Guess some politicos need some $$$$ under the table before they let it go through.
NOBODY voiced any opposition to FAMU Way, a road named after FAMU and no FAMU $ went towards the project..........Tally sucks.
http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2017/12/04/thrasher-requests-three-month-delay-gateway-district-proposal/920419001/
In the face of community opposition, Florida State University is requesting a three-month delay in seeking approval for a controversial Blueprint transportation plan that creates a new road leading to its southwest campus.
The proposal, conceptually approved by the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency in September, was scheduled for a final public hearing Tuesday.
Area residents have questioned the agency’s support of amending a plan voters approved in 2014 to accommodate FSU’s desire to build a new road from Orange Avenue extending through its southwest campus to Lake Bradford Road.
Opponents have said Tuesday’s hearing didn’t allow them enough time to fully vet the idea and questioned its urgency at the request of FSU.
FSU President John Thrasher’s request to continue the public hearing to March 1 is in response to a suggestion by Leon County Commissioner Mary Ann Lindley, who chairs the agency.
Made up of city and county commissioners, the agency still plans to hold its scheduled public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.
Members will hear new suggestions provided by Blueprint staff to address resident concerns. But in his letter, Thrasher makes it clear he expects the agency to commit to taking a vote at the March meeting.
“We have suspended several internal planning processes, but necessity dictates we resume our schedule as soon as possible to continue these efforts," Thrasher wrote to Lindley on Friday.
Thrasher pointed out FSU is planning its $88-million Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building on Levy Avenue and the expansion of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.
He said having the agency's support would have been helpful to FSU's efforts in lobbying for funding for those projects when the Legislature convenes in January.
"We believe this is a rare opportunity for us all, something significant that can will transform a key part of our community in a way that will have a positive, lasting impact for generations to come," Thrasher wrote.
Last month, Blueprint’s Citizens Advisory Committee also voted 6-2 to ask the agency to delay the vote. That followed a public hearing where residents opposed the agency taking a vote at Tuesday’s meeting.
“There are a lot of positions on this gateway. I think people want to work through it more," Lindley said. “There seemed to me there were too many things up in the air, things we could get more details on. This slows down the pace.”
The proposal is being considered as part of a larger plan by the Blueprint staff to expand an Airport Gateway project designed to give arrivals a better view of the city as they leave the airport and head up Springhill and Lake Bradford roads to the bustling Gaines Street district.
At issue is a Florida State University proposal to partner with Blueprint staff to create a network of roads to improve access to the university's southwest campus.
The agency board endorsed a concept in September expanding what previously had been approved in 2015 as the Airport Gateway into a new Gateway District.
The Gateway District concept would include the addition of a new road proposed by FSU, from Orange Avenue through its property near the Don Veller Seminole Golf Course and Club that would extend to Stuckey Avenue and link up with the FAMU Way extension at Lake Bradford Road.
The $78.8 million project will include the initial Blueprint estimated investment of $57.8 million from the extension of the penny sales tax, but now would include $9 million in right-of-way donations and costs paid by FSU, $7 million for right of way and $2 million for construction. The new road includes a contribution of $4.08 million in right of way and $2.03 million in construction from FSU.
The Florida Department of Transportation would contribute an anticipated $12 million for construction costs associated with the widening of Orange Avenue.
Blueprint responds to residents
While largely supported by business owners, the plan has been met with opposition from residents.
In response to concerns raised by residents, Blueprint staff has recommended several additions to the proposal since the IA’s September meeting:
Including Blueprint money to pay for right-of-way acquisitions along Springhill Road to accommodate future widening the road from two lanes to four lanes based on traffic needs from Tallahassee International Airport to Orange Avenue.Two to four roundabouts could be added to South Lake Bradford Road.
Sound barriers would be installed to protect residents in the Callen neighborhood and traffic flow would be reudced into the new neighborhood from the proposed FSU road.
http://www.tallahassee.com/story/opinion/2017/11/28/opinion-fsu-gateway-proposal-has-no-clear-public-purpose/900830001/
To maintain public trust, the Blueprint Board must slow down before spending $19 million on a proposal that came out of nowhere six months ago. Wait until the SW Transportation study has tested this route against others.
Ask why this proposal has not been coordinated with the FSU Campus Master plan update currently underway. Demand to know what FSU plans to build beyond a world class golf course and companion hotel. What about the old Alumni Village site?
This is public money. What is the public purpose? Will anything be on the tax rolls?
Until we get full answers, the Board needs to stick with the approved Airport Gateway Plan.
Debbie Lightsey
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