Published by former Mayor George Gardner April 18 2012
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George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084 |
2 studies tackle traffic
As if on cue, the day after the St. Augustine Report (April 11) raised questions about dealing with increasing traffic in our area, the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization (NFTPO) last week set plans for not one but two traffic studies. 
NFTPO advanced an amendment to its Unified Planning Work Program for a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) study focused on an estimated 20% increase in visitors during the 450th commemoration. And City Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline, the city's representative on the regional board, said NFTPO is set to fund a separate study, the St. Augustine Traffic Circulation Study, for the 450th and beyond.
City General Services Deputy Director Tim Fleming described one study to "address parking needs, consider temporary shuttle service to remote parking facilities, and a circulator system to accommodate the increase in vehicular and pedestrian traffic" expected during the 450th commemoration.
Sikes-Kline explains this is funded through the FTA Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Program, and is focused on improving access to the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.
The separate NFTPO study "will be for the entire city - all modes of transportation," she said.
Both measures are expected to be approved by NFTPO in May, the Sarbanes study to be completed by June 2013, the NFTPO study beginning in 2013 with completion in 2014. | |
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27th Annual Cathedral Fest
Midway rides, games, bingo, food, bands, even fireworks unfold once again Friday-Sunday, April 20-22 on the Mission Nombre de Dios grounds in the 27th Annual Cathedral Festival.
Festival hours are 5 to 10:30 pm Friday, noon to 10:30 pm Saturday, and noon to 9 pm Sunday.
Admission $5 adults, $3 ages 11-17 and seniors 65+, and free for military and children 10 and younger.
Proceeds benefit the Cathedral Parish School and Early Education Center. Visit http://thecathedralfestival.com.
Image: Festival fun in 2011 |
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Comparing studies
Sikes-Kline compares the two studies:
Sarbanes study
1) Addresses short term period during 450th
2) Studies components for potential "park and ride" to Castillo
3) Pedestrian flow to Castillo
4) Funded with $150,000 through the Federal Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks grant program
NFTPO study
1) Studies long term traffic circulation
2) All modes of transportation - pedestrian, bicycle, auto, public transit, rail
3) Daily commuter, cut through, and visitor traffic
4) Concentrates on entry corridors - San Marco, Bridge of Lions (Anastasia Blvd.), and King Street
5) Updates prior circulation studies
6) Funded by NFTPO Special Project Planning | |
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Water taxis could help
St. Augustine's waterways can help ease traffic gridlock around the city, the vice president of the Saint Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation suggests.
"We have an opportunity to avert the gridlock by incorporating the use of dredged and channeled waterways with federal channel markers as an integral element of the city's roadway network," Roy Jaeger says.
"Our waterways are a greatly underutilized resource. The city (should) analyze the feasibility of establishing a public/private partnership to explore developing a two tier water taxi service.
"Tier #1 is a high-speed service that connects remote public parking areas with the City Marina. Tier #2 are comfortable water taxis running at scheduled times with landings at venues all around the city."
Jaeger noted, "The development of a water taxi system and greater utilization of our harbor and waterways for recreational purposes is a very important element of the Saint Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation effort to ensure the enduring legacy of our city and harbor."
Photo Historic City News | |
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More still less in garage revenue |
Halfway through a new fiscal year, the Visitor Center parking facility is experiencing fewer vehicles and, so far, less revenue than hoped for when city officials created a new, flat $10 a day fee for parking.
City officials hoped to basically double the $1,301,972 brought in last fiscal year (October 2010-September 2011), seeking an additional $1,050,000 in new revenue for city projects.
For the first half of this fiscal year the facility has brought in $1,015,466, compared to $674,086 for the same period last year.
That's a 66 percent increase. If maintained, the additional revenue by fiscal year's end will be $859,302, short $190,698 of the goal of $1,050,000 in additional revenue.
Less additional annual revenue would mean adjusting outlays for debt service on the parking facility ($450,000), the city's $2 million share of the $7 million seawall project ($207,000 a year for ten years), Visitor Center remodeling for exhibition space ($65,000 a year for three years), and the 450th commemoration ($328, 000 a year for four years).
Vehicle count continued to lag behind the same period last year. The current first half year vehicle count is 157,477 compared to 180,278 for the same period last year. Officials say this could be due to some parking pass categories not being counted.
The rate change went from hourly to a flat $10 all-day in October. ParkNow card users can park all day for $1. The change was based on the theory that visitors don't mind the higher rate, while residents will purchase ParkNow cards which not only provide the lower parking facility rate but also 50 cents an hour parking at city parking meters.
Charts: vehicle count and revenue |
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Brothers and Sisters in Arms for Sam | |
Sam Pacetti and his guitar are well known in our community. But what happens when a musician loses use of an arm through an accident?
Brothers and Sisters in Armswill gather at the Milltop Tavern on St. George Street Monday, April 23, at 8pm in a concert to help pay Sam's surgery costs and bills.
Donations will be accepted during the event, or send a donation to Community First Credit Union, 3581 North Ponce de Leon Blvd., St. Augustine FL 32084, for account number 9506447.
For information on the concert, call the Milltop 829-2329.
 Making a difference
Dawson Chapel presents its first Community Service Awards Gala April 27 at 7pm at Murray Middle School, honoring residents making a difference through community development, education, and civic, religious, and historic preservation activities. Tickets $25 in advance. Contact Dawson Chapel Pastor Trudye Thompson 824-8049.
Being recognized: Barbara Vickers, Almarene Lowndes, Gregory B White, Dwala E. Willis, Gwendolyn and Dalonja Duncan, Renee Morris, Henry White, Shirley Williams Galvin and the Rev. Ronald Stafford. |
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Take a ride through history |
The Castillo, Henry Flagler's hotels, and Otto Lightner's collections are well known here, but what about the "Streetcar Suburbs," yesterday's plantations - today's subdivisions, Flagler's first train station, and the last remains of his mansion "Kirkside"?
Historian David Nolan will offer two tours under the sponsorship of Citizens for the Preservation of St. Augustine (CPSA) Saturday, May 5 at 9:30am and again at noon.
Tickets $15 with proceeds helping support preservation projects in St. Augustine. Tours leave from the parking lot of The Old Jail Museum aboard trolleys courtesy of Historic Tours of America. Advance reservations required. contact Kathy Schirmacher(904) 808-1886. Visit www.cpsa-staug.org |
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History's Highlight |
History recorded in names
3 years, 4 months, 22 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
There's no Main Street in St. Augustine, but then there aren't many Arredondos, Valencias or Moultries in other cities. St. Augustine names developed from four major periods: Spanish (Matanzas, Avenida Menendez), British (Oglethorpe, Moultrie), American territorial (Osceola, Masters), and Henry Flagler's Gilded Age, when streets in his Model Land Tract were named for regions of Spain (Saragossa, Sevilla). Scattered within are names of developers (Abbott, Davis, Rohde). Some names unique to the St. Augustine area:
Abbott (Subdivision/Street) Lucy, developer of residential waterfront area north of the Castillo, late 1800s; Arredondo (Street) Antonio de, Spanish engineer at St. Augustine, 1736; Aviles (Street) Birthplace in Spain of St. Augustine founder Pedro Menendez; Bridge (Street) Bridge originally crossing Maria Sanchez Creek which ran through the Flagler College/Lightner Museum area, filled in by Henry Flagler to build his hotels in the late 1800s; Coquina (Avenue) Spanish for seashell and compressed block used to build the Castillo; Davis (Davis Shores) D. P., original developer of Davis Shores; Flagler (College/Boulevard) Henry Morrison, developer of St. Augustine's Gilded Age in the late 1800s; Grant (Street) James, first governor during British Period, 1763-1784; Hastings (Town) Thomas, associate of Henry Flagler; Lincolnville (City Area) Area south of King Street, originally a settlement called Africa, renamed after the U.S. Civil War; Magnolia (Avenue) A pretty name for one of America's prettiest streets, however the canopy along the avenue is oak, not magnolia; Masters (Drive) John, U. S. captain who captured Osceola in 1837; Matanzas (River/Inlet) Spanish for slaughter, area where Menendez killed captured French soldiers, 1565; Moultrie (Area/Subdivision) John, acting governor during British Period, 1763-1784; Oglethorpe (Boulevard) James, British general and governor of Georgia who attacked St. Augustine in 1740; Osceola (Street/School) Seminole War leader in the Florida Indian War 1835-1842; Rohde (Avenue/Subdivision) (ROE-DEE) Henry, developer of an area north of the Castillo in the early 1900s; St. George (Street) named for King George III during British Period.
Image: Oak canopy on Magnolia Avenue (City of St. Augustine photo) |
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The St. Augustine Report is published weekly, with additional Reports previewing City Commission meetings as well as Special Reports. The Report is written and distributed by George Gardner, St. Augustine Mayor (2002-2006) and Commissioner (2006-2008) and a former newspaper reporter and editor. Contact the Report at gardner@aug.com |
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