A week after TR broke a story about a proposal to build a four-lane road that would run through Killearn Estates, the proposal appears dead.
At today’s CRTPA meeting, the “Killearn Corridor” option for relieving traffic congestion on Thomasville Road and I-10 was ruled out in a unanimous vote of the Agency. The vote took place before the scheduled presentation by the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) consultant and before any citizens spoke on the issue.
This is what happened.
Just before the presentation by the FDOT consultant, City Commissioner Curtis Richardson, who was presiding as Chair of the meeting, let the audience know that the City of Tallahassee had nothing to do with the “Killearn Corridor” becoming a possible solution to traffic congestion.
After his comments, County Commissioner John Dailey asked that the “Killearn Corridor” proposal be voted on before the presentation and before citizen’s were given the opportunity to speak. It appeared about 30 people had showed up to speak on the issue.
Elected officials appeared to baffled at how the Killearn Corridor proposal made it into the study. City Commissioner Scott Maddox commented that the idea was against the City’s long standing policy of not to approve major roads that would disrupt neighborhoods.
City Commissioner Miller talked about how the proposal did not make sense.
Without the Killearn Corridor, the study revealed that options to relieve congestion on Thomasvile Road and I-10 appear to be limited to widening the road and/or placing more emphasis on public transportation.
This is a pretty major debacle. We've heard from the city and state that they had no knowledge of it and nothing to do with it. I guess that leaves the "finger" pointing at the county.
I would hope that the county commissioners would also expand on their involvement with regard to position or role in this, and that we can all consider this matter closed for the foreseeable future.
It kind of reminds me of the scene in the departed where Leo DiCaprio gets in a fight with a guy over what he was drinking, and Mr. French explains to him that in this town there are guys you can hit and there are guys you can't hit.
I'd kind of like to know who thought that my neighbors and I were guys you can hit.
Eventually the car crashes and air pollution will have to kill off the trees. How much more can they take?
Can we fix the Canopy Roads and make them safe?
http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/Official-On-Scene-For-A-Fatal-Crash-On-N-Meridian-Road-379594421.html
Incompetence and total ineptitude just to suggest such a plan. What a waste of money and time. Someone should be held accountable.
Oh, I forgot this is local government.
How come the city didn't study the roadway network for Welaunee before approving the development, and especially the new interchange at I-10, which is included in the Blueprint list? It should have been modeled in the long range plan; oh, I forgot they didn't use the model for the plan, so we don't know how many roads will be over capacity.
"The vote took place before the scheduled presentation by the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) consultant and before any citizens spoke on the issue."
Regardless of the outcome, that's not how a representative form of government is supposed to work.
Paul, I have great respect for your opinion, but I am curious, why? The proposal, in any form, would have demanded the invoking of eminent domain. How many times can you think of where elected leadership actually considered what was "right" ahead of time. It looks like some tax money (likely ours) were spared by not prolonging this particular solution.
Funny how fast Nancy Miller spoke out as this would have run right through her front yard.
Agreed. It would have been interesting to hear the "why" from FDOT and the ensuing discussions from citizens and commissioners. Explanations of mindsets and approaches provide invaluable information
Thanks City commissioners for standing up for your citizens.