FIRST COAST COMMUTER RAIL TOD STUDY | TOD IMPLEMENTATION
FIRST COAST COMMUTER RAIL TOD STUDY | TOD IMPLEMENTATION
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PRIORITY INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT/STRATEGY
DESCRIPTION
APPLICATION/ACTION PLAN
AGENCY COORDINATION
Create “green corridors” linking the community to parks, trails, schools and other community assets. This helps improve aesthetics, encourages people to get out more, and provides links for urban wildlife to move through neighborhoods to reach other parks. Ideally, these would run continuously between the different neighborhoods. This creates a natural flow between parks for both humans and wildlife. Gaps between neighborhoods could be filled as redevelopment occurs. Corridors should include both trees and low to moderately tall shrubs to provide shade/shelter for birds and other wildlife. Where links to schools are to be provided, “Safe Routes to Schools” funding may be available through FDOT’s Local Agency Program for sidewalks, crosswalks, and other pedestrian features. Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Greenways and Trails may be able to assist in providing grant funding for developing “green corridors” used for recreation. These sites may be located in an “area of minimal flood hazard” according to the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). This means that this area has less than a 0.2% chance of flooding in any given year. However, with uncertainties that come with climate change and sea level rise, it is important to plan for the next 100 years. Recommend focusing on stormwater reduction and management (capture/reuse, bioswales, etc.) to help mitigate flood risks related to impervious pavement. Also, recommend further review of projected flood risk, and determine if buildings should be elevated slightly (1 to 2 feet) to reduce risk of damage during floods. If buildings need to be elevated, additional consideration will be needed for ADA accessibility. With larger populations of families moving into redevelopment areas, it is likely that there will also be many pets living within the corridor. Recommend including design elements to accommodate pets such as a dog park, watering stations, and waste stations if possible. Include signs that owners must pick up after pets. Position pet stations near community entrances, at each end of the redevelopment corridor, and at least one in between. Stations should be a sufficient distance away from seating areas and areas where people may congregate (i.e. restaurant seating). Waste from stations should be picked up regularly to minimize odors. Optional: Utilize pet waste stations that allow incorporation of sawdust into bags to help neutralize odors and upcycle the wastes to compost/fertilizer. Additional research may be needed to determine if this is effective to divert pet wastes from landfills in an economical manner.
Providing “green corridors” and green spaces sufficiently close together will provide an aesthetically pleasing and functional path for humans and wildlife to traverse urban spaces. Coordination will be required between the City, developers, and community organizations such as Groundworks Jacksonville to identify possible paths, or enhancements to existing paths (such as landscaping, alignment of green spaces, etc.) Diversion of stormwater from rooftops and streets reduces the volume of water available for flooding and provides sustainable water for non-potable uses. Permeable pavements and bioswales provide on-site percolation, allowing water to drain naturally through the soil. While rainwater capture, permeable pavements, and bioswales reduce stormwater that may cause flooding, high rainfall events (i.e. – hurricanes) may still cause flooding issues. It is recommended that local jurisdictions study the projected flood risk to determine if building codes should be modified to require elevating buildings, streets, and sidewalks.
Local Municipality, Developers, Community Organizations including Groundworks Jacksonville
Create Green Corridors
Local Municipality, FDOT, Groundworks Jacksonville, Developers
Flooding
Identify possible locations for dog parks, watering stations, and waste stations. Require developers to incorporate these items in redevelopments. The City of Jacksonville, St. Johns County, and the City of St. Augustine will need to commit additional resources to pickup wastes regularly.
Local Municipality, FDOT, Developers
Dog Friendly Amenities
Intersections of major and minor streets often lack the same level of definition, safety, and clarity as major intersections. Bicyclists and pedestrians, though legally permitted to cross at these locations, are implicitly discouraged from doing so through design. Vehicles often fail to yield at these locations and have few design cues to suggest they should.
Review intersections throughout the redevelopment areas and identify options to improve bicycle and pedestrian crossings and improve messaging to vehicles to yield to pedestrians.
Intersection Improvements
Local Municipality, FDOT
Table 6-15: GENERAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS
Undergrounding the utilities throughout side streets in these redevelopment area. This will improve aesthetics, reduce maintenance costs, and reduce safety hazards after severe storms. While this may not be feasible to do in one operation, recommend starting with sites that are slated for immediate redevelopment as it will be easier to do while sites are vacant or under construction.
FCCR TOD Underground the Utilities (throughout redevelopment area, where possible)
City of Jacksonville, Developers, Utility Companies
Coordination with utility companies will be required to schedule and fund work associated with undergrounding the utilities.
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