Argyle Area Civic Council

Wells Road Connector to Argyle Forest - TERRIBLE IDEA - Feb 2004

Public Hearing ?– Wells Road Connector - Feb 5, 2004 5pm & 7pm

DOT Project Number: 211530-2 - Wells Road Connector

The Florida Department of Transportation will host a Project Kickoff Workshop to discuss the Project Development and Environmental Study evaluating the need for a Wells Road Connector Thursday, Feb. 5 in the in the Orange Park High School Cafetorium, 2300 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park, Fla.

A Project Development and Environmental Study is underway to evaluate and analyze the function, safety and capacity of a proposed four lane roadway connection between Argyle Forest Boulevard and Wells Road, West of SR-21.

From 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Department personnel will be available with maps, drawings and other pertinent information to discuss the proposed corridors and to answer any questions about the project.

A public comment period will be provided for individual questions and concerns at 7:00 p.m.
This project is being developed in compliance with Titles VI and VIII of the Civil Rights Act.
Anyone needing project or public meeting information or special accommodations under the Americans with Disability Act of 1990, should write to the address or call the telephone number given below. Special accommodation request under the Americans with Disabilities Act should be made at least seven days prior to the meeting.
Attendance is encouraged and any comments made are appreciated.

For more information, contact Debrah Miller, Project Manager of the Florida Department of Transportation, at
1109 S. Marion Avenue, Mail Station 2007 Lake City, FL 32025-5874
Phone: 386-961-7793 or T/F: 800-749-2967 or Fax: 386-961-7508
Email: Debrah.Miller@dot.state.fl.us

Wells Road Connector - The Real Story, By David Hodges

(As Seen in Clay Today and Argyle Today)

By David Hodges, Vice President and Transportation Chair, Argyle Area Civic Council

The Argyle Area Civic Council met with anyone who would sit still on this issue for more than one year. Our goal was to determine if this project would be able to be a cost efficient solution to traffic woes along the Blanding Parking Lot (a/k/a SR21).

Here's what we found:
1. It was supposed to assist Argyle traffic to get across the lanes of Blanding traffic to turn east onto Wells Rd.
That was it, pure and simple. Here's what else we found:
1. It would allow 1.5 more cars to cross Blanding at Wells Rd per light cycle.
2. It was designed to cost $11,000,000 to construct.
3. In arriving at the cost, they forgot that Argyle Forrest Blvd would be elevated by as much as eight feet at their designed intersection point, at the entrance to Lindsey Terrace Apartments. The new cost estimate for this bridge across wetlands would approach $16,000,000.
4. They had not considered the effect of Oak Leaf Plantation and the new malls and eateries that would siphon off Argyle traffic from wanting to go to Wells Road.
5. They had not factored in the effect of the Cleveland Rd. Connector (aka College Drive Extension) and the relief it would provide to those needing to use AFB to get to Blanding Blvd southward.
6. They had not factored in the reduced traffic on Blanding based on the Branan Field/Chaffee opening and were relying on old data.
7. They had not factored in the effect of the Collins Rd. Interchange at I-295 on Blanding Blvd traffic counts.
8. We suggested approval for an intersection with AFB at Westport.

THEREFORE, when the AACC factored in all the above, it unanimously voted to de-prioritize the Wells Road Connector as a far less than efficient use of transportation dollars and to PUSH hard for the following as priority
items:
1. The interchange at Collins Rd and I-295, and
2. The Cleveland Road Connector (aka College Road Extension).
3. The extension of Collins Road all the way to Branan Field/Chaffee Rd.

The Department of Transportation agreed with our figures that 35% of the cars exiting I-295 at Blanding would use the Collins Interchange if it were available. That's THE road project that will relieve traffic on Blanding.
The AACC is pushing to have the interchange built in 2006. We believe this is possible.

The Cleveland Road Connector is listed as the #1 priority in Clay County, and for good reason. It will open up lanes of passage for the OakLeaf Plantation shoppers and the Argyle shoppers to goods and services in Clay
County and to the St. Johns River Jr. College campus while spreading out the use of Blanding.
The use of Collins Rd will be important to the newly growing Cecil Commerce Center and give them a new route to I-295 southbound. It would also provide a new route to I-295 from south Clay County. Currently, Mandarin shoppers do not have a large mall. They can choose to go to the Avenues, Orange Park or Regency malls and have good routes to get there. The Oak Leaf Mall will be larger than any of these and will attract Mandarin and San Jose when it opens. The only deterrent to shopping at OakLeaf and Orange Park malls will be traffic slowdowns.

Come on people, let's get the right projects done first. Even if we have surplus money left over, the Wells Road Connector still isn't an efficient use of tax dollars. Can you see it?

David "Magnum" Hodges, Chair, AACC Transportation committee,
Jacksonville, Fl. ftc@fdn.com (904) 237-5917

Bill Fonferek Letter - Environmental Concerns

Subject : Wells Road Connector Public Hearing
Date : Mon, 2 Feb 2004 14:54:00 -0500
From : Bill Fonferek [fonferek@bellsouth.net]
To : [Debrah.Miller@dot.state.fl.us] Cc : [bill-lewis@netzero.net]

Dear Ms Miller;

I live in Argyle Forest at 7156 Fire Fly Drive in the Cypress Point Subdivision. I would like to comment on the proposed Wells Road Connector but will be unable to attend the meeting as I will be out of town on a business trip. I would like these comments entered into the record.

I'm a biologist with the Federal government working as a planner.

After reviewing the three proposals, I find that each one will significantly affect the flood plain and the wetlands in that area. Each proposal could have significant flooding impacts on the residential housing located along the south side of Argyle Forest Blvd. These structures already have flooding problems and the construction of a new road at any of the locations could impact this problem even more.

I have not seen the NEPA documentation. Could I get a copy?

With each alternative, how many acres of jurisdictional wetlands would be affected? What is the proposed mitigation to avoid or offset this loss and where would that be located?

My opinion is that by making a connector at Wells Road, you would be shifting the congestion to wherever the connector tied to Argyle Forest. This would not help the residents of that area. If you connected at Rampart Road, you would also divide a neighborhood. Wherever you connect (except Youngerman), there would have to be a new light in place, again causing congestion.

The best solutions are the Collins Road off-ramp at I-295. This segregates the Argyle traffic from the Blanding south traffic before it gets to Blanding. That would alleviate evening rush hour traffic at Blanding and I-295.

Extend Collins Road to Brannon Field Chaffee Road in conjunction with the Collins Road Exit. This would reduce traffic on Argyle Forest and reduce traffic at Blanding and I-295 during evening rush hour.

Another idea which would also help Blanding traffic congestion is the extension of College Ave in Orange Park to Argyle. This would provide another feeder road the help alleviate traffic on Blanding.

In summary, as proposed, these three alternatives for a Wells Road connector are unacceptable. Under the Presidents Executive Orders on Wetlands Protection and Floodplain management, these alternatives do not meet the test as other alternatives are available that would require less impacts. There would also be no net loss of wetlands.

Bill Fonferek
7156 Fire Fly Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32244
fonferek@bellsouth.net
William.J.Fonferek@saj02.usace.army.mil

Email us
ArgyleACC@joimail.com

Other Links and Newspaper Articles

Discussion Area
TU2-11-04-Wells Road connector gets few good words TERRIBLE IDEA
TU 2-4-2004 - State reveals options for Argyle-Wells link
TU 1-17-2004 - Argyle-Wells connector revives
TU Map 1-17-2004 - Wells Road Connector
TU 12-20-2003 - Wells Road Connector still alive
TU 4-5-2001-Clay study cites need for 2new roads.Wells,Cleveland
TU 8-13-2001- Environment confounds Clay search for roadway plan