New Truck Stop for Amelia Island? An Opinion

Submitted by Faith Ross

August 12, 2014

Recently it was brought to my attention that the Port Authority of Fernandina was presenting its latest expansion plans to the Fernandina Beach City Planning Advisory Board on Wednesday night (August 13^th) at 5:00 p.m. This new Master Plan contains a wealth of information that seems to directly affect the quality of life of our island.

One worrisome issue in the Master Plan was the planned increase in truck traffic on the island.  The reason for this increase is the plan’s need to bring Class C Vessels into the proposed expanded Port. According to the Port’s Master Plan, Class C Vessels carry from 2,000 to 2,900 containers (TEUs).   The Plan acknowledges that rail transport is more expensive than truck conveyance, and most of the container loads will arrive and leave by tractor trailer.

Aerial view of Port of Fernandina (courtesy expandinnassau.com)

The Master Plan asserts that 640 truck trips will occur on AVERAGE each day.  However, the nature of shipping suggests that when the ship arrives, it will be loaded and/or unloaded at that time.  (The Master Plan suggests that each truck be turned around in 15 minutes.) Even if only 1,000 containers are taken by truck from a Class C Vessel, then there will be at least 2,000 truck trips (1,000 trucks come and 1,000 trucks leave) on our roads for one ship alone in a very short period of time (stated 36 hours). Using an average figure of 640 truck trips per day may well be a convenient number for the Port Authority, but it will probably not be the reality faced by the residents and businesses of Fernandina and Amelia Island.  The number will fluctuate greatly with the arrival of each ship. With a build out capacity of 300 ships per year, we can all do the math (almost one ship per day). And what happens when two ships arrive at once with 4,000 containers?

Freight traffic at the Port of Fernandina (courtesy expandinnassau.com)

More interestingly in the traffic impact summary, there seems to be a realization that there will not be enough capacity on 8^th Street to handle the additional truck traffic.  To add more capacity, mention is made of utilizing 14^th Street by way of Sadler to supplement the need for more truck volumes. No one driving on 14^th St. needs to be reminded that this is a very busy shopping area with school children, a nearby hospital and a fire department.  Neither does a user of Sadler need to be reminded that this is a main artery to the beach, quality shopping, and hotels. Right-hand turning onto Sadler from A1A to the beach would be any beach-goers nightmare with lines of semis in the right-hand lane, then left-hand lane, trying to get to 14^th Street.

The Port’s Master Plan suggests that truck traffic may be run at night. The Port Authority is a government agency that leases its facilities to other businesses or agencies. Once the Master Plan is approved, a company or agency has no obligation to load or unload cargo ships on any specific day or hour.

If our shoppers, residents, and tourists are not able to access our thriving downtown businesses, restaurants, beach cottages, hotels, church-based schools, and our homes due to 1,000 to 2,000 trucks arriving on our island with each ship, then our way of life will inevitably change.

A copy of the updated proposed Port Authority Master Plan may be obtained from the City of Fernandina Planning Advisory Board, kgibson@fbfl.org .  (It is 240 pages long.) As stated above, the Port will be presenting its Master Plan to the Planning Advisory Board on Wednesday, August 13, 2014, 5:00 p.m. at City Hall.  Citizens need to contact members of the Planning Advisory Board and their Commissioners with their concerns and attend the meeting Wednesday night at City Hall. You may contact your Commissioners at http://www.fbfl.us/Directory.aspx?DID=84 .

The Port Authority is a government agency that will utilize millions of our tax dollars to construct the necessary improvements at the Port. Our county and city tax dollars will pay for the road repair and maintenance aligned with this proposed Master Plan. Thankfully the legislature requires that the Port gain an approved Comprehensive Master Plan before they are given public funding.  This Plan needs to be considered carefully. It is to be constructed with your money.  The City of Fernandina will be be paying for the road maintenance, Nassau County will be funding A1A repairs and the taxpayers of the state are funding the public money given to the Port Authority.

Once the Planning Approval Board recommends approval to the Commissioners, it goes to the Commissioners. The Commissioners approve it with an Ordinance that legally makes it part of the Comprehensive Plan for Fernandina Beach. They can then go to the State of Florida's Port Authority and ask for their $54 million+.

A copy of the updated proposed Port Authority Master Plan may be obtained from the City of Fernandina Planning Advisory Board, kgibson@fbfl.org .  (It is 240 pages long.) As stated above, the Port will be presenting its Master Plan to the Planning Advisory Board on Wednesday, August 13, 2014, 5:00 p.m. at City Hall.  Citizens need to contact members of the Planning Advisory Board and their Commissioners with their concerns and attend the meeting Wednesday night at City Hall. You may contact your Commissioners at http://www.fbfl.us/Directory.aspx?DID=84 .

Faith Ross is a resident of Fernandina Beach, a former educator and reading specialist who enjoys research.