JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A little over a year after a Jacksonville elementary teacher and his 1-year-old son were killed crossing Baymeadows Road, the Florida Legislature has earmarked nearly $975,000 to install a pedestrian hybrid beacon crosswalk near Wicked Barley Brewing Company.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) recommended installing the PHB crosswalk and a central refuge island on Baymeadows Road after the deadly May 2025 crash.
Sen. Clay Yarborough requested a one-time investment of $972,000 for the project, and the funding was included when the Legislature passed the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
READ: Funding request from Sen. Yarborough
The money won’t be guaranteed, though, until Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the budget. DeSantis has line-item veto power.
If the funding survives into the final budget, the improvements will be made near Goodbys Executive Drive, where Mitchell Patch and his 1-year-old son, Everett, were killed while crossing Baymeadows Road after leaving Wicked Barley Brewing Company.
Yarborough’s funding request said the enhancements are designed to improve pedestrian visibility and safety, and make the crossing more accessible for all users.
The funding breaks down into $120,000 for design, $170,000 for right-of-way, $595,000 for construction and $87,000 for construction inspection, according to estimates from the FDOT.
According to the request, construction is estimated to begin in December of 2028 and finish in December of 2029.
Jacksonville City Council member Joe Carlucci, who represents the area, also advocated for safety changes after the deadly crash.
A traffic study conducted by FDOT revealed 12 crashes at the location since 2020, including two involving pedestrians and a bicyclist.