Savannah City Council talks up second attempt at transportation sales-tax vote (Montgomery: moving, congested)

[843904]

Let's break this down now.

Originally Posted by bellhead

Here is a list of the 2012 projects.

Chatham County TSPLOST Projects slated are: Chatham Area Transit Operations; Chatham Area Transit Capital; Project DeRenne, which would relieve traffic and improve the streetscape and intersections along DeRenne Avenue in design phase; Widen I-16 from I-95 to I-516 should be done with federal funds...as this is a federal highway; improvements to East President Street Extension happening now, creating a bridge over the railroad tracks that cross President near the Truman Parkway would be nice but would involve tearing down & reconfiguring the current end ramps on the Truman; remove the I-16 flyover into downtown Reason enough to vote NO for this...will create a huge traffic bottleneck on I-16; widen West Bay Street from I-516 to the Bay Street Viaduct; replace the Montgomery Cross Road Bridge over the Casey Canal No need; make bicycle and sidewalk improvements to W. 52nd Street from Montgomery Street to Ogeechee Road; Islands Expressway Bascule Bridge Replacement at Wilmington River Already promised by GDOT; Johnny Mercer Blvd. Causeway Bicycle-Pedestrian Improvements; Regional Park and Ride Lots; New Interchange Construction at King George Blvd. almost done! ; State Route 21 Grade Seperation at CSXT Rail; State Route 25 Grade Seperation at Norfolk Southern and CSXT Rail Crossings; US 80 at Bull River Bridge Reconstruction The train co's should pay a portion of this ; and US 80 at Lazaretto Creek Bridge Reconstruction. GDOT job, in planning stages

So as you can see, there is absolutely no need for TSPLOST in Chatham!

[SavannahLife]

I look forward to it failing too. If they could spend it right and if the port could pay more of a fair share, maybe I could support it. Anyway it's a conservative area fortunately for this issue at least.

[neuf150]

Originally Posted by bellhead

Here is a list of the 2012 projects.

Chatham County TSPLOST Projects slated are: Chatham Area Transit Operations; Chatham Area Transit Capital; Project DeRenne, which would relieve traffic and improve the streetscape and intersections along DeRenne Avenue; Widen I-16 from I-95 to I-516; improvements to East President Street Extension, creating a bridge over the railroad tracks that cross President near the Truman Parkway; remove the I-16 flyover into downtown; widen West Bay Street from I-516 to the Bay Street Viaduct; replace the Montgomery Cross Road Bridge over the Casey Canal; make bicycle and sidewalk improvements to W. 52nd Street from Montgomery Street to Ogeechee Road; Islands Expressway Bascule Bridge Replacement at Wilmington River; Johnny Mercer Blvd. Causeway Bicycle-Pedestrian Improvements; Regional Park and Ride Lots; New Interchange Construction at King George Blvd.; State Route 21 Grade Seperation at CSXT Rail; State Route 25 Grade Seperation at Norfolk Southern and CSXT Rail Crossings; US 80 at Bull River Bridge Reconstruction; and US 80 at Lazaretto Creek Bridge Reconstruction.

What does "remove the I-16 flyover into Downtown" mean? I think I understand the rest of the projects.

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by neuf150

What does "remove the I-16 flyover into Downtown" mean? I think I understand the rest of the projects.

It means exactly what it says. Remove it. Take it away. Like the Georgia Dome, boom, pow, gone. That kinda thing...

[GA Survivor]

Originally Posted by neuf150

What does "remove the I-16 flyover into Downtown" mean? I think I understand the rest of the projects.

They want to remove the portion that crosses above MLK and goes down on to Montgomery St. The end would be on to MLK. The feeling is the overpass creates a separation along economic lines and is holding back on development further south on MLK.

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by GA Survivor

They want to remove the portion that crosses above MLK and goes down on to Montgomery St. The end would be on to MLK. The feeling is the overpass creates a separation along economic lines and is holding back on development further south on MLK.

Which, really, when you think about it, is narrow minded. Okay, a bridge is literally blocking the northern half of the road from the southern half thus creating a mental blockade.
This has already proven to not be the case though. There has been more economic development south of the flyover as of late and obviously there will be more more economic redevelopment to the north as it is closer to the river and where the tourists are.

The more I think about this idea of taking down the overpass, the more I don't like it. Just refurbish the thing to make it look better. Utilize SCAD students and their ideas. Make it a class project. Win-win.

[Rawlter2]

I’ve come around to kind of supporting the flyover removal after initially hating it. It’s more than just removing an eyesore that separates MLK. It opens up a ton of land (highways take up way more space than most people realize) that would be restored to a grid and developed. The plans even include building a new square. The maps/plans on the project website were pretty convincing for me.

https://reclaimingoldwestbroad.org/concept/

[SavannahLife]

wandering, such a good idea. Leverage our SCAD students. Or if it can't be refurbed how about make it a walking bridge/park. Like in NYC. Save the millions it would cost to dismantle it. Leave in place. That would increase surrounding land value.

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by SavannahLife

wandering, such a good idea. Leverage our SCAD students. Or if it can't be refurbed how about make it a walking bridge/park. Like in NYC. Save the millions it would cost to dismantle it. Leave in place. That would increase surrounding land value.

A walking bridge to where exactly? More interstate?

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by Rawlter2

I’ve come around to kind of supporting the flyover removal after initially hating it. It’s more than just removing an eyesore that separates MLK. It opens up a ton of land (highways take up way more space than most people realize) that would be restored to a grid and developed. The plans even include building a new square. The maps/plans on the project website were pretty convincing for me.

https://reclaimingoldwestbroad.org/concept/

I’m opposed to dumping all that interstate traffic onto MLK at a signaled dead-end stop. MLK is already WAY overly congested at almost all times of the day and night, especially when SCAD is in session. Plus, the funneling of I-16 traffic onto Montgomery Street has always been a beautiful and inviting gateway into the city. I’d hate to lose that.