Laurel Springs at Kernan Lakes

Overpass Opposition Still Strong / Report Doesn't Change Minds

Aug 23, 2003

(Following is a copy of the August 21, 2003 Times-Union Article written by David Bauerlein as it appeared in the Times-Union. Naturally, all copy rights for the article reside with the T-U.)

In response to complaints that Better Jacksonville Plan overpasses will hurt home values in nearby neighborhoods, a draft report concludes an overpass might cause a short-term drop in resale prices but those values will bounce back.

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority commissioned the report as part of its engineering study for a possible overpass at Atlantic and University boulevards.

The report has ramifications, too, in the debate over three other Better Jacksonville Plan overpasses -- Beach at University boulevards, Atlantic at Hodges boulevards and Southside Boulevard at Baymeadows Road.

Opponents of overpasses say they are unsightly and will diminish access to businesses, making neighborhoods less desirable. The Better Jacksonville Plan called for the overpasses to break up rush-hour backups at traffic-choked intersections.

The JTA presented a draft version of the study Tuesday night to a citizen advisory committee whose members oppose construction of an overpass at Atlantic and University boulevards.

The report, which tracked the real estate market around three existing Jacksonville overpasses, says even if homes lose value immediately after construction of an overpass, those values "fully recover" in about 10 years.

The citizens committee slammed the findings.

"How anyone can make a decision based on this data is beyond me," Debra Roberts said after members pored over the draft report, prepared for the JTA by Parsons Transportation Group. Parsons is a global engineering firm working for the JTA in the design study of whether to build an overpass at Atlantic and University.

"I'm apt to just throw it in the garbage," Steve Watrel said.

The $2.2 billion Better Jacksonville Plan, which voters approved in 2000 with a half-cent sales tax increase, contains $251 million for construction of overpasses or elevated ramps at 12 intersections.

At the time of the vote on the Better Jacksonville Plan, most of the proposed overpasses were just concepts that lacked any design showing how an overpass would affect businesses and surrounding neighborhoods.

As those plans are fleshed out, the Jacksonville City Council can delete overpasses from the Better Jacksonville Plan if at least two-thirds of the 19 council members agree there is "just cause" for the change. In reaching that decision, the City Council will consider a host of factors such as cost, traffic flow and impact on property owners.

The JTA's study reviewed real estate trends before and after construction of overpasses at Atlantic and Beach boulevards in the St. Nicholas neighborhood, Roosevelt Boulevard at Edgewood Drive on the Westside, and Butler Boulevard at Belfort Road in Southpoint.

The report compared home sale prices in those areas with trends for three intersections that don't have overpasses -- Atlantic Boulevard at Hendricks Avenue in San Marco, Roosevelt Boulevard at San Juan Avenue on the Westside, and Baymeadows Road at Philips Highway in the Southside.

The report found that in a period of two to five years after the overpasses were built, sale prices fared better at the intersections without overpasses. But by eight to 12 years after the overpasses were built, property values around the overpasses had picked up steam and pulled even with gains measured around intersections without overpasses.

Councilwoman Suzanne Jenkins took issue with including the Butler Boulevard overpass at Belfort Road, saying it's not comparable with the Atlantic-University intersection where businesses and homes would be closer to an overpass.

"It looks like it gives a false positive," she said of the report's conclusion.

In terms of traffic flow, the JTA's report found the best way to move motorists through the Atlantic-University intersection at rush hour would be by building a University Boulevard overpass across Atlantic Boulevard.

That would be the most expensive option with an estimated cost of $24.6 million for design, right-of-way acquisition and construction. The Better Jacksonville Plan's budget for the overpass is $25 million.

The JTA's report rated a University Boulevard overpass as the worst option for maintaining access to businesses and neighborhoods. The option also would cause the greatest loss in business revenue at the intersection. The impact on business revenue is based on the fact that the JTA would have to buy several business properties for right of way, and remaining businesses would lose some customers because they no longer could make left turns into the businesses.

The JTA also is considering an Atlantic Boulevard overpass across University Boulevard, and two proposals that would add more turn lanes.

JTA project manager Kevin Feldt said he expects to make a recommendation for one of the alternatives at a JTA board meeting in November.

Staff writer David Bauerlein can be reached at (904) 359-4581 or via e-mail at dbauerlein@jacksonville.com.