Update from Ponte Vedra & Palm Valley Citizens Traffic Task Force
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 30, 2017
THE PONTE VEDRA & PALM VALLEY CITIZEN’S TRAFFIC TASK FORCE LAYS GROUNDWORK FOR IMPORTANT APRIL PUBLIC MEETING
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL: “Traffic in our community has become everybody’s problem,” stated Garry Phillips, Citizen’s Traffic Task Force Chairman. “If you think that’s an exaggeration, try driving into the Ponte Vedra Beach community any weekday afternoon from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. It’s bumper to bumper traffic creeping along on A1A all the way from the JTB expressway to Solana Road.”
The Citizen’s Traffic Task Force (CTTF), created in 2014, includes citizens and community leaders from throughout the Ponte Vedra/Palm Valley area. The CTTF goal is to help develop community consensus around the long-term traffic and roadway needs in Ponte Vedra Beach and Palm Valley. CTTF has worked with St. Johns County, the Florida Department of Transportation and the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization (NFTPO) to gain funding for a study, now underway, to determine solutions to rapidly growing traffic congestion in the area.
Meanwhile, St. Johns County continues to attract residents at an accelerated rate. According to County statistics, since 1980 the population of St. Johns County has grown by 400%, and since 2000 the County’s population has almost doubled. This growth, combined with changing demographics and driving patterns within our area appear to be the primary factors behind the traffic congestion on our local roadways.
The current Ponte Vedra/Palm Valley Comprehensive Traffic Study incorporates learning from the 2016 North Ponte Vedra Beach Coalition survey of traffic flow and safety unique to the areas encompassing the SR 202/JTB Eastbound off-ramp at Marsh Landing Blvd., Ponte Vedra Lakes Blvd. and portions of A1A.
The CTTF sponsored study includes all critical roadway systems from JTB to Mickler’s Landing on the south, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway on the west and will incorporate data gathered from the NPVBC study.
The results of the new study will be presented at a public meeting, in late April at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. The CTTF will announce the date in the next few weeks. All interested community members are strongly encouraged to attend. Traffic consultants retained by the NFTPO will present the results of the study and recommended improvements to area roadways. Following this presentation, the public will have the opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions.
“St. Johns County officials, our local state representatives, and officials from the Florida Department of Transportation are expected to attend,” said Jim Sabo, President of the Ponte Vedra Beaches Coalition. “We encourage everyone to come and bring a friend; this is the best opportunity to make your thoughts known and be a part of making near-term traffic flow improvements to a situation that is only getting worse.”
About the Citizens Traffic Task Force
The CTTF Board, anchored by representatives from the civic and large homeowner’s associations, includes representatives from the Ponte Vedra Beaches Coalition, the Ponte Vedra Community Association, the Palm Valley Community Association, the Ponte Vedra Municipal Service District, the North Ponte Vedra Beach Coalition, and representatives from the Sawgrass, and Player’s Club homeowner’s associations. Combined, these associations and organizations represent roughly 85% of all local home owners.
