Tunnel Funding Surprise to City

Tunnel funding surprise to city

By KATI BEXLEY
Staff Writer
Publication Date: 03/08/05

The U.S. House Transportation Committee bill that includes $1.6 million funding for a pedestrian underpass from A1A to Castillo de San Marcos surprised many St. Augustine officials.

"I don't know who asked for the money, but it may be a good idea," Bill Harriss, city manager said Monday. "We all have to admit it's a little tricky crossing A1A there ... but (city staff) has never analyzed it."

U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, said he put the provision in the bill to fund an underpass tunnel from A1A to Castillo de San Marcos.

"I used my seniority in the transportation committee to put this (pedestrian walkway) in the bill," he said. "No one at the city was aware I was going to get money for this."

The idea for the walkway spawned from a bill he sponsored last fall authorizing funding for a new visitor center for the historic Castillo fort, he said.

But funding for the pedestrian pathway might come before money to build the new Castillo visitor center does.

"There has been no subsequent legislative action to fund the project," said Gordy Wilson, Castillo de San Marcos superintendent. "We don't know how much (the visitor center) would cost. We've only looked at conceptual designs."

There are five other transportation projects for St. Johns County in the bill, totaling $21.8 million. The measure goes to the full House on Wednesday, and it will also have to gain approval from the Senate in coming weeks.

The other projects in the bill include easing congestion in the northwestern part of the county, paying for design of a beltway around St. Augustine, and helping pay for a parking garage near downtown St. Augustine.


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