Senate Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #1678 St. Augustine Transit Greenway Project
Requester:	Ted Zabrowsky		Organization:		St. Johns County
Project Title:	St. Augustine Transit Greenway Project		Date Submitted:		01/31/2000 4:55:00 PM
District Member:	Jim King		Service Area:		City/Town
Counties Affected:	St. Johns
Recipient:	St. Johns County		Contact:		Ted Zabrowsky
	4020 Lewis Speedway		Contact Phone:		(904) 823-2600
	St. Augustine 32095
Project Description:
The St. Augustine Transit Greenway Program is a project designed to move residents and visitors through the historic city in a more efficient manner, primarily by utilizing public transportation and greater pedestrian traffic. This appropriation will assist the City in the planning, engineering, and construction of pedestrian and public transportation facilities. During the 1999 Legislative Session, the Legislature funded this project at $2,000,000; however, this item was vetoed by the Governor. This year, the City is approaching the Legislature with a scaled back and more feasible alternative.
Services Provided/Benefit to State:
St. Augustine is one of the largest tourist draws in Florida and its number of tourists grows each year. However, due to its location and historical quality, the City lacks the facilities to handle all of the traffic that is anticipated to be experienced in the coming years. As it becomes more difficult to visit the old city, it will become a less desirable tourist dfaw, which will have a negative impact on all of Florida. This transit greenway program, which is designed to provide for a smoother transportation corridor in the downtown area, will make it much easier for tourists and residents alike to get to and move around Florida's Oldest City.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
This project will only enhance St. Augustine, making it a more desirable place to visit. As a result of transit greenways, more people will visit St. Augustine, stay longer while they are here, which translates into greater tax revenues for the State of Florida.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:				$850,000
Total cost of the project:		$21,050,000

Request has been made to fund:			Construction
Is there Local Government or Private match for this request?					Yes
				In-Kind Amount:	$100,000
Was this project previously funded by the State?					No
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?					Unknown
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?					No
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?					No
Is there a documented need for this project?					Yes
	Documentation:	Conceptual Master Plan for Transit Greenways and Public Demand
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?					Yes
	Hearing Body:	St. Johns County Legislative Delegation
	Meeting Date:	01/27/2000