Greater Englewood N. A.

FEBRUARY 2002 BREAKING NEWS

Feb 23, 2002

City Council Sub Committee on Transportation, Feb. 21, 2002

Numerous Gena members attended the Jacksonville City Council Subcommittee on transportation, Feb. 21.

There were two bills for the subcommittee to vote on. The most important being the bill concerning the construction of an overpass at Beach and University Blvds. Suzanne Jenkins asked the bill be deferred and it was. Jenkins asked for an amendment to the bill which passed.

The second bill which also passed was to request a grant from FDOT. The grant would allow the Emerson Street and I-95 interchange to be improved and beautified. This grant was requested by the South Metro Business Development Association.

Details on the amendment will be discussed at the March meeting.

Transportation Alternative Study (TAS), Feb. 21, 2002

At the last JTA - TAS meeting we voted on the path of the advanced mass transit system to be constructed in the years to come.

Due to the need to service communities, such as Pine Forest, Larson, Englewood and the revitalization of Philips/South Metro our delegates to this committee wanted the Philips Highway selected but were voted down. The higher level at JTA corrected this and did decide to include Philips Highway for the route. This means that a combination I - 95 and Philips will be used in our area.

Due to the down economy, it is necessary for TAS to commit to a route and select the mode of transportation. We must commit now and get in line for money from the Federal Government. There are over 200 other governments seeking help at the Federal level. An EPA study also has to be started as quickly as possible.

The TAS committee has been working on mass transit problems for two years now.
We all can see the increase in construction in Jacksonville with the increase in auto traffic. Without planning for mass transit today, we will not be able to meet the transit needs of the future.