A public hearing on proposed construction along Thomasville Road in the Midtown area drew about 125 people Tuesday night. Most if not all were opposed to the Florida Department of Transportation's plans to remove the center left-turn lane.
There were no speakers at the event, just information handouts and comment cards. The parking lot overflowed for blocks.
Department of Transportation spokesman Ian Satter says he’s excited at the turnout. He says plans to resurface the road have been in the works for several years. The other proposed changes come from the city of Tallahassee and the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency, he says.
“During the course of the past several years, we’ve been approached by the city of Tallahassee in a partnership for them to be able to do some utility work while the resurfacing," Satter said. "And a proposal also came to us from Blueprint to add sidewalks along the corridor and remove that center turn lane. So, tonight’s meeting, we’re presenting two different options: One is to resurface the roadway and it would remain in its current existing state. Or we have another option where Blueprint has proposed adding those sidewalks and reducing that turn lane.”
The project would also include stormwater sewer improvements and reconstruction of several traffic signals.
It’s the question of removing the center turn lane that has so many people upset. They say doing that will back up traffic and hurt the businesses along Thomasville Road.
“I think this is going to make the businesses in midtown less accessible and the less accessible you are, the less traffic you’re going to get to your business," said Robert Inzer, a former Leon County Clerk of Courts. "I think it’ll have an adverse impact on the businesses in that community, absolutely.”
Sally Bradshaw owns the bookstore Midtown Reader. She says she’s concerned about all the businesses in in the area, not just hers.
“We’re working really hard to build a sense of community in Midtown. And I think even though the idea of expanded sidewalks is well-intentioned, the way this proposal is attempting to fix the problem is actually going to create more problems for businesses. If the center turn lane is eliminated, there will be very limited access to businesses in Midtown.”
The Department of Transportation is still accepting comments until March 14th.
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www.nwflroads.com/calendar
Ian Satter
FDOT District Three
Public Information Director
Ian.Satter@dot.state.fl.us
toll-free (888) 638-0250, eext. 1205
