City seeks community input about changes to NE Ninth Street

Published on January 19, 2024

The City of Gainesville invites all neighbors to a public workshop designed to gather feedback about roadway safety options for a portion of NE Ninth Street. Individuals may also participate in an online survey that will be available as a printed handout at the workshop.

When: Tuesday, Jan. 23, 6-7:30 p.m.

Where: Howard Bishop Middle School (The Nest), 1901 NE Ninth St.

This Streets, Stations and Strong Foundations (SSSF) project is funded by the half-cent infrastructure surtax. The project includes repairing the pavement along a 1.5-mile strip of NE Ninth Street from East University Avenue to NE 23rd Avenue.

Modifications along this section also could include wider sidewalks; additional crosswalks; eliminating parking on the street; bus-stop shelters; creating curbside pull-out stops for buses; and widening bike lanes or creating bike lanes physically separated from traffic.

Input gathered through community engagement opportunities will become part of a report to be presented to the Gainesville City Commission later this year. Depending on which changes the commission approves, estimated costs for NE Ninth Street could fall between $3.2-6.2 million.

In November 2022, Alachua County residents voted in favor of a one-cent sales tax levied for the next 10 years, expected to generate $17.4 million per year to the City of Gainesville. Fifty percent of surtax proceeds are dedicated to Wild Spaces Public Places projects. The remaining half is dedicated to road repair, public-safety buildings and land for affordable housing.