FAMU Way Extension: Project Introduction
The City of Tallahassee is conducting a Preliminary Engineering Study for the FAMU Way corridor. The project, approximately 1.3 miles in length, would create a new east-west roadway between the current end of FAMU Way at Wahnish Way, and Lake Bradford Road. The project also includes a study of the existing FAMU Way corridor between Wahnish Way and South Monroe Street.
The project will enhance transportation on the southern side of the central city core, particularly in the vicinity of Florida A&M University. It also blends in with the ongoing Gaines Street Revitalization effort, and should aid economic development opportunities for this area of the community.
The scope of the study includes engineering, planning and environmental evaluations, along with citizen input to:
- identify potential improvements along the existing roadway;
- document proposed impacts along the corridor;
- select a preferred alignment connecting FAMU Way from Wahnish Way to Lake Bradford Road.
(Note: The drawings and map linked below are quite large PDF files. If you have a slow Internet connection, please allow time for them to be downloaded. The maps are also large -- 11"x17". Small print, such as street names, may therefore be difficult to read at smaller paper sizes.)
A proposed roadway cross-section was selected to enhance traffic flow, encourage multi-modal uses (bicycles, pedestrians, mass transit), minimize social, economic and environmental impacts, and provide safety for both motorized and non-motorized uses. [Drawing of the proposed cross-section (PDF)] Additionally, the City has maintained close coordination with Blueprint 2000 as they develop Segment 3 of the Capital Cascades Trail within the limits of the project area.
During the study, eight (8) potential corridors were identified. Each of the corridors would take advantage of existing public property, provide multimodal connections to existing and proposed development, and serve as a linkage for traffic passing through the project area. Criteria for comparing the alternatives were evaluated jointly among numerous project stakeholders, including:
- Florida A&M University (FAMU);
- Florida State University (FSU);
- Blueprint 2000;
- City of Tallahassee Utilities;
- Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department
- City of Tallahassee Public Works, Property Management (formerly Real Estate), Economic and Community Development, and Growth Management departments
The criteria included potential impacts on neighborhoods, environmental impacts, traffic impacts, construction costs, right-of-way costs and accommodation of proposed development as well as consistency with the adopted master plans for both universities.
Three viable alternatives resulted from stakeholder evaluations. All three alternatives or a variation thereof parallel the St. Augustine Street Branch drainage facility from the terminus of existing FAMU Way (at Wahnish Way) until they reach the CSX Railroad. From there:
- Alternate One proceeds to Lake Bradford Road progressing north of the Lake Alberta Stormwater Facility. [Map of Alternate One (1.3MB PDF)] A sub-corridor of Alternate One was identified to provide an alternative connection to Lake Bradford Road. [Map of Alternate One, sub-corridor (1.3MB PDF)]
- Alternate Two turns south and eventually utilizes the Gamble Street corridor to arrive at Lake Bradford Road. [Map of Alternate Two (932KB PDF)]
- Alternate Three is the northern most alignment and connects to Lake Bradford Road at Jackson Bluff Road. [Map of Alternate Three (1.3MB PDF)] A sub-corridor of Alternate Three utilizes the existing Eugenia Street alignment in lieu of paralleling the St. Augustine Branch. [Map of Alternate Three, sub-corridor (1.2MB PDF)]
- Additionally, an optional eastern portion of the FAMU Way Extension has been proposed, which can be used with any of the above corridors with minor modifications. Regardless of the main alternate, this portion would extend for several blocks east and west of South Adams Street. [Map of optional eastern portion (792KB PDF)]
- Also available here is a single map showing all three options at once (except for the optional eastern extension), color-coded for clarity. Note that this map refers to the above alternates as "Concepts" 1, 1A, 2, 3A, and 3B, respectively. [Combined map of Alternates One through Three (1.2MB PDF)]
These alternatives were carried forward into the Preliminary Design Analysis phase. No significant environmental, engineering or economic impacts were identified for any of the alternatives. Construction and right-of-way cost differences are relatively negligible. Public input on these alternatives is now being evaluated in order to determine a final "preferred" alternative.