Hello fellow GCC members. Alachua County is planning a major reconstruction of 91st Street from Newberry Road to SW 8th Ave, which would impact bicycling in that area. There are differing opinions as to whether the construction planned by the county would be an improvement. The following information outlines concerns and recommendations.

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Dear Area Residents,

Please view the following link for detailed information on reconstruction plans. 

http://members..cox.net/mmh1980/91stStreetReconstructionConcerns.html

The following information is based off the flyer that we recently distributed to some houses.  Please contact our county commissioners if you share our concerns; contact information is at the end of this email. 

Alachua County is still planning a major reconstruction of 91st Street from Newberry Road to SW 8th Ave that would make the road less scenic and would cost over $1 million.  We have placed our recommendations in bold..  

Concerns and Recommendations:

1) Asphalt sidewalk/bikepath and Retention Basins: Resurface the bike path in its current alignment and current 6 ft width, except where it needs to be moved to avoid roots of a large oak tree. 

The current proposal would remove trees and understory vegetation on the west side in order to put a wider 8 ft sidewalk further back from SW 8th Ave to just north of Ft Clarke Forest, where it is already far enough from the road.  The realignment and widening would also increase cost.  If you prefer the current alignment and regularly w alk or bike on the sidewalk, please mention this fact.  To hold the extra stormwater the widened path and shoulder would generate, public works would place water storage basins along 91st street, where the bike path and forest now sit.  These basins are not too scenic.  They would only hold new water generated by the extra pavement; they would not cure current flooding problems. 

2) Pavement  Width:  Resurface 91st Street, keeping the travel lanes their current width and not add additional shoulders.

Public Works wants to add a 2 ft paved shoulder on the west and 2 ft of curb on the east.  Widening the pavement would increase vehicle speeds; Millhopper Road, another designated-scenic road has had speeding problems since shoulders were added a decade ago.  Here, the shoulders and curb would increase impervious area by 20%, over 20,000 sq ft, and would increase cost. 3) Power Lines and Tree Canopy: Keep the power lines in the current alignment or bury them. 

GRU plans to move the existing power lines, currently located west of 91st Street between the street and the sidewalk, to the edge of the right of way.  Doing so would damage many of the trees that contribute to the partial canopy on the west side, including several large oak trees.   

4) Medians and Chicanes: Add no medians or chicanes, or add only narrow ones that would not impact natural vegetation. 

Public Works proposes placing two 12 ft wide, 50 feet long medians in 91st Street and a 300 ft ?chicane? or S-curve in the road.  The total road width with the medians, shoulder, and curb would increase from 20 ft to 36-38 ft.   The medians would push traffic closer to the sidewalk west of 91st Street near Newberry Road, where the path is already near the road.  Both projects would remove of trees and foliage that contribute to the scenery and would increase cost.   

Best Ways to Contact the County:

1. Email the Alachua County Commission bocc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and Public Works at RHedrick@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx   

2. Phone: Call the County Commission at (352) 264-6900 and ask the secretary to leave a short message for the commissioners stating your concerns about the 91st Street plans.

3. Mailed-Letters: Send typed or handwritten letters to:
Alachua County Commission
P.O.. Box 2877
Gainesville, FL 32602-2877

Thank you for your concern for our area.   If you have any questions, please contact me at (352) 332-6684 or elmhurst50@xxxxxxxxxxx.

Sincerely,
B etsy Hurst