4. Pedestrian & bicycle construction projects consume the city
It’s well known that Jacksonville and Florida’s other major cities are ranked as the most dangerous cities for pedestrians and cyclist in the United States. It’s also well known that to enhance multimodal safety means that an investment in pedestrian and bicycle friendly infrastructure and design must be made. In 2017, we’ll be introduced to several major construction projects that will lay the foundation of a future pedestrian and bicycle friendly city.
Projects that will be underway in 2017 include the Hogans Creek Greenway, Riverplace Boulevard Streetscape, Fuller Warren Bridge Shared Use Path, Northbank Riverfront/Coastline Drive reconstruction, and the Nira Street Shared Use Path. In addition, if Mayor Curry is successful in securing funds to demolish the Hart Bridge Expressway viaduct, we could end up with our own version of NYC’s High Line. Unknown to most, Curry’s bridge plan includes converting a 1/2-mile stretch of the elevated highway into an elevated bicycle and pedestrian path between A. Philip Randolph Boulevard and Liberty Street.