Posts tagged Augustine City Hall

Week long community effort to plan for the future of city’s three entrance
corridors: King Street, San Marco Avenue, and Anastasia Boulevard

Moving to and through St. Augustine, whether in a personal or commercial vehicle, is a challenge. The city’s compact historical district’s small, narrow streets draw millions each year, and when volume meets capacity, there can be gridlock.

In recent years there have been many studies by governmental and private entities evaluating the existing traffic systems and proposing ways to increase efficiently and the ease of moving around St. Augustine. Some studies focused just on street use, others on pedestrians and bicycles, still others on light rail and shuttle services, but there has not been one with the complete, overall view that is likely to result from the St. Augustine Mobility Institute.

Running September 17- 21, the Institute is a weeklong intensive effort to learn about mobility challenges along the city’s three entrance corridors – King Street, San Marco Avenue, and Anastasia Boulevard – and the by week’s end propose solutions based on input from a series of public workshops.

The Institute, a partnership between the City of St. Augustine and the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization,(NFTPO) will be managed by the engineering consultation firm of HNTB. It was City Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline who, as a member of the NFTPO, became aware of the program and the with the help of the city’s Planning and Building Department was able to secure an allocation of $125,000 to cover the cost of the study.

The week opens with a kick off meeting on Monday afternoon, September 17, in The Alcazar Room to allow stakeholders an opportunity to provide input on the needs and issues to be addressed. Then on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, public workshops will be held in the neighborhoods of the three entrance corridors: King Street, San Marco Avenue, and Anastasia Boulevard. Finally, on Friday a wrap up session will again be held in The Alcazar Room bringing together the results and recommendations.

The Institute will focus on strategies with the potential of enhancing mobility within St. Augustine specifically addressing:

• Traffic and congestion management
• Cyclists and pedestrians
• Transit
• Multimodal transportation center
• Private transit and tour vehicles
• Wayfinding
• Parking
• Business access
• Economic development

A Participant’s Handbook, (available online at www.staugustinegovernment.com) is a rich resource book with maps and summaries of a number of transportation plans and proposals already completed. The handbook will be a necessary tool for anyone interesting in participating in the Institute.

This is a unique opportunity to have input on the shape of the city’s transportation future. All meetings are open to the public. Please note that two or more members of the St. Augustine City Commission may be in attendance at one or more of these meetings.

For additional information, contact: Mark Knight, Planning and Building Director , City of St. Augustine, Phn: 904.825.1065, Email: mknight@citystaug.com.

St. Augustine Mobility Institute Meeting Schedule

Kickoff meeting / Monday September 17, 2:00pm – 3:00pm
The Alcazar Room, St. Augustine City Hall, 75 King Street
King Street Corridor meeting / Tuesday September 18, 5:00pm – 6:00pm
(regarding King Street between Granada Street and Palmer Street)
The Alcazar Room, St. Augustine City Hall, 75 King Street
San Marco Avenue Corridor meeting / Wednesday September 19, 5:00pm – 6:00pm
(regarding San Marco Avenue between Castillo Drive and US 1)
Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, Moore CLD Room (use Macaris Street entrance), 207 N. San Marco Avenue
Anastasia Boulevard Corridor meeting / Thursday September 20, 5:00pm-6:00pm
(regarding Anastasia Boulevard from the Bridge of Lions to Spartina Avenue)
St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park, Anastasia Island Conservation Center, 999 Anastasia Boulevard
Wrap-Up meeting / Friday September 21, 2:00pm-3:00pm
The Alcazar Room, St. Augustine City Hall, 75 King Street

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. For complaints, questions or concerns about civil rights or non-discrimination, or for special requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact Mark Knight, Planning and Building Department, 904.825.1065.

Source: City of St. Augustine