FAMU Way: Project Overview & Background

Map of Capital Cascades trail - Click to enlarge

Note: The image above depicts a potential modification to the approved route (including the related Capital Cascade Trail). The modification would have the route turn south at the railroad tracks to Gamble Street and then follow the existing Gamble alignment westward to Lake Bradford Road. [View a larger version of this overview map.]

The FAMU Way Extension Project will create a new east-west roadway between the current end of FAMU Way at Wahnish Way and Lake Bradford Road. The project also includes enhancements to the existing FAMU Way corridor between Wahnish Way and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Once completed, the FAMU Way Extension Project will provide an improved, safer roadway and enhanced mobility in the southern region of the city, in addition to offering new benefits and recreational opportunities for the entire community.

The future design of the roadway, which includes wide sidewalks and on-street parking, will improve safety for both motorized and non-motorized uses; encourage bicycle, pedestrian and mass transit use; minimize social, economic and environmental impacts; and improve local traffic flow.

Blueprint 2000's Capital Cascades Trail project will also serve as a complement to the City's extension of FAMU Way, which includes the construction of a multi-use trail, playground, bicycle/pedestrian walkways and many other amenities that will run alongside FAMU Way.

Construction Schedule

Phase 1 – Bronough Street to Pinellas Street: Completed Summer 2016

The eastern half of this project significantly improved the existing FAMU Way from Bronough Street to Wahnish Way from a narrow two lane road next to a steep drainage canal into wide two lane divided roadway with underground drainage; added on-street bicycle lanes and on-street parking; an off-street trail for bicycling and walking; roundabouts for less traffic delay; and beautiful landscaping.

The western half of this project extended the improved road (beyond where FAMU Way previously ended at Wahnish Way) to Pinellas Street with all the features of the eastern half and also added a playground, water play area, and an outdoor market space.

This project is already getting lots of use and has become a source of pride for our community.

Phase 2 – Pinellas Street to Gamble Street: Currently under construction, to be completed Fall 2018

This phase is the extension of FAMU Way from the current end at Pinellas Street to the south and west, ending at Gamble Street. This portion of FAMU Way will also have on-street bicycle lanes and on-street parking; a roundabout at Gamble Street; and beautiful landscaping.

The off-street bicycling and walking trail included in this project phase will be the final piece to connect the St. Marks Trail Extension to the Capital Cascades Trail; meaning Southside residents can ride bicycles to Cascades Park, Leon High School, even the City of St. Marks, and anywhere in between, without ever needing to get in a lane with car traffic.

Tallahassee Junction Stormwater Pond is also being constructed north of Kissimmee Street between Mill Street and St. Marks Trail as a part of this project. This project will include a lovely wet-pond stormwater facility, landscape, walking trail, water fountain and a few small picnic pavilions.

Phase 3 – Gamble Street to Lake Bradford Road: Currently in design phase, Construction to begin by end of 2018 & completed Fall 2020

FAMU Way Phase 3 is the final westward extension phase of the roadway from Gamble Street to Lake Bradford Road. This phase will have the same on-street bicycle lanes and on-street parking; off-street trail for bicycling and walking; and beautiful landscaping.

The completion of this phase will enhance traffic flow and connect on-street and off-street bicycle access from Lake Bradford Road to FAMU. The increased traffic flow will also be a great economic opportunity for Southside business growth.

Background

At the direction of the City Commission, staff embraced the challenge of designing the extension of FAMU Way from Wahnish Way to Lake Bradford Road so that it not only meets the transportation needs of the community, but so that when completed, it is one of the most beautiful roadways in Tallahassee. The City engaged area residents and FAMU University throughout the design process while also working to minimize impacts to environmentally sensitive areas, historical neighborhoods and adjacent businesses and the University.

The original extension of the FAMU Way alignment was based on citizen feedback and approved by the City Commissioner in spring of 2010. In May 2012, the City had to modify the western segment of the route due to the fact that CSX railroad would not permit an at-grade crossing included in the original plan. This new alignment routes FAMU Way on a southwesterly course west of Pinellas Street and will connect to Gamble Street and follow Gamble Street until it meets Lake Bradford Road. In addition to being a more cost-effective option, the new route was actually the most preferred by citizens who participated in a survey that was conducted to get community feedback and was later approved by the City Commission.

Since the inception of FAMU Way Extension and due to its proximity to Blueprint's Capital Cascades Trail (Segment 3), the projects have been running on parallel tracks with the goal of delivering one seamless construction contract. The combined project has been segmented into several construction phases and is sequenced so as to deliver the improvements in a westerly direction, starting with the Van Buren Pond at Martin Luther King Boulevard and ending at Lake Bradford Road. This phasing will also allow us to begin construction sooner on the easterly segments while concurrently completing the design and right-of-way acquisition associated with revising the alignment of the westerly segments.

FAMU Way History

On October 15, 2015, the City of Tallahassee published a Historical Public Survey of the neighborhood and culture surrounding FAMU Way

From the earliest stages of the project, the City has been committed to recognizing the history of the area along FAMU Way. Through interactions with the community, stories emerged of resilient neighborhoods, civil rights advocates and leaders and hard-working families. In 2015, the City contracted with FAMU history professors to capture and share these stories with a goal of incorporating them into the FAMU Way Project. Dr. David Jackson, along with Drs. Reginald Ellis, William Guzman and Darius Young with the History department at Florida A&M University (FAMU) collected information from area residents and produced a historical survey that tells the story of the people, places and events that have helped shape the community.

Download the FAMU Way Historical Survey

To learn more about the research team who worked hard to create this survey, download our Biographical Sketches companion document.

[Photos: Photos pulled from the State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory

If you have memories you'd like to share about the area surrounding FAMU Way, contact Carrie Poole.

FAMU Way E-News

Thank you for your interest in the FAMU Way Extension Project. Among other channels of communication, we offer a series of email updates designed to keep you informed and engaged. You may subscribe to receive updates on this project via email:

Go to the email notification service page.
Fill in the required information.
Be sure to check the box labeled FAMU Way Extension Project: News and information on the FAMU Way Extension project

For questions or additional information about the FAMU Way Extension project, please contact the City’s Communications Department at 850-891-8533.