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Jacksonville Projects ‘Take Big Step Forward’ After Rubio, Mayor Curry Secure Federal Grants

Dec 6, 2018 | Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry issued statements after the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced two Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant awards for Jacksonville, totaling $25 million. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Rubio secured funding for DOT’s BUILD grant program that will enhance infrastructure across Florida.

“Working with Mayor Curry, I’m proud to have helped secure federal funding for Jacksonville Transit Authority’s Bay Street Innovation Corridor, and the City of Jacksonville’s Urban Core Riverfront Revitalization and Complete Streets project. These innovative projects will help increase connectivity, enhance safety and security, and promote smarter growth for the city of Jacksonville,” Rubio said.

“Innovation matters to Jacksonville. Innovation matters to D.C.,” said Mayor Lenny Curry, City of Jacksonville. “This grant award adds merit to our work and demonstrates the confidence that our national leaders and partners like Senator Rubio and Secretary Chao have for the work we are leading in Jacksonville to improve safety, increase economic competitiveness, and support environmental protection efforts.”  

Jacksonville BUILD Grant Awards:

Bay Street Innovation Corridor: $12,537,500 to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. Through private and public collaboration, the Bay Street Innovation Corridor will transform downtown mobility, enhancing safety, efficiency and accessibility along a vital corridor in Downtown Jacksonville. Advancing the deployment of autonomous shuttles and new technologies, this project will energize the corridor for smart city innovations and emerging technologies incubator, supporting the economic development activity and redevelopment opportunities. This project implements initial elements of the JTA’s Ultimate Urban Circulator Program and the North Florida TPO’s Smart Region Initiative.

Urban Core Riverfront Revitalization and Complete Streets: $12,462,500 to the City of Jacksonville. The project is a Complete Streets project that will demolish the Hart Bridge Expressway, an obsolete elevated expressway and build a ramp from the Hart Bridge to Bay Street/Gator Bowl Boulevard. At street level, a Complete Streets will be constructed to include traffic calming measures, and bicycle and pedestrian paths. The project also includes installing broadband conduits to service the $2.5 billion planned development along project corridor, as well as the surrounding neighborhood

 

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