At the February 29, 2024 Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency (IA) Board meeting, elected officials will receive a summary of the Airport Gateway project scope, cost estimate and budget allocation comparison, scope expansion opportunities to include advancing the widening of Springhill Road to four lanes, and major milestones for the project over the next four years.
The Airport Gateway – a multimodal gateway between Downtown and the Airport – was seen as an economic development driver supporting growth of the high-tech sector by improving access to Innovation Park, including the National High Magnetics Field Lab, protecting neighborhoods by redirecting traffic away from residential areas, expanding investment in Southwest Tallahassee-Leon County, and providing new and enhanced roadways, sidewalks, and trails.
However, back in August, 2023, Leon County Commissioner Caban, who represents District 2, the southwest section of Leon County which includes the Airport Gateway project, proposed revisions to the project due to cost increases.
Caban noted the cost of the project increased from $82 million to $123 million.
“We are the public stewards of these funds. It is our duty to be fiscally responsible with our decision making and I am uncomfortable blindly approving such a significant cost increase without seeing a detailed breakdown of the cost overruns”, said Caban.
The current scope of the project includes two routes to the Tallahassee International Airport (Airport) from downtown: one along Springhill Road (segment G), and one through Innovation Park and FSU’s Southwest Campus (segments A, C, and D). The estimated cost for this project is $117.8 million, and the current approved budget is $82 million resulting in a $35.8 million funding gap.
At Thursday’s meeting, the IA Board staff will present information and analysis for IA Board direction on increasing the project budget to meet the current scope, reducing the scope to meet current budget and widening Springhill Road to 4 lanes, which will cost an estimated $13 million.
Airport Gateway Costs by Segment
What happens with the money if it’s not used on roads? More Direct grants to political candidates Pastor husbands? More giveaways? Create more piles of unspent cash so the 12 ding dongs can make as all so proud. August, Common - what would you have them do? If abolish the penny tax altogether I support you. But rearranging money for all of Kearneys recruits from other communities? No. Forget it.
I'm with Mr. Hawkins.
Why do we need two roads leading from the airport to Doak Campbell Stadium off Gaines Street? I don't ever recall seeing long lines of traffic waiting to get in or out of the airport like you do in larger cities.
Tallahassee is, and always will be, a small town. Stop wasting our tax dollars on totally unnecessary projects.
“We are the public stewards of these funds. It is our duty to be fiscally responsible with our decision making and I am uncomfortable blindly approving such a significant cost increase without seeing a detailed breakdown of the cost overruns”, said Caban.
This is insane, no one would operate with their own money the way blueprint just throws around ours without even knowing what they are buying! Blueprint staff do not care one wit because none of it is their money, they just take it from us and throw it around wherever the heck they want to. They are irredeemable toadies and the number one problem with Leon county development, or lack thereof. What a bunch of maroons... (How long have they been talking about doing something about Springhill rd? And all they ever do is talk about it)
Spring Hill & Lake Bradford should be the only Roads to consider for the Gateway Project. You should not be driving traffic through Neighborhoods.