A citizen's committee has given preliminary approval to a corridor from downtown to the airport that may cost as much as $70million, airport officials were told Wednesday.
"This is a citizen-driven document," said Ben Pingree, an assistant in the Leon County Administrator's office, who presented the seven-member committee's report to Tallahassee Regional Airport Advisory Committee members.
The draft recommendation for access to the airport from downtown also included a recommendation that Capital Circle Southwest be routed west of the airport.
The recommendations will be considered Sept. 19 at a meeting of the Blueprint 2000 Intergovernmental Agency. If approved by the agency, the plan will be forwarded to Leon County commissioners.
Pingree said the route downtown will run west on Gaines Street to Lake Bradford Road, then south to Springhill Road.
The city has estimated the cost of the work on Gaines Street, including a FAMU Way extension, at $36million.
Work on the Lake Bradford leg, if approved, would cost about $3million, Pingree said. The road would not need to be widened, but sidewalks, bike lanes and beautification are included in the cost.
Land acquisition and work on Springhill Road is expected to cost at least $42million and could go higher, Pingree said.
The citizen's committee suggested giving "development zone" incentives along Springhill Road to help reduce the cost of land acquisitions.
Pingree said the incentives were "conceptual" and might include rezoning, driveway cuts, waiver of permitting fees for stormwater drainage and waiver of utility-connection fees.
The incentives would be in exchange for land donations by private property owners.
Ken Austin, airport aviation director, told advisory committee members the development of a downtown access route and improving Capital Circle Southwest to better serve the airport are key ingredients in a "regional approach" to airport expansion.
Austin said the airport and private companies connected to the
airport are some of the larger employers in the region. He said any
expansion of Capital Circle Southwest or access to the airport
should be made with that in mind.
