Considering parking changes, transit part of mobility report
St. Augustine Record
Posted: September 3, 2016 - 9:31pm | Updated: September 4, 2016 - 7:16am
By SHELDON GARDNER
sheldon.gardner@staugustine.com
St. Augustine needs a “paradigm shift” to improve mobility, according to a report by the city’s mobility consultant.
That shift would mean providing “transportation options including pedestrian, wheelchair, bicycle and transit alternatives to the personal automobile,” according to the report.
The report suggests the city review how it handles the parking garage, residential and downtown parking.
“[The report is] really focused on finding a balance of modes because we can’t carry any more cars,” said Martha Graham, city public works director.
City consultant Littlejohn Engineering Associates recently finished the draft report, which is called a “framework” for the city’s mobility plan. The framework sums up what Littlejohn and subconsultants have found so far as part of their months-long effort and gives the city direction for the future. The mobility plan — which will be created by future work — is expected to get into detailed project recommendations.
“It’s going to be up to us and the community to really use that framework and … all work together to build a true mobility vision and strategic plan,” City Manager John Regan said.
The framework report covers land use and urban design, street network, transportation demand management, streetscapes, and parking and deliveries.
The report lists next steps as part of creating a mobility plan:
■ Review the fee structure for parking facilities, including on-street parking.
■ Investigate the possibility of having resident-only parking in neighborhoods.
■ Evaluate “conceptual streetscape designs” for portions of King Street as well as San Marco Avenue, Anastasia Boulevard and Avenida Menendez to increase bicycling, walking and other alternative modes of transportation.
■ Evaluate intersection alternatives for a number of areas, including at the Bridge of Lions.
■ Look into transit alternatives such as a water taxi and bike share.
■ Consider a public/private employee parking program.
■ Look into making a “consolidated City Parking Division.”
The full report, which includes other next steps, is available at citystaug.com under “mobility resources.”
George Kramer, director of planning for Littlejohn Engineering Associates, indicated part of improving mobility in the city is reducing the number of cars on the road with more people walking and bicycling.
“The biggest thing is that right now, working, living or visiting St. Augustine is auto-centric because of the infrastructure that’s in place,” he said.
The report will go to the city’s Mobility Advisory Task Force on Wednesday and could see some changes based on feedback. Public comment will be taken at the meeting.
The City Commission is expected to review the plan on Oct. 10.
As of July the city planned to pay Littlejohn Engineering Associates and subconsultants up to more than $119,000 to finish the framework report. That work included data collection, surveys of the public, meetings and reviewing reports that have already been done.
Another agreement hasn’t been worked out with Littlejohn. Regan said he wants this phase of work to be finished before considering the next agreement.
COMMENTS
martystaug 09/04/16 - 07:32 am 40"we can’t carry any more
"we can’t carry any more cars,” said Martha Graham, city public works director. But the focus is still on squeezing more tourists and visitors into our congested little town. Why not admit the simple fact that St. Augustine has over-reached its capacity, and stop trying to attract more? Why not save the next $119,000+ and admit that we are full? Downtown businesses seem to be thriving on the current capacities, isn't that enough?
sponger2 09/04/16 - 09:42 am 20No Marty they don't.
As I have said all along, they are testing the "can't put ten pounds of poop in a five pound bag" theorem by changing the nature of the poop.
In this analogy, the poop are the tourists (x) plus the autos delivering the poop (y). Total volume equals x+y. If part of the poop component (x) is the fertilizer, and the money they bring is the (z), "x" would equal "z" as defined as desired output. One needs to reduce and change the mode of delivery "y" to deliver the valuable portion of the poop (x,z) to the most desired location to separate x from z.
With fertilizer they reduce the volume of poop by burning it to a potable ash Milorganite, thereby changing the mode of delivery (y), which reduces that portion of the total volume so that more of (x) can be delivered to the desired location, thereby increasing the (z) yield as a result of reduction in the (y) part of the equation.
That will be $110,000 payable to:
Sponger Solutions Corp. LLC.
123 Not From Around Here Blvd.
Jacksonville, FL. 32099
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