Submitted by Suanne Z Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
November 1, 2016 11:57 a.m.
Fernandina Beach City Manager Dale Martin today released an FDOT email dated October 28, 2016 regarding the Alachua rail opening. And the recommendations are bound to create another local controversy.
The FDOT recommendations are presented below in their entirety.
—— Original message——
From: Regalado, Laura
Date: Fri, Oct 28, 2016 2:45 PM
To: Dale Martin;
Cc:
Subject:FW: Alachua Opening
Dale,
As you know, myself (FDOT Rail Crossing Opening/Closure Program Manager) and Scott Allbritton (FDOT Rail Crossing Safety Program Manager) met with representatives from CSX, Genesse & Wyoming, and First Coast Railroad in Fernandina Beach on 10/13 and 10/14. We discussed the pending application to open a new railroad-highway at-grade crossing at Alachua Street in Fernandina Beach. After reviewing all the options, the FDOT and railroads recommend the following approach:
1. Close the existing at-grade crossing at Center Street to vehicular traffic, but maintain a pedestrian crossing
2. Open a new one way at-grade crossing at Alachua Street
3. Maintain the existing two-way at-grade crossing at Ash Street
4. Establish the new traffic pattern on Front Street to be one-way south between Alachua and Ash
5. Maintain and extend the one-way north traffic pattern on 2nd Street between Ash and Alachua
6. Use state safety funds to upgrade the existing crossing at Ash with new flashing lights and gates and pedestrian gates
7. Work with the FDOT and railroads to create a pedestrain safety and channelization plan that will reduce if not eliminate the pedestrain tresspassing on the tracks.
I am happy to meet with City representatives to discuss the postive outcomes we see with from this approach. I would also be happy to participate in a design workshop to present these suggestions to the citizens.
See schematic below:
Laura Regalado
Rail Crossing Opening/Closure Program
Florida Department of Transportation
Office of Freight, Logistics, and Passenger Operations
605 Suwannee Street, MS-25
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0450
Phone: (850) 414-4528
Fax: (850) 414-4508
E-Mail: [email protected]
*********
City Manager Martin released a statement clarifying that the message from Ms. Laura Regalado (FDOT) represents an initial recommendation related to the re-opening of the Alachua Street crossing. He wrote, “At this time, discussions with the City Commission have not occurred, and no immediate action based on this recommendation is expected.”
Because these are informal FDOT recommendations, there is no formal notice/comment period in effect, and nothing will be implemented unless formal recommendations are issued.
The Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) during its Goal Setting Session in early 2016 identified the opening Alachua Street rail crossing as one of their major goals. Subsequent to the FBCC’s decision, Martin has worked with representatives of both FDOT and the railroads to achieve that goal.
The railroads have expressed ongoing concerns with pedestrian and vehicular obstruction and trespass along the Front Street rail beds. The increasing popularity of Fernandina Beach as a tourist destination, the proliferation of restaurants and businesses in the downtown area, the boat ramp traffic and other factors have all raised heightened safety and liability concerns for the railroad.
It is not clear at this time whether FDOT and the railroads would back off these concerns if the request to open the Alachua crossing were to be withdrawn.
Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.
I really like this. In one step we make Fernandina Beach a pedestrian friendly, neighborhood friendly, unique boutique business friendly, restaurant friendly place where folks will come just to see how good we are. And FDOT and the railroads are on board.
If the purpose is safety on Front Street (and not an effort to eventually close Centre Street) why not make a three way round-about at 2nd street and have an option to go north or south on 2nd (one way streets) or back onto Centre Street?
An Interesting proposition. And it creates a cul-de-sac for more pedestrian events to help offset the loss of vehicular exposure for businesses on that part of Centre Street. It will increase pedestrian traffic across the tracks from the waterfront public parking. Which is tricky at best, and dangerous during the years it needs repairs. There needs to be a permanent, safe solution for pedestrians to cross those railroad tracks before this goes any further. And wastes even more taxpayer money in fruitless meetings and wasted City employee hours preparing more reports to go with all the others from the last forty years that are collecting dust.
Think wide, creative, pedestrian overpass. Time to think outside the box, and take the bull by the horns.
http://www.archdaily.com/category/pedestrian-bridge
Really? People think this is about safety on Centre Street- a bit naive don’t you think?
I only hope that the “nay sayers” don’t start objecting before all the details of this idea are known. The idea sounds intriguing and it’s worth learning more about it.
To me this goes to a basic question of “are we a town with industry and a port?”, or “are we an industrial base inconvenienced by being located in a town?” I hope our elected officials can answer this question before transportation planning gets too far downstream.
If it ain’t fixed don’t broke it..
This is the dumbest idea that anyone has come up with yet!
Will there be a town hall meeting open to the public before a final decision is made? This sounds like a terrible idea for the livelihood of the businesses Center Street to me, but maybe discussing in open forum would help.