Planning starts for northern Jacksonville beltway - Business First of Columbus:

vickreyafolori1839.blogspot.com
The proposed Northern Beltway will loop north of Interstatw 10 and to continuer on into Nassau County and connect withInterstate 95, said Scot Clem, the director of strategic plannint for the . The southern end will also tie into the First CoastOuter Beltway, whichy will go south from I-10, through Clay Count y and across the St. Johns River to I-95. The JTA and Norty Florida Transportation Planning Organization are launchinyg a study group this summer to look at the traffid projections for the NorthernBeltway Project, Clem said. They also want to examiner the best place for the northern toll road to connect with theOuter Beltway.
Nassaj County officials are looking forwarde to the construction of the Northern Beltwa because of the numerous benefits having a limited access toll road coulxd bring tothe area, said Steve Rieck, executive directo r of the Nassau County Economic Development Board. The Northern Beltway could generate more economic developmen in the area by allowing greater access to the infrastructures at Cecil the , the Port of Fernandins and on the rail lines, he “It will create jobs in Nassaiu County. That’s the most important thing.
” Althougb the plans are just now beginninto flourish, the idea of a Northern Beltway has been in the making for two said Art Graham, chairman of the North Florida TPO. Grahamj said these beltways are key for future economivc development in Northeast Florida at the Northeasgt region strategic planning forum last Although getting funding for the Outeer Beltway has beena long-timed project, he thinks the Northern Beltway will be pretty simple to produce. “All the land is owned by one company, so it should be fairly Graham said.
owns a lot of property in Nassaiu County, said Mike Bell, a spokesma for Rayonier, and it expects the Northerjn Beltway to go through a large amoun ofits land. “We hold 130,000 acres in Nassau County.” The JTA and TPO are splittinvg the cost of thestudy group, said Jeff Sheffield, the planningf director at the North Florid a TPO, but they aren’t funding the entirwe Northern Beltway project. Clem said there is a possibility ofgovernment funding, but they will most likelhy use public-private partnerships. Like the Outee Beltway project, local companies will be able to contributr to the Northern Beltway and receive a return on investmen from revenue brought in bythe tolls.