Traffic
Meridian Road is a major north-south corridor serving this area, but it was never designed to accommodate urban-scale development.
Meridian is Already Struggling
The Road is Full
The stretch between Ox Bottom and Bannerman – next to this property – only has room for
40
Vehicles Before Reaching 100% Capacity
Meridian is Failing
Engineers grade roads from A to F based on how well traffic moves. Meridian Road earns a
“D”
Indicating Heavy Congestion
More Traffic is Already Coming
850+
Housing Units Have Been Approved and/or Are Under Construction
within a couple of miles of Meridian and will increase traffic dramatically
No Expansion Planned
County, City, and Blueprint staff have confirmed they have
0
Plans to Add Capacity to Meridian Road
Congestion Delays Emergency Vehicles
On narrow two-lane roads with limited shoulders, congestion delays firefighters, paramedics, and law enforcement responding to emergencies.
Heat & Emissions for Idling Cars Stress the Tree Canopy
Canopy roads weren’t designed for constant gridlock. More idling means more heat, more emissions, and more stress on the trees that define them.
A Closer Look at “Levels of Service” Ratings
Just like students receive report card grades, roads receive grades from A to F based on how well traffic flows. An “A” means traffic moves freely, while an “F” represents severe congestion. A grade of “D” means the road is already experiencing heavy traffic, slower speeds, and increasing delays, with limited capacity to absorb additional vehicles.
Before the Annexation Petition, Planning Staff Recommended Against Expanding Development in This Area
After evaluating the environmental and transportation impacts of expanding the Urban Services Area west of Meridian Road. Planning staff recommended maintaining the existing Rural land use designation and not expanding the Urban Services Area into this location. This assessment was prepared during the 2025 Comprehensive Plan process for the same property that is now the subject of the annexation petition.
“The corridor already experiences significant peak-hour congestion. Without major capacity improvements—which are impractical due to canopy protections, narrow right-of-way, and topographic limitations—additional development in the surrounding area would likely push the roadway to experience heavier congestion and longer travel times during commute periods. Such conditions would impact the local transportation network, increasing congestion at nearby intersections.
Prolonged delays could also impede emergency vehicle response times and degrade the corridor’s scenic and environmental qualities by prompting pressure for roadway modifications inconsistent with its canopy-road character.”
– Status Report on the Tallahassee-Leon County Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Mobility Element Update, Nov. 18, 2025
More Traffic Is Already on the Way
More than 850 housing units, along with commercial development, have already been approved or are under construction near Meridian Road. Together, they will generate thousands of additional trips by residents, customers, employees, and delivery vehicles, placing additional demand on an this already constrained roadway.
Approved Residential & Commercial Developments
Understanding what has already been approved is essential to understanding the cumulative impacts on Meridian Road. The Office of Economic Vitality’s Development Activity Map provides information on residential and commercial projects that are planned, approved, under construction, or recently completed
Housing Developments Approved or Under Development Near Meridian Road
Landon Hills
275
Housing Units
The Bradbury
244
Housing Units
Conservation of Summerbrooke
101
Housing Units
Hammock at Oak Grove
101
Housing Units
Preserve at Oak Grove
76
Housing Units
Brookside Village Residential Subdivision
61
Housing Units
Commercial Developments Approved or Under Development Near Meridian Road
Cawthon Commercial Development
78,297
SQUARE FEET
Wildwood Community Center Expansion
31,168
SQUARE FEET
Bottom Line
Adding thousands of new homes and commercial space means adding thousands of new drivers to a two-lane road that’s already heavily congested. Residents should expect significantly longer commutes, extended waits at traffic lights, more bumper-to-bumper traffic, longer delays getting to work, school, or home and slower emergency response.
Sources
- Concurrency Reports Showing the Amount of Trips Left Before Meridian Road is at Capacity and the Level of Service: County Report & City Report
*Traffic applies to conditions between 4pm – 6pm on weekdays. - No Plans to Expand Meridian Road: Based on phone calls made to Blue Print staff and the City and County’s joint planning department
- Status Report on the Tallahassee-Leon County Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Mobility Element Update from Nov. 18, 2025: View PDF
- Details for each development were accessed on the OEV Major Ongoing & Proposed Development website: Website
*Accessed June 29, 2026