Opinion: Tennessee Street Proposed Narrowing- Bad for Florida State Football

Every Florida State media outlet has basically beaten to death over the past few years the less than impressive attendance at Doak.  If you wish to revisit the specifics of these issues in excruciating detail, read this post by our friend Andrew Carter over at the Chopping Block.

Every Florida State fan who has considered the issue probably has an opinion as to the root cause of the problem.  The economy generally, disgruntled fans who were upset with the way Coach Bowden and FSU parted ways, gas prices, the improved HDTV viewing experience, lack of booze (for sale) inside the stadium, too many early games, too many games against marginal cupcakes, poor product on the field, etc.  Realistically, some or all of these have contributed to the below capacity attendance.  

Whichever reason you may have favored in the attendance debate, it is beyond dispute that the issue does not need to be exacerbated.

Enter the City of Tallahassee.  Find out what they are doing to help supress attendance at Doak after the jump. 

Apparently not content with narrowing Gaines Street from four lanes down to two lanes (creating a major problem on gamedays), the City is moving full speed ahead with plans titled "Moving Tallahassee, Cars Optional".  This pipedream, plan calls for Tennessee Street to shrink from six lanes (3 in each direction) down to four lanes (two in each direction).  The additional space will be reserved for busses and bicycles.  So far, there is no word on whether final plans for the Tallahassee "Mobility District" will include an air-conditioned dome, whether  the City will be giving tax breaks to businesses who provide on-site shower facilities for their employees, or whether the City will be handing out complimentary gas masks to cyclists who are otherwise unwilling to suck in the bus and car exhaust as they enjoy a breezy ride down the Strip. While most metropolitan areas have looked for ways to alleviate traffic congestion, Tallahassee should be given credit for their decision to boldly venture in the opposite direction.  

For those of you who may be driving into games (or even work) from the west, your travel time and costs will increase.  For those of you trying to exit Tallahassee after a night game, you have my deepest sympathy, and a reminder of the location of Tallahassee's Red Light Cameras, at least one of which you will certainly encounter and probably violate as the game day traffic backs up through the intersection.

Fortunately for Florida State fans, the Tennessee Street Shrinkage is not a done deal.  

A meeting is being conducted on Thursday, July 28th, 2011 from 3:30 to 7:30 at the Renaissance Center, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 435 N. Macomb Street.  If you cannot make the meeting, or if you plan on attending but simply enjoy flexing your civic rights, the contact information for the City and providing feedback is as follows:

Cherie.Horne@talgov.com

(850) 891-6400

See you (maybe) at Doak this fall!