Round 3: Regional Transportation Study

Historic City News was on hand today as a group of about 50 commissioners and leaders from across northeast Florida met to discuss the transportation project development process and to discuss revisions to their long-range transportation vision and goals for the region.

Today marked the third meeting for the Regional Transportation Study Commission; which was held in the Conference Center of the Northeast Florida Regional Airport at St. Augustine.

Freshman St. Johns County Commissioner, Jay Morris, is one of the 17 voting members that comprise the Commission, as is St. Johns County Public Works Director, Joe Stephenson.

The membership of the Regional Transportation Study Commission is established by Senate Bill 2470 as follows:

Seventeen voting members; comprised of two citizens of Baker, Clay, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns County appointed by their respective Board of County Commissioners, together with four citizens of Duval County appointed by the City Council of the City of Jacksonville and the Chair of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority — who shall serve as Chair of the Commission.

Included at the head table are Vernon Myers, Kenny Eubanks, Ken Willette, Steve Rieck, Jon Netts, Milissa Holland, Robert Rhodes, Sam Mousa, Pete Kelly, Eric Green, John Mahoney, III, Travis Cummings, Gordon Crews, Jimmy Anderson and Michael Cavendish, Chairman.

The Commission has three non-voting members; which include The Florida Department of Transportation’s District II Secretary, The Chair of the Northeast Florida Regional Council, The Chair of the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization.

At today’s meeting, the commission finalized its organizational materials, adopted its process goal, assumptions, and principles then refined the commission’s workplan. Members attending were introduced to a draft copy of the commission’s vision and goals.

Economic impact on transportation plans were discussed in an overview of a presentation titled, “Reality Check”. After the break, long-term vision and goals for the northeast region were evaluated and members were selected to serve on the planning committee.

An overview of the process to plan and build a transportation facility from concept to concrete was presented, transportation modes covering mass transit and rail were discussed as was means of obtaining transportation funding.

At the core of today’s meeting was an opportunity for leaders of the 1.5 million residents included in the northeast Florida region to exchange ideas on local transit initiatives.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer