Gaines Street Freqently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What will the finished road look like? What's the vision for this area?
The Gaines Street district is intended to be a mixed-use urban neighborhood with shops, restaurants and residential uses. To see illustrations that visually depict what the future of Gaines might look like, please visit the Urban Design page.
Who owns the road?
The City of Tallahassee owns the road and right of way.
How long will construction take?
Construction is estimated to take approximately 18 months.
When will the road be narrowed to two lanes?
The road will be narrowed to two lanes after the water and sewer installation is completed and the paving begins.
What is the plan to accommodate cyclists on the new Gaines Street?
Currently, Gaines Street is a heavily traveled, four-lane corridor with a high travel speed and no facilities for cyclists. The new roadway design will utilize several techniques to make the road safer for cyclists. Thetravel lanes will be reduced from four narrow lanes to two wide lanes and marked with "sharrows" to indicate that the lanes are shared facilities. The travel speed will be lowered to 25-30 miles per hour. There will also be alternative routes both north and south of Gaines Street, as well as new access points, allowing cyclists to use other streets to access Gaines Street.
How will cyclists be impacted during construction?
The road will be maintained at four lanes during the day. The majority of construction will occur at night. As with any construction zone, caution is recommended as is making use of alternate routes when possible.
How will motorists be impacted during construction?
Please see the answer above. Although four travel lanes will be maintained during the day, it is anticipated that the travel speed will be moderately slower. At night, alternate routes around the construction zone will be clearly marked.
How will pedestrians be affected by the construction?
Sidewalks will be torn up and patched as services are reconnected. Affected sidewalks will be closed with barricades and flashing lights. Pedestrians will be instructed by signs to cross Gaines Street to the other sidewalk that is open.
What type of closures can be expected?
Work will be completed between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., barring unforeseen circumstances. During overnight closures, all four lanes will be closed.
Are you considering altering the flow of traffic on adjacent streets, building a new east-west corridor or anything of that nature?
The City of Tallahassee is currently working on options for the extension of FAMU Way. When constructed, FAMU Way will serve as a traffic reliever for Gaines Street.
What kind of on-street parking will be available along Gaines Street at the end of the project?
The City of Tallahassee will be installing on-street parking on both sides of Gaines Street. Initially, the number of spaces will be limited due to existing driveways. However, as the area redevelops, new spaces will be added.
How will construction impact existing businesses on Gaines Street?
The City and the contractor will work with the business to ensure that the impact is minimal. For example, access to businesses will be maintained at all times.
Have the existing businesses been considered in the vision for the future of Gaines Street?
Absolutely! The Community Redevelopment Agency is offering existing businesses funds for painting and matching grants to improve the facades of their businesses.
How will businesses along Gaines get shipments if they come on large vehicles, such as the semis that currently take up one lane on Gaines when making deliveries, once the road has been narrowed?
Some businesses will be able to utilize the rear access road when it is complete. For businesses that require front door delivery, a loading space will be provided in front of the business.
How is this project being funded? Did you consider postponing it due to the current economic situation?
The funds to pay for the majority of this project come from sales tax, not property taxes. Voters initially approved the funding for the Gaines Street project as part of the Blue Print 2000 sales tax extension. Subsequently, in 2004, the City of Tallahassee and Leon County agreed to set aside $27.7 million of Blue Print 2000 discretionary funds to pay for road construction, property acquisition and development incentives. Additionally, the City received another $7 million in road maintenance funds from the State of Florida when the road right-of-way was transferred in 2008.