Vehicles/Day Construction bids were opened on November 8, 2011 and the apparent lower bidder is M. Inc. at $5,400,000. The unofficial bid opening results are shown in Attachment 8. All multimodal alternatives (Options A-C) require additional funding. Option A, the least costly alternative, which was approved at the Sept. 19 IA meeting, requires an additional $835,000. Option C, the most costly alternative requires an additional $1,365,000. OPTIONS: Option 1: Based on input received from the community at the October 27, 2011 Public Meeting with more than 80 percent of meeting attendees preferring Option C, authorize Blueprint to redesign Franklin Boulevard with the following design criteria: • Two 11ft. travel lanes; 4ft. bicycle lanes on each side; 5 ft. sidewalk on east side and 10ft.

trail on west side (see attached typical section). • Provide enhanced intersections for pedestrians, e.g. crosswalks, striping, appearance, etc. • Provide improvements to drainage system to collect side street/backyard flow. • Maintain dual lefts at Tennessee Street – drop one southbound lane near Call Street. • Roundabouts were evaluated and since they would require right-of-way acquisition, they

cannot be provided with this project. • Provide left turn lanes on Franklin Boulevard for northbound and southbound traffic at Park

Avenue, for northbound traffic at College Avenue, and for southbound traffic at Jefferson Street.

• Provide Landscaping and trail lighting where suitable

Blueprint 2000 Intergovernmental Agency Agenda Item Item Title: Franklin Boulevard Flood Relief Project Update and Roadway Improvement Meeting Date: November 14, 2011 Page 5 Authorize the Blueprint Director to transfer an additional $1,365,000 from Capital Cascade Trail - Segment 3 project to fund the Franklin Boulevard Flood Relief Project shortfall and to advance fund CRTPA sidewalk improvements. In addition, authorize the IMC to negotiate a Construction Change Order with the selected construction firm. The total not-to-exceed project authorization is $7,865,000. Option 2: Board Guidance RECOMMENDED ACTION: Option 1: Based on input received from the community at the October 27, 2011 Public Meeting with more than 80 percent of meeting attendees preferring Option C, authorize Blueprint to redesign Franklin Boulevard with the following design criteria: • Two 11ft. travel lanes; 4ft. bicycle lanes on each side; 5 ft. sidewalk on east side and 10ft.

trail on west side (see attached typical section). • Provide enhanced intersections for pedestrians, e.g. crosswalks, striping, appearance, etc. • Provide improvements to drainage system to collect side street/backyard flow. • Maintain dual lefts at Tennessee Street – drop one southbound lane near Call Street. • Roundabouts were evaluated and since they would require right-of-way acquisition, they

cannot be provided with this project. • Provide left turn lanes on Franklin Boulevard for northbound and southbound traffic at Park

Avenue, for northbound traffic at College Avenue, and for southbound traffic at Jefferson Street.

• Provide Landscaping and trail lighting where suitable Authorize the Blueprint Director to transfer an additional $1,365,000 from Capital Cascade Trail - Segment 3 project to fund the Franklin Boulevard Flood Relief Project shortfall and to advance fund CRTPA sidewalk improvements. In addition, authorize the IMC to negotiate a Construction Change Order with the selected construction firm. The total not-to-exceed project authorization is $7,865,000. Option 2: Board Guidance ATTACHMENT(S): Attachment 1: Current Design – Four lanes, no sidewalk (bids received) Attachment 2: Attendee Location Map Attachment 3: Option A – Four lanes, shifted west, sidewalk Attachment 4: Option B – Four lanes, north-bound lanes 10’ inside/13’ outside, sidewalk Attachment 5: Option C – Two lanes, bike lanes, sidewalk, trail Attachment 6: Public Comments Attachment 7: Informational Handout Attachment 8: Unofficial Bid Opening Results

ATTACHMENT 1

ATTACHMENT 2

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Date printed: Nov. 4, 2011

Franklin Boulevard Open House - October 27, 2011

Franklin Boulevard Area ( 22 or 31% ) Other Area ( 49 or 69% )

ATTACHMENT 3

ATTACHMENT 4

ATTACHMENT 5

ATTACHMENT 6

Franklin Boulevard Flood Relief Project and Roadway Options Public Meeting

City Hall, Commission Chambers Thursday, October 27, 2011

5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Recorded Questions and Answers Summary Report

1

Stormwater Questions AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Joe Schreiber, 566 Beverly Court Early on in the initial discussion of what was going to be done in segment one, when the culverts were placed in there, there was talk about for water quality purposes having a clean lake down there have at Cascades Park, that whatever junk might go into the culverts, it would be collected before it went into essentially what will be Cascades Lake; is that still on the agenda? REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: Yes. There is actually a trash collection device that's under that will be under the DOT parking lot in the pipe ‐‐ in the connection to the park. So, yes, there is no collection point there, which will go a long way to serving that purpose. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Curtis Baynes, 1323 East Tennessee Street Actually, I had three questions with respect to these options. The first, is there any difference in how much water either of the options can carry? The second question is, is there any difference in the time to complete the construction? And the third is what the relative cost of the three options is? REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: The first question is the stormwater is what the stormwater is. So there really is no difference from the storm sewer, stormwater design standpoint. Option C may have a better opportunity to pick up some of the side street drainage than the others. But for the most part, it is all the same. The other question regarding construction cost, I think I covered that when we talked about the option. What was your second question relative –? AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Relative completion time? REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: The timeframe I believe is essentially the same. The reconstruction time is the same. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: The real question to costs, from my perspective. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: The costs are essentially the same. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: All right. Thanks. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: Interesting to think about that, but the costs are essentially the same. The southbound lanes, A and B, resurface, so there is a cost for that. It is about the same as the cost to construct the trail. Is that fair to say? REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: Yes.



5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.


2

AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Ben Girtman, 2907 Abbotsford Way I used to live on Franklin Boulevard when I worked on the Legislature a couple years, and driven it a lot and seen water flow and other things, fences and all that. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: Cars? AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Cars, floaters. The question I have is you say the price is going to be the same. Does that include the option where we'd have to buy right‐of‐way on the west side? Is the right‐of‐way included in the cost so that the cost is equal? REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: Let me address that. What we are talking about, any options that are on the table today are within the existing right‐of‐way. Some of these options will require down the road future right‐of‐way. But with options that we have on the table today is work within the right‐of‐way median. We are not talking about going out and getting any additional right‐of‐way to complete this project. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: What would you use the right‐of‐way in the future for if you don’t need it for the road? REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: It is on the option that was provided by the Intergovernmental Agency here, was for mixed‐use trail, and to maintain the median. Let's try to stay focused on stormwater issues and we can move forward to those kinds of questions when we get to the roadway options. REPRESENTATIVESPEAKER: Any other questions on stormwater? AUDIENCE SPEAKER: The flooding map after you had the culvert done is so small area around Jefferson and Franklin that might still be in flood zone can you say something on that or on the neighboring properties, we are off Jefferson and Franklin. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: It is all contained within the roadway. Again, depending on what option is selected here, there is an opportunity to correct some of that. I don't think we will get all of it eliminated but by reducing it even further. Okay. Thank you.

Roadway Questions AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Marsha Turner, 410 Terrace Street I wanted to know about the traffic study, as I'm sure that's been done, what does that show in terms of accommodating the changing to a two‐lane? I have another question if you want me to stand up. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: We need to be careful about how we respond to this. There was a detailed traffic study completed in 2005 when the master plan was finished. Looking at current traffic numbers, and being very careful I say this, current traffic



5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.


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numbers ‐‐ if the traffic does not increase going down to a two‐lane, there is capacity in a two‐lane road to carry the traffic that is there today. There is enough capacity, two‐lane roadway with the improvements that are being made on Park Avenue with the left‐turn lanes to carry the traffic that's out there today. I'm not referring today with the construction closed down, you know, before construction closed the road down. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Well, having lived in that area for a long time, I know about the lights and how long they are. And if you got traffic backed up I just am concerned about that. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: Yeah, there is some concern there. And I would expect that there is a potential that if it does go to two lanes there will be more detailed analysis completed. But at this point there has not been an updated analysis done for the two lanes. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Okay. And just one other question, I noticed in all the options on each side of the improvement, there is a 10‐foot landscape easement optional. What does that mean? REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: Anybody that wants to donate 10 feet of landscaping to the city we will accept it and we will landscape it. Is that fair to say? AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Is it going to be a funded campaign? REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: You heard donated. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Sylvia Petrandis, 603 East Park Avenue Could you speak to the turn lanes in that horrendous intersection? I heard you say there would be two perhaps left‐turn lanes? REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: There is a northbound ‐‐ in a two‐lane configuration, we are going to provide a northbound and southbound left‐turn lane at Park Avenue. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: All right. Okay. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: Okay? AUDIENCE SPEAKER: I think I got it. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: If you drive north, turn left on Park ‐‐ if you are southbound you can turn east on Park. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: (inaudible, no mic) Long turn lanes or short turn lanes. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: Right now they are the minimal design standard length. I think they are 100 feet long, five vehicles.



5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.


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AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Joe Schreiber, 566 Beverly Court I'd like to make a couple comments first. One, it's not just ‐‐ turn lane here is not just the result of our care and concern about this project through these many years. It is also the result I think of a stepped‐up effort on the government's part to get notice out there. I think it is the best notice we've had of any meeting so far, so thank you for that. Number two; this isn't just the implementation of good government. This is better than good government, when in such a short time period on the fly there is this interaction between the citizens and the IA and Blueprint and the city, county, and all these different interests, in a very short window of time to put something like Option C, the engineers, everybody, put Option C on the table here, and it is something that shows in our community for its betterment the government is being responsive. And hats off, commend everybody in that working group process. In the renderings, I see the utility pole on the east side of Option C, but I don't see where ‐‐ it supposed to sounds like from what was being described that it is going to be on the east side no matter what option we are talking about, correct? REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: No. The reason they are not showing in Option A or B, we are not sure where they are going to end up. It may be a combination of all the east side, the median to jog that to avoid trees. There is still ‐‐ there will still be room in Option A and B to have the poles down in that median. The other issue we have to address is street lighting. Without the utility poles down the center of the road, there's an additional cost associated with adding street lighting to get the southbound lanes. If we move all the poles to the eastside the street light would only cover that side. So that's the other consideration for those two options. That really has not been finalized yet where the utility poles would go in option A or B. In option C, you are just covering two lanes, and so you can put the poles on the east side, put the lights up on the east side and that will satisfy the street lighting. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: And then the last comment is the two cons for option C. I believe as a resident along Franklin Boulevard are pros, not cons. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Hi. Chris Moore, 856 East Call Street I was wondering if you had any idea of the number of population or residences or households that are within what I would call walking distance of Cascades Park along Franklin or in the immediate surrounding area. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: I don't have an example, but there are lots. I don't have an exact number.



5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.


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AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Well if you don't happen to it, I have one. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: Certainly. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: In the area bound by Tennessee, Magnolia, Park Avenue, Franklin, there is 1,000 people living there, 800 households, with the 2010 data. So this turns being via walkway I submit for your consideration. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Mike Donovan, 508 W. 6th Avenue I don't live real close, but I would ride my bicycle through a lot if I could. But I missed the intersections on the north side and south side. If you are southbound at Lafayette, is it the same number of turn lanes or is that going to decrease? And also northbound at Tennessee, are we losing capacity or is it going to stay the same? REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: On the south side of Lafayette Street, it will stay essentially the same. It winds out, traverses underneath the Parkway, and stays the same. On the north end of Tennessee Street, the verdict is still out there. We are not sure if we are going to have two dual left‐turn lanes coming off Tennessee Street going south or not. It depends on I guess the end result of any kind of traffic analysis. There is room between Tennessee Street and Call to bring two lanes around and then merge them together if we can get that to work right. The challenge we have is the bike lane and how to address the southbound bicycle lane on the southbound lanes and whether we bring that onto the trail just for that north part or how we address the bike lane on that side of the project for the southbound lanes. Northbound Tennessee Street, again, the verdict is still out there. There is a mass arm signal pole that is right in the middle of the two directions that complicates that quite a bit and if we would have to adjust that. So that's – that intersection there is one that still has to be detailed. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Thank you. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Ben Girtman, 2907 Abbotsford Way We are talking about the power poles. One thing you might consider doing is rather than using the standard old, ugly wood power pole out there is using an ornamental arrangement and put it right down the middle of the divide there between the lanes and emphasize it, make it part of the beauty of the area instead of switching back and forth across the traffic lanes with those ugly wooden poles. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: Thank you for that comment. That would work if we went with one of the four‐lane options. If we go with the two‐lane option, it is a different story. Thank you for that comment.



5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.


6

AUDIENCE SPEAKER: John Rodriguez, 412 Jefferson Street I have a question concerning the materials for the paving of the roads, the sidewalk, and also your plans for say like what kind of trees are going to be on the medians and on the surrounding areas, and also how your choice of materials and plant life is affected by your truncated schedule to get things done. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: This is a stormwater project we had to ask the Intergovernmental Agency to apply additional funds to the stormwater project. Right now landscaping funds are out. We will sod it and come back at a later point with whatever option to decide landscaping after. To make it quick and simple get the box culvert in and cover it up and put the roadway where it is suppose to be. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: The road surfaces as just paved are asphalt. The trail, if Option C is the selected alternative, the Intergovernmental Governmental agency approves that, I guess there will be some discussion on what the multi‐use trail surface will be. It either will be asphalt or concrete. It would be a hard surface. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: There is an opportunity at the intersection where cross walks are to do some things to enhance the intersection and to blend in (became in‐audible) AUDIENCE SPEAKER: I'm Frank Terraferma, 641 East College Avenue I have three questions. One of the questions on the two‐lane proposal, I was a little concerned that if you are coming north on Franklin, which a lot of people get off at Apalachee Parkway, you know, get north on Franklin, there is not a turn lane left on College, people coming off the Parkway wanting to go down College Avenue and, you know, just throw that out there for you guys to think about, that that could be a source of some backing up of traffic, not so much worried about people turning left to go east on College, because there is only one block towards Crest, I mean, there is not that much left‐hand turn traffic there, but there is quite a bit in the other direction. The other point I wanted to mention to you, at one time during some of the initial planning on Franklin Boulevard we all looked at maybe not having some of the streets be not dead ends but maybe more limited ‐‐ limited thoroughfares, like East College would not be able to go across East College ‐‐ across Franklin, and wasn't sure if you all looked at some of that. The last question or comment, I really wanted to ask you all, have you talked to the CRA about any funding. This whole Franklin Boulevard is in the CRA, and these are some of the things that they had envisioned, and I feel that you guys, if you need funds, you almost have an obligation to ask them. Even if they reject helping, I do think they should be asked. And a lot of folks when they created the CRA weren't happy about being in it



5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.


7

because they didn't feel like anything would be done on Franklin, and, you know, we think that they should contribute something. Thank you. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: Thanks for your comment. The left‐turn lane at College, that's a concern. Whatever we try to block off any of those intersections, creating left turn lanes, the paving width is so wide that it really takes away from the greenway trail on that. So we will have to see how that works out with the traffic analysis. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: Wayne Tedder to address the CRA issue. At this time there is no attention to go the CRA being tapped for a lot of projects and Cascades Park is one of those areas being tapped to enhance that park area. I would say when this segment was originally designed it the concept was about $22 million. That is one of the reasons it got deferred to a later phase so to give you an indication of the cost associated with the original project. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Sean Singleton, 638, 640, 642, 644 College Avenue I also have the same concern about the left‐hand turning lane. So I am providing my question is why do we need two biking lanes? If that's the issue, then why don't we just use one biking lane, make it 6 feet rather than 4 feet or something like that, you know, compromise. So that to me would resolve some of that issue for us. And to be honest, about it, well, if it did cause congestion backup, too bad, maybe people won't go that way. Whatever, question about the gas pipe. Is the gas pipe causing any issues or project deviations because of it, and limitations because of the gas pipe? If it was moved, is there any benefit or ‐‐ to move it? I'm just wondering like I understand it is a high‐pressure pipe, you don't want to touch it, but is it causing any issues with the construction? REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: It is creating ‐‐ Are you finished? Do you want me to answer? Go ahead and answer the question. Let me see if I can answer it. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Long‐term plans are to put the power lines under the ground whether it is this year or five years down the road. It is being built into this project, put it under ground easily rather than a huge project, and is that what I hear you say? REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: The electric lines are still on the table. At this point we are not sure if we are going to put the conduit or the duct back in to accommodate the power lines or not yet. It's still ‐‐ you have a short fuse we have been on so far. That's a decision that city electric has not ‐‐ we have not finalized that with city electric yet. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: That was in the original master plan, yes. That was included in the cost, that $22 million to put under ground, significant cost. It is probably $3 or $4 million to put the electric lines underground because of all the transformers and other



5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.


8

switch boxes that need to be put. If you go down Park Avenue, you'll see some big green boxes down there where they take the power ‐‐ it is between Capital Circle and Magnolia, along Park Avenue there, you will see some big boxes out there. They are switch boxes. That's the size of the box that you would be looking at on Park Avenue. So it is big cost associated with those things and location‐wise. So the intent at this point is not to go underground. We are just trying to figure out if we want to put the ducts back in place to accommodate that for some point in the future. It has not been decided yet. The gasoline, yeah, that creates challenges for the contractor. The cost ‐‐ but it doesn't offset the cost of relocating it. There is a cost benefit there. It just costs too much to relocate it, too much ‐‐ an additional cost beyond just addressing it and accommodating it during construction, if that answers your question. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Are there any limitations to A, B, C, and D options? REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: No. No. What happens on the surface is what happens on the surface. What happens underground with the stormwater is what happens there. So it affects only the constructability and the construction of the box culvert and the contractor's approach to constructing the box culvert. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Yeah. Larry Hendricks, 406 Alpha Avenue First thing I have a question, on here, on the Cascades Park, ‐‐ $30 million. I thought it was $38 million. Is this right? Am I wrong? Or – REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: Total cost for Capital Cascades Park. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: $34 million. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Okay about $30 million that’s what it says on here. So how much is this project going to cost, that is part of that $34 million, in addition to the $34 million? REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: No sir. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: Just over $6 million. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Is $4 million is that in grant money. Does that cover it all or do we have to kick off some on top of the grant. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: $4.2 million of grant money. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: That will cover – REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: No sir. It wouldn’t even finish the stormwater improvements we had to go ask for additional dollars just to do the stormwater improvement. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: I am speaking specifically of the Franklin Boulevard project. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: Right. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: Total cost 6.2 for Franklin Boulevard.



5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.


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AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Okay. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: Okay. Grant money 4.2 million. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: $2 million difference? Anybody ever examine, just closing Franklin Boulevard and using that ‐‐ buying the property on both sides for say $6‐10 million and damming that. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: I have considered that. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Nobody considered that? Is there any reason? About a third of the expense – REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: There is a long history of that corridor and the use of that corridor and I dear not tread there. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Okay, so no study was ever done? REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: There has been a lot of discussion of what that corridor should be and that has happened years before this process and this is where we are today. That is what the discussion wound up being for this corridor to look and feel just like this picture. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Okay. And I guess the last question is, how come you all ‐‐ we got blindsided by this by this deadline. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: No sir. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: There is no blindsiding here. What happened was the money was appropriated for a different project. They could not get the permitting in time which then became available on very short notice for this project to be completed. Fortunately we were able to pull plans together and permitting together and construction document together so that grant money can be appropriately spent here. Thank you. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Kelly Layman, 125 Cadiz Street And the ideas just keep on coming. I just wanted to thank some significant people. A hand full of you in the room may know that two years ago this project wasn’t even on the task list it was not on the work list it was taken off so in historical context terms we owe a debt of gratitude to Jim Davis the former Executive Director of Blueprint for finding and advocating the disaster relief money from Washington. Technically, this is back in the Blueprint task list but not the Blueprint sales tax money that we all pay for when Blueprint was first promised. So to resurrect this, the last two years six or eight of you have been to probably 18 meetings the last two years to try to get option A and B back in play. What happened about two months ago at a city commission meeting the staff had realized this resurfacing issue and hum should we add one more option and the citizens there said yes



5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.


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please do. So for us to have this many options in a very small budget and now this time element that is so critical we are at five yard line here and if we don’t stay on track and finish mid summer we are going to be in a world of trouble with the feds and the state. So keep that in mind as your listening tonight the more we lay on the table now and ask for at some point there will be a ticking point and the whole thing will just disappear. And I mean that sincerely, I am not trying to scare anybody or misrepresent what has happened the last two years. So I want to thank the team at Blueprint because they have worked really hard to get here and begged, borrowed and stolen and to your great point about the $4.2 million. To your great point about that $700, 000 is committed from the Florida Department of Transportation for sidewalks, so we keep inching up to this $6 plus number and it is really important we get there. Can you go back to a couple of slides to the Blueprint presentation? The one that says local street enclosed. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: That’s pros for Option C. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: I wanted to make a quick comment on that before we get too excited because I see all of the green dots over there and the preferred on one. I think the citizens and Frank correct me if I am wrong. Please do. I’m not sure we were thinking 100 % on the line of a local street what we were trying to push is for a safer street and too me there is a very big difference. Crosswalks signals as hard as Commissioner’s Mustian and Dozier between the two of them they have hammered away at sidewalk issues it is why I think we have pursued so hard some more money. Crosswalk signals I am still not hearing crosswalk signals and I fear I truly fear for the children that walk to Trinity for a fence that we are now going to address. We no longer have a fence for around downtown. We are going to be a magnate for all this great pedestrian and bicycle traffic, but those people need to park somewhere to get on their bikes to go down Franklin to Cascades Park. We are going to have a lot of extra traffic on side streets for parking. People getting out of there cars and using all this great new pedestrian and bike lanes, but without the safety and going back and making sure we have that safety harness tight on this project, I still worry that we are leaving one problem flooding and getting into another problem for safety. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: This problem with the local street issue. This will not be able to (inaudible). We are trying to capture in terms of what a lay person can understand. It is attended to slow traffic down and make it more pedestrian friendly.



5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.


11

AUDIENCE SPEAKER: I'll be quick, because we are at the end, Ron Bork, 529 East Call Someone else asked about restricting ting some of the road, College Road. On the map you got on the website, Call Street gets chopped or at least limited to right turn only, east and westward. The maps I saw over here didn't show that. It looks like it is open. Do you foresee Call Street being chopped or limited like that? REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: You are referring to the preferred alternative. It is probably on the website and there were ‐‐ some of those cross streets ‐‐ the median continued to cross traffic. All these designs here today, Option A, B, C, all provide the opportunity for all the cross streets to cross with one exception: If you are on Jefferson Street on the west side, it is right in, right out because of the offset intersections there and the left turn, Option C, into the Florida Bar, Jefferson Street, and the employees that work there at Florida Bar. I can show you that in more detail in the plans. But at this point the cross streets all cross. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Okay. Thanks. AUDIENCE SPEAKER: Marsha Turner, still 410 Terrace Street I really love where I live except for a few minor details. Franklin Street has in a word been ugly ever since I moved here in the late '70s to come to graduate school at FSU. Your pictures, A, B, C are beautiful. I understand that the landscaping needs to be thought about, planned, done after your deadline. But, I would beg you to formulate a plan, a program, and a schedule for landscaping. There are too many medians that are weeds or grass, now weeds in Tallahassee, Florida. Don't let this one ‐‐ don't let this beautiful opportunity slip away from us. Please plan and accomplish the landscaping. Thank you. REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKER: We really appreciate you all being here tonight. For those of you who still may have some other questions and don’t want to ask them now. We are going to have staff with blue nametags stationed around the room. Feel free to ask us questions. I don’t want you to go home without your questions being answered. Feel free to mark up the pages with your options. Thank you for being here.



5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Email Comment Summary Report

1

Eleven (11) email comments were received. They fall into 3 basic categories: 1. Supporting Option A or B 2. Support Option C 3. General project related comments

Of the emails received two prefer Option A or B. The reasons range from the following: Franklin Boulevard is a heavily travelled road and major arterial for people coming and

going to work

Allows for a quicker travel time to and from work and alleviates traffic off of the other major roads such as Monroe and Mahan/Tennessee and Calhoun and Gadsden

Seven (7) emails support Option C. The reasons range from the following: Safety

Encourage more foot and bike traffic downtown

Livability

Best option for cyclists, pedestrians, autos and residents

Enhance the quality of life to downtown neighborhoods

Aesthetics

Two (2) respondents submitted general remarks and questions. The reasons range from the following:

Somewhat concerned about going to two lanes and thinks keeping four lanes and not reducing vehicle capacity is the most logical

The traffic light sequence for those turning left from westbound Tennessee onto southbound Franklin is seriously faulted. When the left lane was converted into a two lane left turn the light cannot permit an “all green” left turn but must have turn arrows that show the stop although traffic continuing westbound is showing all green and permitted to proceed and would like to see the left turn lane on westbound Tennessee onto southbound Franklin be re‐converted to a single lane which will allow turns to be made upon discretion of the driver

Two (2) respondents that did attend the meeting and voted did want additional comments to be submitted are as follows:

Several of my neighbors on E College and I would like you to implement the original design for making the 600 block of East College at Franklin a limited access street, right turn in/right turn out since there isn’t going to a left turn lane at College and Franklin

In designing the median, please remember the apts on Franklin have to have a place to place their garbage cans, recyclers and household waste at the curb. After the trail and median are constructed, these apartments will be set back a ways from Franklin. Your



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landscaping needs to be designed with the fact in mind people will be rolling carts out to street and leaving stuff (mattresses, couches etc) for curbside pickup

If there is a major issue with limiting access on to the East College Ave side of Franklin Blvd. from West College Ave. then please ensure that one or two speed humps will be installed to deter those individuals from making College Ave. a cut through, and ensure those who do are slowed down

Received on 10/27/11 from Sarah Harris, 811 East Call Street, [email protected] Support of Option C Neither my husband or I will not be able to attend the meeting this evening regarding Franklin Blvd but I wanted you to know that we support a 2 lane Franklin option. Our children attend Trinity Catholic School and we ride our bikes frequently to and from school and over to Leon for events. Fortunately kind neighbors allow us to ride through their yards so we don’t have to play Frogger on Franklin. Additionally, I think a 2 lane option will encourage more foot and bike traffic downtown, especially toward Cascade Park and Myer’s Park. Received on 10/27/11 from Mike Yaun, [email protected] Support of Option C I wasn't able to attend the meeting tonight but my friend was kind enough to send me pics of the options presented and I saw your email on the press releases and comment form so I was hoping to comment via email. I strongly encourage adopting option C. I work downtown and love to idea of a more walkable and bikeable Franklin Boulevard. Currently Franklin Boulevard is an obstacle for pedestrians and cyclists. Not only would Option C transform it into a great link for routes, but it would do a great job of funneling pedestrians and cyclists to the new Cascades Park. Received on 10/28/11 from Lizzy Kelly, Public Information Specialist for City of Tallahassee,

[email protected] Support of Option B Thanks for sending it along. I prefer option B.



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Received on 10/28/11 from Brian Berry, Development Review Manager for City Of Tallahassee – Underground Utilities, [email protected] Support of Option A or B I was told you were the person to contact about the design options for Franklin Blvd. I would like to ask that Option C is not chosen and that the road remains a 4‐lane road. This is a heavily travelled road and major arterial for people coming and going to work. Not only does it allow for a much quicker travel time to and from work, It also alleviates traffic off of the other major roads such as Monroe and Mahan/Tennessee and Calhoun & Gadsden. I realize the city doesn’t want to grow too quickly and make it more pedestrian friendly but taking major roads that help move traffic through much more efficiently and hindering that efficiency is not the answer. I do agree it needs sidewalks once the ditch is enclosed but please do not allow this road to be changed to two lane. Thank you for taking my request into consideration. Received on 10/29/11 from Dennis Barton, 924 Hillcrest Court, [email protected] I was not in attendance at last Thursday’s meeting on the Franklin Blvd. project but was given your email address for making comments. Had I been there I would have said this: 1. I support the project which ever option is selected. Franklin Blvd is an eyesore to drivers and a hazard to pedestrians or bikers. 2. I am somewhat concerned about going to 2 lanes. Although the engineers have indicated that 2 lanes will handle existing traffic flow it is generally unwise to build a project to existing conditions. When Cascade Park is completed I would think Franklin Blvd will need expanded capacity to handle the traffic from the north side of town traveling to the park. Proper drainage, safe sidewalks and bike paths all being available on all options I would think keeping 4 lanes and not reducing vehicle capacity is the most logical option. 3. I do want to comment about the traffic light on Franklin and Tennessee. I travel Franklin to and from my office several times a day and the traffic light sequence for those turning left from west bound Tennessee onto south bound Franklin is seriously faulted. I am aware that when the left turn lane was converted into a two lane left turn the light cannot permit an “all green” left turn but must have turn arrows that show stop although traffic continuing west bound is showing all green and permitted to proceed. I have been told that is a requirement that cannot be changed. As a driver who turns left onto south bound Franklin several times a day the



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requirement that “you must stop when the arrows are red the fact that there is no oncoming traffic notwithstanding” needs to be changed. I cannot tell you how many times I have been the only car in the left turn lane and had to sit there for several minutes even though there was no oncoming east bound traffic in sight. As I doubt state requirements that prohibit dual left turn lanes to operate freely can be over turned by logic or common sense I suggest that the left turn lane on west bound Tennessee onto south bound Franklin be re‐converted to a single lane which will allow turns to be made upon discretion of the driver. I suggest the decreased lane capacity made by going to a single lane will not cause traffic back up into the through lanes as cars will be moving through the turn throughout the cycle of the light. By the way, during peak traffic flow now the two left turn lanes allow back up into the through lanes. This happens because they are not permitted to turn even though turns could be safely made. Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Received on 10/31/11 from Mercedes Bustillo Updyke, [email protected] Support of Option C I recently moved to old town and tried to walk on Franklin Blvd on our way to Myers Park. It was a very scary experience. Option C is most appealing to the kind of community I would like to live in. It would connect the neighborhoods represented at the meeting. Option C will enhance the quality of life to these downtown neighborhoods especially by creating a bike and walking route to Cascades Park. I strongly support Option C. Received on 10/31/11 from Helen Light, 621 Terrace Street, [email protected] Support of Option C I strongly prefer Option C. The multi‐use trail on the west side is so much more useable, safe, and inviting for bicycles and pedestrians than the other options because of the separation from the road by the landscaped median. I am very pleased to see such a walker/biker friendly option – thank you!! Shared‐use lanes for bicycle/car traffic (as in Option B) are too dangerous in my opinion. Option A has no bike lane at all. It is my understanding that any significant delays in the decision‐making process would mean that we would likely miss the opportunity to use the grant money in time. And if that occurs, nothing could be done on Franklin Blvd for many years. If this is correct, then I would reluctantly support Option B rather than leaving Franklin Blvd as it is for an indefinite amount of time. There is no question that flood control improvements and at least some kind of sidewalk are needed sooner rather than later.



5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.


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To walk from my house in Old Town Neighborhood to the downtown area or Cascade Park requires crossing Tennessee Street at the Franklin Blvd intersection near Leon High. This is a difficult place to cross on foot. As you develop detailed designs, please consider improving that intersection for pedestrian safety. The Tallahassee Democrat opinion on Saturday said: “The only thing that can stand in the way is one more public meeting — that of city and county commissioners meeting next month in their role as the Intergovernmental Agency overseeing Blueprint 2000.” Has the date for that public meeting been set? I would like to go, so please let me know the date and time. The opinion piece also said that the two‐lane option had been decided upon. I assume that was a mistake on the part of the newspaper, correct? It seemed clear to me at the meeting on the 27th that all three options are under consideration. I would be very happy if the two‐lane Option C was a sure thing, but please let me know if that is the case. Thank you very much! Also, this does not affect my vote, because all three options are box culverts, but I am curious. Someone told me that the City does not like underground box culverts because the maintenance is so difficult. I was told that they essentially have to send a small front end loader down into the underground box culvert to clean it out (a rather horrible job), so they much prefer open culverts on the surface. Is this correct? Received on 11/1/11 from Christine Johnson, 801 E. Georgia Street, [email protected] Support of Option C I was out of town during the Franklin Blvd meeting last week and, as an Old Town resident, want to express my strong support for Option C – with the landscaped median separating the multi‐use trail from the road. In my opinion, this is by far the best option for the surrounding neighborhoods. Received on 11/2/11 from Marvin Goldstein, [email protected] Property owner College Avenue, East of Franklin Boulevard, 6 properties, I concur with Mr. Singleton on all his concerns. Between us, we own about 13 properties in the affected area. Thanks for all your work. Contact me anytime for any concerns about right of way also in that I own 602 East College on the corner of Franklin and College also.



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Received on 11/5/11 from Melanie Leitman, 2002 Fannie Drive, [email protected] Support of Option C I strongly support Option C. Thank you so much for proposing a walker/biker friendly option! I will love walking from my mom's house in Old Town to Cascade Park for events. Received on 11/8/11 from Linda Harkey, 401 Talaflo Street, [email protected] Support of Option C I like the two‐lane version of Franklin the best, but, with all the options, I am concerned about the possibility that the flooding could be pushed north of Tennessee if the box culvert became clogged or overloaded. If Franklin is changed to have bike and pedestrian paths, would there be a possibility for a pedestrian bridge crossing Tennessee Street? The intersection of Franklin and Tennessee is a place where drivers run red lights and make abrupt u‐turns, which makes it dangerous for pedestrians and drivers alike. Thanks for asking for comments.

Additional comments via email, but attended the meeting: Received on 11/1/11 from Frank Terraferma, 641‐1 E. College Avenue, [email protected] I didn’t submit comments at meeting. Per your request I have the following for your consideration: In designing the median, please remember the apts on Franklin have to have a place to place their garbage cans, recyclers and household waste at the curb. After the trail and median are constructed, these apartments will be set back a ways from Franklin. Your landscaping needs to be designed with the fact in mind people will be rolling carts out to street and leaving stuff (mattresses, couches etc) for curbside pickup. The Franklin apts (between Jefferson and Park) currently have very limited parking. If these folks are able to park their cars on the trail....THEY WILL...don’t give them that chance. Need to think this through so the trail doesn’t become a parking lot. Several of my neighbors on E College and I would like you to implement the original design for making the 600 block of East College at Franklin a limited access street, right turn in/right turn out since there isn’t going to a left turn lane at College and Franklin.



5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.


7

Received on 11/2/11 from Sean Singleton, 638 E. Calhoun Street, [email protected] If there is a major issue with limiting access on to the East College Ave side of Franklin Blvd. from West College Ave. then please ensure that one or two speed humps will be installed to deter those individuals from making College Ave. a cut through, and ensure those who do are slowed down. I believe in taking the high road and communicating openly ‐ please take our serious concerns objectively. This is the time to take the necessary action. Should no action be taken, the additional money needed to resolve the issue from street surveying and vehicle counting would outpace simply handling it now? And for that matter, may never be appropriated. I look forward to your response and thank you again! 2nd email received on 11/3/11 from Sean Singleton Point of clarification... East of Franklin Blvd. (not West) When is the next meeting? At this point we have 15 home owners representing the 19 on this block. Thank you.



5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Written Comment Summary Report

1

Twenty (20) written comment forms have been received. They fall into 3 basic categories:

1. Supporting Option A or B 2. Support Option C 3. General project related comments

Four (4) comments support Option A or B. The reasons range from the following:

Request for left turn from southbound Franklin Boulevard to Jefferson Street

Heavy canopy of trees and a greenway for pedestrians and bike lanes for cyclists

Parking on outside lanes and use no lane for peak traffic turns, except major events downtown or Capital Cascades Park

Need bike lanes regardless of option on both sides northbound and southbound

Would best serve the overall community, including state workers that utilize Franklin, provided that southbound Franklin has a left turn lane at Jefferson Street

Minimize traffic on Crest Street

Keeping two lanes on both sides, but would ask that a turn lane for southbound traffic on Franklin be also considered; onto Jefferson headed east

Thirteen (13) comments support Option C. The reasons range from the following:

Safety

Aesthetics

Sharrows rather than bike lanes

Livability

Walker/Biker/Cyclist Friendly Community

Reduce the amount of major stormwater runoff

Recent experiences show that the closure of the south side of Franklin Boulevard for repairs did not lead to traffic problems

And other questions that support Option C include:

Consider modifying landscape plan to provide shade for the trail (e.g. use 2 trees in median ‐ like Park Ave) and move outside trees closer to path/sidewalk.

Put conduits in so electric lines can be placed underground in the future.

Only option that will be accomplished without asking homeowners to donate property to the city

Bike lanes and multi use paths are critical to create viable public use areas

Dramatically change the neighborhood for the better, both in appearance and in the underlying infrastructure



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2

This solution would provide the ideal safe corridor for bicyclists and pedestrians while highlighting the Capital Cascades Trail project by producing a beautiful corridor in the heart of our city

Completing the trail along with the FEMA funded flood improvements just makes good sense

Option C will help unite the neighborhood and link us to the new park

Franklin Boulevard is a vital connection for bicyclists travelling through the downtown Tallahassee area

One (1) respondent stated the following: BP2000 is in the business of building roads therefore all solutions to the Franklin Boulevard flooding involve building a road. He would like to see Franklin Boulevard turned into an urban waterway. Two (2) respondents submitted general remarks and questions. The reasons range from the following:

Praise for a bike lane that connects Leon High School with the St. Marks Trail

Is there any difference in the options in terms of water capacity?

What is the difference between the options in terms of the completion date?

Is one option any less costly than the other?

Can law enforcement enforce the speed limit?

The following are all the comments received: Curtis Baynes, 1323 E. Tennessee Street Three Questions I have: 1. Is there any difference in options in terms of water capacity? 2. Is the difference between options in terms of completion date? 3. Is one option any less costly than the other? Objective: Maximize water capacity; minimize construction time; minimize cost for existing traffic capacity. Bob Fulford, 231 Westridge Drive The emphasis of BP2000 has been, all ‐along, on building/improving roads so it is understandable that the "problem" of Franklin Blvd. would be solved by a box culvert on a new roadway.



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3

I have advocated ‐ and still do ‐ for turning Franklin Blvd., into an urban waterway. We would get a lot more bang for the buck, a much more livable city, and de‐emphasize roads. Not room here, nor am I inclined today to make a case for this notion, but there is one. Marc Dick, 3251 Newberry Blvd. Option A or B constructed with parking on outside lanes and use no lane for peak traffic turns, except major events downtown or CC Park. Grass median w/heavy canopy of trees and walkway or greenway for peds/bikes. Need bike lanes regardless of option on both sides northbound and southbound! G. Dan Bennett, 651 East Jefferson Street I am with The Florida Bar located at Jefferson, Franklin & Apalachee. One of my goals is to minimize traffic on Crest Street. It is clearly a residential street and does not need more business traffic dumping right at the hump backed bridge on Park. I believe Option B would best serve the overall community, including state workers that utilize Franklin, provided that southbound Franklin has a left turn lane at Jefferson Street. If no left turn lane is provided at Jefferson Street, I believe Option C would be the best for The Florida Bar. This would not be in the best interest of state workers. Paul Hill, 2110 E. Randolph Circle I comment as a 30+ year employee of the Florida Bar who has regularly travelled on Franklin Boulevard. I personally favor Option B (keeping two lanes on both sides) but would ask that a turn lane for southbound traffic on Franklin be also considered; onto Jefferson headed east. I cannot envision Franklin as a two‐lane street (Option C) although I am pleased that this intersection features a turn lane into Jefferson, going southbound onto Jefferson. Mike Donovan, 508 W. 6th Ave. With decent bicycle facilities this, combined with other projects, will provide a major connection from Leon High to the St. Marks Trail. This should be a high priority. Please make it safer than was done on Gaines Street.



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Justin Pogge, 1200 Stearns Street, Apt. C4 I am pleased to see Option C being provided. Seems like the best option for cyclists, pedestrians, autos and residents of the area. Bike lanes and multi use paths are critical to create viable public use areas. This is also the safest option for cyclists and pedestrians. It also seems to be the most cost effective and aesthetically pleasing. James Smart and Kristen Bowers, 812 E. Call St. We strongly support Option C, albeit with sharrows rather than bike lanes. As residents of the neighborhood we look forward to the increased livability. Chris Moore, 856 E. Call St. I support Option C. I have lived in this neighborhood for 11 years and most residents in this area support Option C. Katy McGlynn, 568 Beverly Ct. Option C is the only option that will improve Franklin Blvd. It is the only option that will be accomplished without asking homeowners to donate property to the city. If we truly have the money to do this project, we should do the option that can be accomplished without having to have a 2nd phase. It will be better to get it done all at once and provide a family, resident friendly entrance into Cascades Park. For me there are no "Cons" for Option C. Carol Simpson, 364 S. Franklin Blvd. I strongly believe that Option C should be chosen at this time, and that this timely opportunity to convert Franklin Blvd. into a two‐lane road be taken advantage of. The extension of Cascades Park and the trail, combined with the amenities provided in Option C, would dramatically change the neighborhood for the better, both in appearance and in the underlying infrastructure. Nancy Linnan, 507 E. Call St. I have lived in the Call Beverly neighborhood for over 20 years. I am very familiar with our area and speak often with my neighbors. We strongly favor Option C (the 2‐lane option). Call‐Beverly is in the CRA. It is the residential neighborhood called out for nurturing. Option C goes farther in achieving this. The trail and the aesthetics are critical. I would be remise if I didn't make a pitch for some traffic enforcement on speed on Call. We have almost given up calling T.P.D. Speeds are generally between 35‐50 mph & there is more traffic at non‐peak hours than previously. I know this is not a Blueprint issue, but would appreciate passing this info to the city for assistance.



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Zachary Teders, 1711 Country Club 2‐ lanes with left turns. Option C. Good job. Wendy Grey, 1047 Myers Park Drive Option C is the best. Some comments 1. Please share the signalization plan for the trail. 2. Consider modifying landscape plan to provide shade for the trail (e.g. use 2 trees in median ‐ like Park Ave) and move outside trees closer to path/sidewalk. 3. Put conduits in so electric lines can be placed underground in the future. Sharon Moskowitz, 511 Talaflo St. As a resident of Old Town (the neighborhood directly across Tennessee/Mahan from the Franklin Blvd intersection), I am very excited to see this project underway. My family regularly uses that northmost block of Franklin to get to Call St. when biking or walking downtown. We are very much looking forward to having bike‐ and pedestrian‐safe access all the way to the new Cascades Park next year. Option C is our definite preference. The city manages without ANY traffic on that road every time it rains hard as it is, consistent two lane access regardless of the weather (plus safe, park like bike and pedestrian access) will be a huge improvement over the current four‐lane access that can't be counted on in a storm and that's a downright hazard to anybody not in a car. Fritz and Eve Wettstein, 520 Beverly Street Thank you for the opportunity to comment on Blueprint’s work in our neighborhood. I’m so glad that Blueprint 2000, the City of Tallahassee and Leon County have recognized the importance of the Franklin Boulevard segment to completing the Cascades Trail. We were devastated when this part of the project, which seems to be the start of it all, was dropped down the list. Completing the trail along with the FEMA funded flood improvements just makes good sense. Likewise, “Option C” makes so much sense since there is so little rights‐of‐way along Franklin Boulevard to construct all the necessary flood control, road improvements, trail construction, stormwater management and landscape plantings. Option C will help unite the neighborhood and link us to the new park. Thank you again.



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9

ATTACHMENT 7

Franklin Boulevard Flood Relief Project

and Roadway OptionsHandout and Public Comment Form from

Public MeetingOctober 27, 2011

Blueprint 20002727 Apalachee Parkway, Suite 200

Tallahassee, Florida 32301(850)219-1060

www.blueprint2000.org

Project will be funded in part by a $4.2 Million grant from Federal Disaster Relief Funds

FRanklin BOulevaRd ROadway OPtiOns

OPTiOn A

Pros:�� Maintains�current�traffic�capacity

�� Provides�8-foot�sidewalk�on�east�side�

�� Allows�relocation�for�COT�Electric�on�east�side

�� Allows�for�future�conversion�to�2-lane�roadway

Cons:�� Will�require�right-of�acquisition�or�easement�on�west�side�for�future�sidewalk

�� Southbound�lanes�will�have�to�be�reconstructed�in�future��

�� Least�friendly�for�bicycle�commuters

OPTiOn B

Pros:�� Maintains�current�traffic�capacity

�� Enhanced�bike�facilities�over�Option�A

�� Provides�6-foot�sidewalk�on�east�side�

�� Allows�relocation�for�COT�Electric�on�east�side

�� Allows�for�future�conversion�to�2-�lane�roadway

�� 10-foot�travel�lane�may�slow�traffic

Cons:�� Will�require�right-of-way�acquisition�or�easement�on�west�side�for�future�sidewalk

�� Southbound�lanes�will�have�to�be�reconstructed�in�future

(northbound)


OPTiOn C

Pros:�� Dedicated�4-foot�bike�lane�in�both�directions�� Sidewalk�on�east�side,�multi-use�trail�on�west�side�� Expanded�greenway�and�amenity/landscape�potential�� Becomes�more�of�a�“local”�street;�may�reduce�speeds�� Accommodates�improved�side�street�drainage�(west�side),�via�swale�� No�right-of-way�acquisition�and�minimal�easements�necessary�� Allows�relocation�for�COT�Electric�on�east�side�and�easier�underground�util-ity�work�on�west�side�

�� Completes�Capital�Cascades�Trail�–�Segment�1

Cons:�� Once�constructed,�cannot�go�back�to�4�lanes�� Reduced�traffic�capacity

North and Southbound Bike Lanes


ATTACHMENT 8

M of Tallahassee, Inc

Allen's Excavation, Inc

North Florida Asphalt, Inc Sandco, Inc

Tallahassee, FL Tallahassee, FL Tallahassee, FL Tallahassee, FL$5,400,000.00 $5,908,409.00 $5,999,331.00 $6,750,132.17

Yes Yes Yes YesYes Yes Yes YesYes Yes Yes Yes

B-7.58; F-3.03; O-10.64

B-7.5; F-3.0; O-10.5

B-7.5; F-3.0; O-0.0

B-16.2; F-4.9; O-left blank

UNOFFICIAL (Bid Opening Results)

Economic Points/MBE Points/Total Points Allocated (Based on Evaluation of Base Bid)

MBE Participation; BP2K Goal: 21.0% (Black-7.5%, Female-3.0%, Other-10.5%)

BID TABULATIONInvitation for Bids No. 0111-11-ER-BC

Franklin Blvd Flood Relief Project

Prequalified Contractor (Roads & Underground Util)Bid Bond (5% of Total Bid)

Under Evaluation

Bidders:

TOTAL COST TO BLUEPRINT 2000Acknowledged Addendum (3 issued)

Bid Opening: 2:30 PM; Nov 08, 2011

Blueprint 2000 Intergovernmental Agency Meeting · Blueprint 2000 Intergovernmental Agency Meeting...

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