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SYSTEM REDESIGN
WHAT IS SYSTEM REDESIGN?
Redefining our approach to create a market driven transit system that serves our community by connecting people to where they want to go, when they want to go, in the most efficient manner possible.
HOW WILL WE ACCOMPLISH OUR GOAL?
-Reduce the number of large buses from downtown and enhance mobility by better utilizing the Skyway and promote the use of the trolley system to improve circulation.
-Replace large buses in the neighborhoods and introduce smaller community shuttles with enhanced service serving both a fixed route and a more personalized demand-response feature.
-Create satellite hubs throughout the region, offering better connectivity to destination points without the need to travel to a downtown transfer station.
-Develop new Park-n-Ride facilities and additional express and high-frequency transit service along major travel arteries.
-Enter into more partnerships with employers, colleges and universities and neighborhoods and create specialized service for their markets.
-Improve passenger amenities through enhanced shelters, traveler information and schedules, new technologies such as transit signal priority and next bus arrival information, and introducing “green” vehicles and transit stations.
-Plan and develop future transit systems to create a regional multi-modal transit network including commuter rail, rapid transit, waterborne, and streetcar.
http://www.jtafla.com/RTS/showPage.aspx?Sel=199
Moving Forward
Charlotte LYNX
Everyone knows that Rome was not built in a day. Charlotte started with a 1.8-mile heritage streetcar line along former Norfolk Southern tracks between Uptown and South End in 1996.
The success of the initial six month trial period, where service ran only on weekend evenings, laid the groundwork for Charlotte's recently completed LYNX light rail line.
Today, Charlotte is enjoying infill and economic investment, while it continues to push forward with a region-wide transit system where rail serves as the transit spine.
Houston METROrail
Despite heavy opposition from the State of Texas and no federal help, Houston moved forward and opened a 7.5-mile light rail in 2004. Five years later, this line now ranks as the eleventh-most traveled light rail line in the United States with the second highest ridership per track mile, despite its host city being known for sprawl. This success has led to citizens repealing a federally-backed BRT proposal and replacing it with additional proposed light rail corridors.
Phoenix Metro
In 2008, Phoenix's Metro light rail line opened with great fanfare. However, it is only the first of several lines the community hopes to have online by 2025.
Jacksonville ???
In Jacksonville, it has taken over 40 years to complete the I-295 Beltway. The incomplete Skyway system originates from a transit vision from the early 1970s. Implementing a long term mass transit master plan may take just as long.
However, recent examples have shown us that investing in rail-based solutions increases transit ridership, spurs economic development, and shifts regional growth patterns to cluster around transit corridors. JTA should embrace the use of available local funding sources to move forward with an initial rail corridor segment as an early part of the system redesign process.
For those interested in suggesting ways for JTA to immediately improve their system, a series of public workshops will be held February 23 - March 11, 2009.
JTA Notice for Public Hearing and Workshops
As part of our fixed route bus system redesign and to meet financial constraints, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority is currently in the process of evaluating our entire fixed route system. Several service modifications are being considered for implementation this May. To minimize the impact to our valued customers, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority will host six public workshops and a public hearing to collect your suggestions/comments before any service modifications become final. All recorded comments from the workshops will be included in the public hearing report.
Public Workshops:
Monday, February 23, Meeting: 5-7 p.m.
FCCJ Deerwood, Room B1204
9911 Old Baymeadows Rd.
Jacksonville, FL 32208
Wednesday, February 25, Meeting: 4-6 p.m.
Gateway Shopping Center
5258-12 Norwood Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32223
Monday, March 2, Meeting: 5-7 p.m.
Southeast Public Library
10599 Deerwood Park Blvd.
Jacksonville, FL 32256
Wednesday, March 4, Meeting: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Jacksonville Beach City Hall
11 North Third Street
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
Thursday, March 5, Meeting: 4:30-6 p.m.
FCCJ Kent Campus, Room D-120
3939 Roosevelt Blvd.
Jacksonville, FL 32205
Wednesday, March 11, Meeting: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
South Mandarin Library
12125 San Jose Blvd.
Jacksonville, FL 32223
Public Hearing:
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Meeting: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. & Meeting: 4-6 p.m.
FCCJ Downtown Campus, Room A1068
601 W. State Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Article by Ennis Davis
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fsujax
February 20, 2009, 09:03:02 AMHere's the link the JTA website that host the map. I think this is a work in progress, but at least it is a start.
http://www.jtafla.com/RTS/showPage.aspx?Sel=5
Captain Zissou
February 20, 2009, 09:35:42 AMWhat is the green line (High Frequency Transit) supposed to mean?
Doctor_K
February 20, 2009, 09:47:18 AMGreen lines = better/faster/more coordinated (regular) bus routes, with decentralized hubs?
thelakelander
February 20, 2009, 10:29:38 AM^Most likely.
jandar
February 20, 2009, 11:06:24 AMThey already have Bus Lanes in place now on Blanding Blvd from 103rd st south to Morse Ave.
They are moving ahead before they even have the plan in place.
fsujax
February 20, 2009, 12:03:44 PMRemeber BRT has been planned for years. I think the purpose of the map is to put everything being studied on one map. Some of the projects are much further along than others...i.e. BRT vs Commuter Rail
Cliffs_Daughter
February 20, 2009, 12:07:47 PMah, the bus lanes... that's in my neck of the woods.
those poor folks who can't park in the street for the flea market anymore...
Anyway, it's a good start for JTA. At least they're DOING not just THINKING now. But I can't wait to see how soon the first collision happens in a bus lane.
jandar
February 20, 2009, 12:29:48 PMI am really curious to see how/if they extend it down to Kingsley Ave in Orange Park (according to that map, BRT will be there)
There is no extra room on Blanding south of Wells Rd for any additional lanes. So they cannot just add a bus lane, will they dare take a lane over?
Jason
February 20, 2009, 02:37:26 PMMan, if all of this was up and running tomorrow....Jacksonville would instantly be a COMPLETELY different place.
I wonder why there is no indication of future skyway extensions?
thelakelander
February 20, 2009, 04:52:26 PMI think this is a huge problem, although the BRT lanes on Blanding are a pilot project.
As we pointed out when this site first began, a significant portion of the BRT plan is illogical, overly expensive and not even necessary at best. These plans are also about 10 years out of date and don't fall in line with the goals of the new administration. JTA would be smart to put the breaks on this thing and complete an overall transit master plan first. Not only would it help repair JTA's poor image in the community, it will also free up funds to properly implement a well thought out plan.
fsujax
February 20, 2009, 05:03:23 PMI don't think its the full BRT that was set forth years ago, maybe BRT lite. Not dedicated guideways or anything like that.
thelakelander
February 20, 2009, 05:04:28 PMCool. That's good to know.
Ocklawaha
February 20, 2009, 07:05:15 PMI am 100% sold on the JTA BRT plan if it follows this model and makes a couple of corrections:
1. NO BRT line will duplicate Rail
2. NO BRT line will duplicate Skyway
3. NO BRT line will duplicate Streetcar
--------------------------
4. Stations designed to be adaptive for streetcar, LRT or Intermodal future.
5. Coaches on long haul lines should be high capacity, hybrids and/or articulateds
6. Any high capicaty BRT line with ridership success should be immediately considered for TROLLEY BUS - a type of fixed route transit. (which is much more TOD friendly)
7. All vehicles should be ordered with high capacity doors, level floors and doors on BOTH sides.
Could a BRT bus, Commuter Train and Streetcar all start in the same downtown location and end up at the same suburban station? CERTAINLY. JUST DON'T DUPLICATE THE ROUTE - street by street.
For Example Union Station to Gateway Mall "could be"
BRT up Boulevard and Golfair - Union Station to Mall
"S" Line Commuter Rail - Union Station - Springfield - Gateway Mall
Streetcar - PEARL STREET historic car line to 44 Th, hence to Gateway Mall.
Skyway up Davis - Shands - I-95 to Gateway Mall.
4 different systems, only 2 end points and 4 COMPLETELY different and complimentary routes.
As long as JTA uses the HOV LANE model, signal priority, orange lines, cones or markers, in a lane open to any bus, taxi, emergency, or high occupancy vehicle (HOV). I'm for it. It's cheap, quick and a great way to start feeding a future and growing rail system, be it the Skyway, Streetcar, Amtrak, or Commuter Rail.
OCKLAWAHA
BridgeTroll
February 20, 2009, 07:21:56 PMThis may go without saying but I would like to add... Bicycle friendly.
stjr
February 20, 2009, 07:41:29 PMI hope its (1) because JTA is finally big enough to admit its mistake for the good of the community and (2) they realize they have far better solutions than the $ky-high-way.
If we want to be first class, we need to focus and invest in the BEST solutions in this town - not second and third class ones.
Coolyfett
February 20, 2009, 09:21:11 PM^^^ LOL ^^^