Argyle Area Civic Council

Argyle Forest Blvd Widening History - To Be Done By End of 2003

Argyle Forest Blvd Segment 1 - Blanding Blvd. to Westport Rd.

DESCRIPTION: Traffic volumes have continued to increase on this two lane roadway to over 18,000 trips per day. This increases delay time on the roadway and causes congestion. This project will widen the roadway to a four lane divided highway, provide additional signals and turn lanes, and a new bridge crossing to meet adopted community capacity standards.


STATUS:

Current Activity:
JTA has selected the firm of Civil Services, Inc. to provide professional services in planning and designing this facility. Two public meetings have been held with others to follow. Design is underway, with 30 percent plans completed. Meetings have been held with the Water Management District concerning wetland permits. The last public meeting was held on October 16, 2000.

Funding: Program budget is $10.28 million.

Schedule: Design work is underway with construction currently estimated to be complete in late 2003. Project is on schedule. At this early stage, the schedules are tentative.

DBE/MBE The design contract is being performed by a DBE firm. DBE participation will conform with JTA policy.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: How to manage the surface runoff in drainage systems will be an issue. The alignment and construction of a new bridge must be addressed.

CONTACT: Alberto Izquierdo, 630-3181

Argyle Forest Blvd Segment 2 - Bridgecreek Dr. to Westport Rd.

DESCRIPTION: Traffic volumes have continued to increase on this two-lane roadway causing congestion and increased delays in travel time. This project will widen the roadway from a two-lane road to a four-lane divided highway, provide left turn lanes and improve the existing signalization.

STATUS:

Current Activity:
JTA has selected the firm of Civil Services, Inc. to provide professional services for planning and designing this facility. Design is underway with surveying activities in progress. A public meeting was held October 16, 2001. 30 percent plans are scheduled to be submitted in March 2002.

Funding: Program budget is $8.6 million.

Schedule: Design work is underway with construction scheduled to be completed June 2004. Schedules are tentative at this early stage.

DBE/MBE DBE participation will conform with JTA policy. The design contract is being preformed by a DBE firm.

SIGNIFICANT
ISSUES: Surface water runoff management and treatment on roadside ditches is a primary issue.

CONTACT: Alberto Izquierdo, 630-3181

History of JTA Delaying the Widening of Argyle Forest Blvd.

The fourth greatest lie in the world . . . "JTA has a project to four-lane Argyle Forest Boulevard between Westport Road and Blanding Boulevard beginning in 2000." Here are articles and links regarding the Widening of Argyle Forest Boulevard. The JTA has stretched this project from 2000 til the End of 2003. This road was also first listed on the Jacksonville Planning & Development Department's Capital Improvement Programs Report as a 4 lane road in June 1998 http://apps1.coj.net/planning/roadwayl.htm . Who knows when this project will be completed. The next public meeting with JTA and other officials will be around the end of August 2001 or the beginning of September 2001. Make plans to attend and voice your disappointment that this project has been delayed. Please feel free to forward this to any neighbors who may want to stay informed. Have them contact me to get on distribution list. This email was sent to as many concerned parties as possible.


Wednesday, May 13, 1998 Neighbor to neighbor
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/051398/nec_c4neighb.html
Question: I live in Argyle Forest, and the newer section of Argyle Forest Boulevard in the Chimney Lakes section has a bike and jogging path. Are there any plans to extend that path to the older section of the boulevard in the Argyle Forest section?
Answer: The Jacksonville Transportation Authority plans to widen Argyle Forest Boulevard to a four-lane divided roadway from Blanding Boulevard to west of Westport Road beginning in 2000. It will be a rural roadway without curbs and gutters, but bike lanes will be constructed as well as a sidewalk on at least one side of the road.

Saturday, June 13, 1998 Neighbor to neighbor
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/061398/ner_mmmneigh.html
Q: When will Rampart Road be extended to meet Firestone Road and how will that affect traffic on Argyle Forest Boulevard?
A: The city will build a three-lane urban roadway extending Rampart Road north from Park City Drive to Morse Avenue to connect to Firestone Road in the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. The next fiscal year, it will widen Rampart between Park City and Argyle Forest to three lanes. The JTA has a project to four-lane Argyle Forest Boulevard between Westport Road and Blanding Boulevard beginning in 2000.

Wednesday, January 20, 1999 Neighbor to neighbor
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/012099/nec_c4neighb.html
Q: When will Argyle Forest Boulevard be widened to four lanes, and will it be extended all the way to Old Middleburg Road? Also, are there any plans to do something about the traffic backups on the Interstate 295 entrance and exit ramps at Blanding Boulevard?
A: The Jacksonville Transportation Authority plans to widen Argyle Forest to a four-lane divided roadway with a landscaped median and left turn lanes at major intersections from Blanding Boulevard to west of Westport Road. There will be bike lanes and a sidewalk on at least one side of the road. Construction should begin sometime in 2000-01 and take about 18 months. Future plans call for extending a two-lane Argyle Forest from Shindler Drive westward to the future Branan Field-Chaffee Road. As for the congestion at the I-295 ramps, the state has a study in progress.

Saturday, February 19, 2000 NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/021900/nes_2160367.html
Q: I heard the city is planning a road improvement project for Argyle Forest Boulevard. When will this be?
A: The widening of Argyle Forest Boulevard from Blanding Boulevard to Rampart Road has long been on the drawing board. It was a requirement of the original developer of Argyle Forest that the road be four-laned when traffic reached a certain level, which it has. The original developer pulled out and sold the land to three other developers. The widening is to be done under the supervision of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, which says there still is not a funding agreement between the city, state and the developers.

Saturday, March 25, 2000 Neighbor to neighbor
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/032500/ner_2534834.html
Question: I live in the Chimney Lakes area, and for 10 years we've heard that Argyle Forest Boulevard would be widened to four lanes. In stories about Mayor Delaney's recent transportation plan, it was stated that it would be 2010 before Argyle was widened to four lanes. Does that mean we have to wait 10 years?
Answer: No. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority has agreed to widen Argyle Forest to four lanes from Blanding Boulevard to Westport Road. The developers of the Argyle Forest-Chimney Lakes area have agreed to pay for extending and widening the boulevard from Westport to the Branan Field-Chaffee Road extension later. The JTA is starting the design of its project immediately and expects to begin construction on the widening in the summer of 2001. Construction will take about 20 months.

Friday, March 31, 2000 Transit study area proposed By David Bauerlein
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/033100/met_2627171.html
In other business, the JTA added Argyle Forest Boulevard to its list of road widening work. The $6 million project will make it a four-lane, divided street with bike paths, curbs, gutters and sidewalks from Blanding Boulevard to Westport Road. Design will start in May, and construction is scheduled to conclude by June 2003.

Saturday, April 15, 2000 Neighbor to neighbor
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/041500/ner_2770756.html
Q: What's the latest on widening Argyle Forest Boulevard?
A: Last month the Jacksonville Transportation Authority approved widening Argyle Forest to a four-lane divided roadway from Blanding Boulevard to Westport Road. The project will include sidewalks and bike paths as well as the two bridges on the road. Design work will begin next month on the $6 million, 2.75-mile project, and construction should be completed by mid-2003. Developers will extend Argyle Forest west to the future Branan Field-Chaffee Road some time in the future.

Saturday, November 4, 2000 Neighbor to neighbor By Jessie-Lynne Kerr
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/110400/ner_4499158.html
Question: What is the status of the widening of Argyle Forest Boulevard?
Answer: The Jacksonville Transportation Authority will widen Argyle as part of the Better Jacksonville Plan from Blanding Boulevard to Westport Road, making it a four-lane divided roadway with a landscaped median and left-turn bays at major intersections. The roadway project will include curbs, gutters, bike lanes, street lighting and a sidewalk on at least one side. The JTA is negotiating with an engineering firm to design the project. Design should take a year, so you can expect construction to begin in 2002.

Saturday, February 3, 2001 NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR:
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/020301/ner_5281583.shtml
Upgrades on Argyle Forest Boulevard due in 2003
Question: When will they start widening Argyle Forest Boulevard, and will there be sidewalks?
Answer: Argyle Forest is to be widened to four lanes between Blanding Boulevard and Westport Road with landscaped medians, left turn storage bays at some intersections, curbs, gutters, bicycle lanes, lighting and a sidewalk on at least one side of the road by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. Plans are to start construction early in 2003 and complete it by the end of that year. Widening Argyle Forest to four lanes from Westport to Branan Field-Chaffee Road is included in the Better Jacksonville Plan with construction targeted for 2007 to 2010.

Tuesday, May 4, 1999 Argyle residents worry plans for area will strip its beauty By David Bauerlein
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/050499/met_2a1argyl.html
If the state gives its OK, then the developers would extend Argyle Forest Boulevard, which stops just west of Shindler Drive, further west to tie in with Branan-Field Chaffee, said Jeannie Fewell, director of the Jacksonville Planning and Development Department. In addition, the developers would pay part of the estimated $6 million cost to widen Argyle Forest Boulevard to four lanes from Blanding Boulevard to Westport Road. The developers' cost will be negotiated.

Tuesday, September 28, 1999 Council to consider new Argyle plan By David Bauerlein and Shannon Womble
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/092899/met_2b1ARGYL.html <- Great Map
In 1992, Jacksonville imposed a moratorium that stopped development in Argyle because traffic had overwhelmed twolane Argyle Forest Boulevard. The proposal for lifting the building ban includes a commitment by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority to widen Argyle Forest Boulevard. The plan also includes the landowners' agreement to provide right of way for the construction of Branan Field-Chaffee Road, which the state Department of Transportation wants to build next year. ''It's the Westside's time,'' said Richard Darby, chairman of the Southwest Citizen Planning Advisory Committee for Jacksonville.
He said that overall, residents have voiced support for restarting the Argyle development because it will lead to widening Argyle Forest Boulevard. Longterm, he said he thinks the plan will be able to handle the traffic that comes from the new construction.

Wednesday, July 9, 1997 Argyle Baptist growth involved city's help By Sandy Strickland
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/070997/c1church.html
In November 1992, the city's Planning Department forbade any more development in the area unless it had been previously approved. The moratorium is in effect until Argyle Forest Boulevard is widened to four lanes between Blanding Boulevard and Rampart Road, an issue that developers have been discussing for several years.

Wednesday, October 8, 1997 School going up; boom to follow? By Sandy Strickland
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100897/w1School.html
It looks as if they're building a school in the middle of nowhere. Billy Parker, a longtime Westsider and member of the Duval County School Board, even quipped that he got lost on his way to last week's ground-breaking ceremony for the new elementary school on Old Middleburg Road. But school officials say that will change soon. A construction boom is expected to bring an additional 1,900 homes and an apartment complex to the area. And eventually, Argyle Forest Boulevard will be extended to Old Middleburg Road. Hipps, who represents District 13, said she got calls from residents questioning how she could support such a remote location. ''But once the transportation network falls into place, I think we'll realize that it's been put in the ideal spot,'' she said.

Wednesday, December 31, 1997 Westside saw good things in 1997 More projects coming in '98 By Sandy Strickland
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/12319
/w1Westsi.html
-- Will Argyle Forest Boulevard be widened in their lifetime?
And developers of the Argyle and Chimney Lakes area continue to meet in efforts to come up with a plan for widening the heavily traveled boulevard.

Wednesday, January 14, 1998 Argyle bemoans Clay cars' 'free ride' By Sandy Strickland
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/011498/w1argyle.html
Meanwhile, developers have built several hundred homes in Clay with the only way in and out via Cheswick Oak Avenue to Argyle Forest. Both roads are in Jacksonville. That gives Clay County drivers the benefit of using Argyle Forest without being penalized by the moratorium, said Andy Sikes, a Chimney Lakes resident. And when residents heard recently that as many as 300 more homes might be on the way, further adding to traffic congestion in the area, they appealed for help to the Southwest Citizens Planning Advisory Committee. About 50 turned out for a meeting with Jacksonville public officials last Wednesday that was set up by the Southwest panel's land use, zoning and transportation subcommittee. Two years ago, the Jacksonville Department of Public Works had given the developers of a Clay County subdivision permission to extend a roadway through Duval County to a cul de sac at Alderwood Court. But they got some good news at the meeting. Since the developers failed to extend the road within the two-year time period, Jacksonville officials have deemed the plans no longer valid, said Mario Taylor, deputy director of the planning department. Even if the plans are resubmitted, officials will not give permission for the road extension, Taylor said, to applause from residents. Richard Darby, a Chimney Lakes resident who moderated the meeting as chairman of the citizens panel subcommittee, said he would like to see a binding agreement in which Duval and Clay officials looked at how growth impacted each county.

Wednesday, February 4, 1998 Neighbor to neighbor
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/020498/c4neighb.html
Question: Will they ever put a traffic light at Argyle Forest Boulevard and Cheswick Oak Avenue by the Winn-Dixie store? More than 1,000 homes have been built down Cheswick Oak as it goes down into Clay County and that is the only point of egress. Traffic gets so bad that people are cutting through the Winn-Dixie lot.
Answer: An intersection improvement project for that location is being designed by the city now. It will include left turn lanes for Argyle Forest Boulevard and a traffic signal. Expect construction to be completed by Oct. 1, 1998.

Saturday, August 22, 1998 Neighbor to neighbor
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/082298/ner_mmmneigh.html
Q: I live in Argyle Forest and travel on Interstate 295 to get home. The traffic getting off at Blanding Boulevard backs up for several miles into the traffic lanes of I-295. Any chance we'll get another exit in this area to relieve the backup?
A: The state is very much aware of the congested exits of I-295, not only at Blanding but at every exit between Commonwealth Avenue on the Westside and St. Augustine Road in Mandarin. There is a study taking place to determine the best way to alleviate the traffic backups at the exits. There's no word yet on when it'll be completed.

Saturday, August 8, 1998 Pondering access ins, outs By R. Michael Anderson
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/080898/nec_c8centex.html
Commissioner Belinda Johnson said the access problem is particularly acute in the sprawling Argyle area, where new subdivisions are popping up on Clay County's side of the county line. ''It's only going to keep getting deeper and deeper,'' Johnson said, referring to developments continually growing southward into Clay County from Argyle Forest Boulevard.
Megonegal was disappointed the engineering department sought subdivision access information almost exclusively from counties. A more balanced report, he said, would have included information from municipalities. ''They're [subdivision regulations] weaker in the counties, that's why I mentioned that,'' Megonegal said. Planning commissioners have said their No. 1 concern all along has been to ensure public safety is not compromised by having only one access to large housing developments. ''We've got subdivisions with many lots dumping onto a two-lane road,'' Megonegal said.
Single-access subdivisions have sprung up throughout Clay County, primarily in high-growth areas such as County Road 220, Middleburg, Lake Asbury, Doctors Inlet and on the Clay County side of Argyle. Megonegal and other commissioners have said residents could, conceivably, be in danger in the event emergency vehicles were unable to reach them because the single entrance road to their neighborhood was blocked. Williams told the board, however, that public safety officials would recommend a secondary access to a new development if they thought a single entrance road was inadequate to ensure the safety of the neighborhood.

Friday, June 4, 1999 Road link offers 'gateway' to Argyle developers By David Bauerlein
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/060499/met_2a1argyl.html
Jeannie Fewell, director of planning and development for Jacksonville, said Argyle fits in with City Hall's goal of steering growth north and west of the St. Johns River. In 1992, Jacksonville put a building moratorium on Argyle because Gulfstream had not widened Argyle Forest Boulevard. The new landowners would overcome that by paying up to $13.6 million over 15 years for widening Argyle Forest Boulevard. They also would extend Argyle Forest Boulevard so it connects with Branan FieldChaffee.
The long-range plan calls for Argyle Forest Boulevard to be four lanes wide, except for a six-lane segment from Old Middleburg Road to Branan FieldChaffee Road.

Saturday, September 4, 1999 Argyle development reworked new homes, more businesses included By R. Michael Anderson
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/090499/nec_c1argyle.html
In addition to increasing job opportunities, developers have agreed to pay for up to $13.6 million in road improvements over the next 15 years, including the extension of Argyle Forest Boulevard westerly to the planned Branan Field-Chaffee Road corridor.
Developers and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority also are teaming up to widen the existing two-lane Argyle Forest Boulevard to four lanes, beginning immediately from Rampart Road to Blanding Boulevard, Fraser said.
''The city is going to build it but developers will pay for it,'' she said. ''They've made commitments to build the infrastructure that we feel is necessary. They're going to contribute the right of way for all their internal roads, Argyle Forest Boulevard and Branan Field-Chaffee.''

Monday, October 4, 1999 ROADS: Think big By Ron Littlepage
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100499/opi_Monedit1.html
Government serves people, in other words; it isn't the other way around.
The problem in Argyle, which stretches across the Duval-Clay County line, is severe traffic congestion.
Under the plan, the city of Jacksonville will widen Argyle Forest Boulevard and the state will build the long-awaited Branan Field-Chaffee Road.

Sunday, December 19, 1999 No road to relief Clay residents up in arms over proposed overpass By David Bauerlein
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/121999/met_1572562.html
The Department of Transportation is currently conducting three studies for traffic relief: At I-295 and Blanding Boulevard, the state is studying whether to build two-lane roads alongside the interstate to Collins Road. Currently, I-295 has an overpass across Collins Road but no entrance or exit ramps. The state would build ramps between I-295 and Collins Road for a total estimated cost of $10.5 to $11.8 million. The Collins Road interchange would give residents of Argyle in southwest Duval County a way to get on I-295 without traveling down Argyle Forest Boulevard, which feeds into Blanding Boulevard.

Wednesday, January 5, 2000 Sorting out changes Westside will see even more By Sandy Strickland
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/010500/ner_1685381.html
Here are some developments expected for the Westside in 2000: Construction should begin on the widening of heavily traveled Argyle Forest Boulevard from Blanding Boulevard to Westport Road.

Tuesday, May 16, 2000 Road spending
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/051600/met_3071257.html
NEWLY PROPOSED ROAD PROJECTS:
Argyle Forest Boulevard, widen to four lanes, Blanding to Branan Field-Chaffee Road/$20 million

Thursday, August 31, 2000 Road spending
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/083100/met_3938716.html
NEWLY PROPOSED ROAD PROJECTS:
Argyle Forest Boulevard, widen to four lanes, Blanding to Branan Field-Chaffee Road/$26 million


I have selected a lot of important article from 1997 - 2001. Here are links to all the articles.

Florida Times Union Archives for 1997 5 documents Argyle AND Forest AND widen
http://cgi.jacksonville.com/search/iatoc?NS-collection=jax_1997&NS-query=Argyle+AND+Forest+AND+widen&NS-search-type=boolean&NS-max-records=100

Florida Times Union Archives for 1998 14 documents Argyle AND Forest AND widen
http://cgi.jacksonville.com/search/iatoc?NS-collection=jax_1998&NS-query=Argyle+AND+Forest+AND+widen&NS-search-type=boolean&NS-max-records=100

Florida Times Union Archives for 1999 15 documents Argyle AND Forest AND widen
http://cgi.jacksonville.com/search/iatoc?NS-collection=jax_1999&NS-query=Argyle+AND+Forest+AND+widen&NS-search-type=boolean&NS-max-records=100

Florida Times Union Archives for 2000 30 documents Argyle AND Forest AND widen
http://cgi.jacksonville.com/search/iatoc?NS-collection=jax_2000&NS-query=Argyle+AND+Forest+AND+widen&NS-search-type=boolean&NS-max-records=100

Florida Times Union Archives for 2001 14 documents Argyle AND Forest AND widen
http://cgi.jacksonville.com/search/iatoc?NS-collection=jax_2001&NS-query=Argyle+AND+Forest+AND+widen&NS-search-type=boolean&NS-max-records=100

Email us
ArgyleACC@joimail.com