January 2013 St. Augustine Mobility Institute
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City of St. Augustine 75 King Street St. Augustine, Florida 32805 www.staugustinegovernment.com North Florida Transportation Planning Organization 1022 Prudential Drive Jacksonville, FL 32207 www.northfloridatpo.com St. Augustine Mobility Institute i Executive Summary During the week of September 17-21, 2012 a team of professionals convened in St. Augustine to conduct a Mobility Institute to address mobility needs within St. Augustine. The emphasis of the project was to address the three entry corridors: King Street, San Marco Avenue and Anastasia Boulevard. The needs of the local residents, businesses and tourism were addressed. Within the downtown corridors of King Street and San Marco Avenue significant congestion exists as a result of high volumes and a mix of slower moving vehicles in tourist trams and carriages. A vibrant pedestrian and bicycle environment with significant use of sidewalks and the roadway for crossings is near Flagler College and the Spanish Quarter. In addition, the narrow rights of way adjacent to roadways allow for few options to widen the roadways within these significant historic districts. Along San Marco Avenue north of May Street, congestion is less of a concern but significant opportunities for redevelopment and enhancements exist along the roadway that could create a more vibrant and aesthetically pleasing entry corridor. Excess capacity exists along Anastasia Boulevard,. The two-lane Bridge of Lions limits the number of vehicles traveling over the bridge. Eastbound, one of the through lanes is not needed from a capacity standpoint. Westbound, the two lanes approaching the bridge are principally used for queue storage during bridge closures to discourage cut through traffic into the Davis Shores neighborhood. Parking is a significant issue for the business and local residents who desire easy access to business. Several locations were identified where the crash rate (number of crashes per million vehicle miles traveled each year) exceed the statewide average. King Street from Ponce de Leon Boulevard to the Bridge of Lions Avenida Menendez from Cathedral Place to East Castillo Drive San Marco Avenue at May Street San Marco Avenue at Picolata Road San Marco Avenue at Ponce de Leon Boulevard (north) Ponce de Leon Boulevard from King Street to Cincinnati Avenue Ponce de Leon Boulevard at Picolata Road This project provided a conceptual planning evaluation of a number of different alternatives to address mobility and support economic development throughout the CoSA. Based on the alternatives identified in this study, additional engineering is needed to assess the full feasibility St. Augustine Mobility Institute ii of these strategies. A detailed funding plan and applications for grant funding programs should also be considered. The “Big Idea” or long term alternatives included (the total life cycle costs of each are shown): Rotunda at the Bridge of Lions ($1.6 million) Roundabout at Davenport Park ($1.8 million) Roundabout Gateway and intersection at San Marco and Ponce de Leon Boulevard ($1.2 million) Uptown Town Center ($3.8 million) Davis Shores Town Center and linear park/greenway ($1.6 million) King Street Gateway ($0.3 million) Remote Parking and Transit Circulator ($0.4 million)1 The total cost for the long term improvements is $11.5 million Short Term Alternatives/Strategies Reconfigure the signal at May Street and San Marco Avenue ($1 million) Extend median on Anastasia Boulevard ($500,000) Coordinate with US Coast Guard on bridge closures ($0) Consider adding new bike racks ($17,500) Coordinate the traffic signals on King Street ($200,000) Implement Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) for parking information and traffic information during bridge closures ($650,000) On street parking information system ($150,000) Implement a “Universal” tram route to minimize use of entry corridors ($7,500) Implement enhanced parallel parking project at San Marco Town Center ($0.5 million) Develop bicycle riding tours ($25,000) Develop walking tours ($25,000) The total cost of short term improvements and strategies is $3.1 million. The total cost for all improvements is $14.6 million. Over a 20 year life span, these investments are anticipated to result in a total economic benefit of $76 million and an increase of $1.5 million in property taxes resulting in a benefit cost ratio of 5.2:1. 1 Assumes a franchise operation and existing rights of way are used. St. Augustine Mobility Institute iii Executive Summary Executive Summary ..............................................................................................................i Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... iii List of Figures ...................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... vii Introduction Project Purpose ................................................................................................................... 1 Report Purpose .................................................................................................................... 1 Prior Studies and Related Documents ................................................................................. 1 The Mobility Institute .......................................................................................................... 2 Existing Conditions Study Area ........................................................................................................................... 3 Demographics ............................................................................................................... 3 Environmental Features .............................................................................................. 10 Typical Sections ................................................................................................................. 13 King Street from Palmer Street to Grenada Street ..................................................... 13 San Marco Avenue from Castillo Drive to Ponce de Leon Boulevard ......................... 13 Anastasia Boulevard from Sportina Avenue to the Bridge of Lions ............................ 16 Congestion ......................................................................................................................... 16 Safety .............................................................................................................................. 21 Public Transportation System ........................................................................................... 24 Bicycles .............................................................................................................................. 24 Trams and Private Transit .................................................................................................. 27 Origins and Destinations ................................................................................................... 29 Major Attractions .............................................................................................................. 29 Travel Patterns .................................................................................................................. 31 Land Use ............................................................................................................................ 36 Parking .............................................................................................................................. 36 Bridge of Lions ................................................................................................................... 36 Mobility Strategies in Similar Areas Mobility Strategies in Similar Areas ..................................................................................41 St. Augustine Mobility Institute iv Summary of Needs Needs Common to All Corridors ........................................................................................ 44 Needs Associated with King Street and San Marco Avenue ............................................. 45 Needs Associated with Anastasia Boulevard ..................................................................... 45 Alternatives Considered Alternatives Recommended from Prior Projects .............................................................. 47 Entry Corridor Design Standards................................................................................. 47 Parking and Transit Circulation Plan (Transit Greenway Plan) ................................... 49 SR A1A Scenic Highway Master Plan ........................................................................... 49 SR 5A Traffic and Safety Study .................................................................................... 50 Transit Development Plan........................................................................................... 50 US 1 Mobility Study ..................................................................................................... 50 Urban Design ............................................................................................................... 50 Traffic and Transportation .......................................................................................... 51 Amtrak Station/Passenger Rail ..................................................................................