FAMU Way Connection to Lake Bradford Road Nears Completion
Event will Celebrate Project Milestone and Open the Road to Traffic
April 27, 2021
FAMU Way, a project more than 10 years in the making, has reached a pinnacle milestone, as the roadway connection to Lake Bradford Road is nearly complete. To celebrate, City of Tallahassee and community leaders, joined by area residents including long-time Citizen Advisory Committee members for the project, will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, April 30, at 10 a.m. to officially open the road to traffic.
Members of the community are invited to attend either in-person or virtually by watching the live stream of the event at Facebook.com/CityofTLH. The event will be held outdoors along FAMU Way near the Lake Bradford Road intersection. For those attending in person, masks are required.
Community meetings for this project began in 2010 to address the need for an additional east-west corridor that would enhance traffic flow. As plans progressed, the conversation continued with the community through extensive outreach efforts that included going door-to-door to talk with residents in the area, hosting Saturday morning pancake breakfasts and engaging through many other workshops and public meetings. These outreach efforts provided for direct community feedback and ensured area residents were engaged throughout the process.
During the design and planning stages, it was often said that FAMU Way would be the most beautiful road in Tallahassee. Completed in three phases, this project transformed a roadway with a deep ditch running alongside it into a safe and functional corridor, designed to accommodate multiple modes of transportation. The project extended FAMU Way from Wahnish Way to Lake Bradford Road and created three roundabouts, wide sidewalks, a multi-use trail connecting to the St. Marks Trail, a community gathering place at Lake Anita, a children's playground, landscaping and much more.
Through collaboration with Florida A&M University's History Department, stories about the history of the area were collected from past and current residents. These memories were incorporated into a historical narrative that now serves as a guide for the History and Culture Trail project being coordinated by the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency, which will recognize the area's history in physical form along the corridor.
While the final phase of the roadway will soon be complete, work in the area will continue with Blueprint projects in the works to enhance stormwater drainage adjacent to the road, construct a new skate park and add other amenities along the roadway. The City is currently in the design phase of a proposed project to extend the corridor upgrades along the existing portion of FAMU Way from South Bronough Street to South Monroe Street.
For more information about FAMU Way and the ribbon cutting event, visit Talgov.com/FAMUWay.
Comments from City and Community Leaders
Mayor John Dailey
"FAMU Way is much more than a road. It is a shining example of what's possible when local government and the community work together. From the beginning, the goal was not only to address transportation needs but to also demonstrate a commitment by the City of Tallahassee to the surrounding neighbors, businesses and university. Through extensive collaboration, we have achieved the community's vision and invested in the creation of a corridor that we can all be proud of now and for generations to come."
Mayor Pro Tem Jeremy Matlow
"FAMU Way is now open — locals and visitors alike can put on their walking shoes or jump on a bike and come see everything the area has to offer."
City Commissioner Curtis Richardson
"Thinking back to the groundbreaking in 2014, we knew then that FAMU Way would be one of the most beautiful roads in Tallahassee. What I love most about this transformation is the collaboration that got us here. This project is a true reflection of the community, and you can see the influences along the entire corridor. From the gathering space at Lake Anita that FAMU students helped design and the park for the neighborhood kids to wide sidewalks and lush landscaping that the citizen advisory committee expressed a desire for, coupled with the connectivity to local businesses, this roadway has it all."
City Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox
"FAMU Way is a transformative project, enhancing connectivity and providing a signature entryway into Florida A&M University. While we will enjoy the many benefits of this corridor now and into the future, this area has always had a vibe, an energy that makes it special, and that is because of the people who live, work and play here today and in the past. It's important to honor the history of this area, and to do that, plans are underway to help preserve and display the memories and stories of past generations."
City Commissioner Jacqueline "Jack" Porter
"With FAMU Way, we are investing in communities that have been most impacted by various economic and environmental issues. It is my hope that we continue to listen to the community's input to increasingly embed their realities into the projects that will affect their neighborhoods. I look forward to engaging with our communities in the next phases of this project to ensure equitable growth and the vibrancy of this area."
City Manager Reese Goad
"The completion of the FAMU Way extension marks an important milestone for Tallahassee. It is the culmination of a shared vision to construct an innovative infrastructure project that connects our community in more ways than one. We are proud of what we have accomplished working hand in hand with the community, including area neighbors and Florida A&M University, to create this east-west thoroughfare that is also a must-visit destination that will be enjoyed by residents and visitors now and into the future."
FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D.
"The completion of the FAMU Way connection to Lake Bradford Road is an event of practical and symbolic importance to Florida A&M University. The roadway provides greater access to our campus at a time when we are looking forward to the resumption of in-person operations, as well as athletic and other events. The opening of this strategic corridor is also a reminder of our historical mission to provide access to educational opportunities for citizens from underserved communities."
FAMU Way Citizen Advisory Committee Member Shauna Smith
"As a member of the FAMU Way Citizen Advisory Committee, it's been exciting to see the plans we've discussed over the years come to life. With the extension to Lake Bradford now complete, this distinct and beautiful roadway, with interactive stations and playground sets a welcoming tone to everyone who uses it."
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