The Future of Transit in Jacksonville

[thelakelander]

Good video ...BUT!!! We all due respect, but if we, especially Metro Jacksonville care more about our downtown and its needs, are we just gonna sit here and talk about the city's problems and what the city, the Mayor, and JTA needed to do to step up and make our city the best city in the world? I think that we need to go to them and give them some good sound advice and encourage them about this video.

This is exactly what we did.  We presented this video in front of Council's Transportation Committee and JTA.  See first post...

MetroJacksonville is proud to present a documentary focussing on the future of transit in Jacksonville. At this very moment at city hall, MetroJacksonville and JTA are going head to head in front of the City Council's Transportation, Energy   Utilities Committee.

Showing lack of respect to JTA won't do. Dishonoring the Mayor won't do. And showing the public reasons why our downtown is "struggling" and proving why the Mayor can't do anything about it won't do either. We need get up and go to these people and demand what we want for our downtown. Simple as that!

With all due respect, this issue is much larger than whether downtown can be vibrant or not.  BRT has the potential to be a negative for several inner city neighborhoods and a huge negative for the taxpayer, who will once again fit the bill for this boondoggle.  As for a lack of respect with the video, I'd challenge that notion.  The video contains facts and actual quotes from local tranportation planners during their fight to pursaude Jacksonville citizens that BRT is the best choice for Jacksonville.  Is it our fault that many of the quotes happened to be easily proven as incorrect?  If anything, you should be upset that the people you pay to take care of your city's transportation needs have the audacity to come up with a poor plan and expect you to sit back and fund it.  Considering we were able to take two days to make a video that points out some serious questions that our transportation authority can't accurately answer should be enough to think twice before giving JTA $100 million of our tax dollars for a system no one wants.  Believe me, we're doing all we can, but we need more jeh1980s to practice what they preach and join the fight.

[JeffreyS]

How did the JTA's portion of the presentation go?  Do you think they were well received by the council?  I attended the first council meeting that was pushed back. I do not know if we had more MJers at this meeting but I could tell when I went we could have impressed with even 10 or 20 more people.

[thelakelander]

Their presentation was improved from those in the past, however they were caught off guard by the video, which focused on things that can't be debated (overall costs, timeline, system extents, etc.). 

Their presentation was not received by the council as well as the video was.  There were several tough questions asked that they could not answer.  Nevertheless, I have the feeling that instead of truly looking into the negatives of their BRT plan, JTA will attempt to move forward with BRT as fast as possible to get us to the point of no return.  This means, if no one stops them, expect the $100 million in BJP funds to start to be spent fairly soon.

Maybe we're wasting our time only questioning this at the local level.  Its obvious that our government here is reactive, as opposed to being proactive, so JTA continues to spend, spend and spend money that could be put to a better use.  Maybe its time to take this fight to the Federal level?

[tufsu1]

I really doubt there is any value in taking this to the Federal level right now....keep in mind that the current administration is admantly opposed to rail transit....and not particularly keen on transit in general...for proof, just look at waht is happening with the proposed Dulles Airport Metro extension in D.C.

[thelakelander]

Oh, I wasn't talking about taking a rail based argument to them.  Like you said, the current administration is anti rail.  Luckily that could all change depending on the upcoming election.

I think most can agree after seeing the numbers and what recently constructed similar systems have cost that our bus rapid transit plan could be considered a poorly thought out turkey.  So I'm wondering if its worth fighting to stop it at a Federal level, regardless of whether a rail plan comes to fruition or not.

[Lunican]

At this point, Jacksonville would probably be better off completely scrapping the current plans and taking no action at all.

The extreme costs and neighborhood destroying aspects of this plan will preclude a better plan from being implemented in the future.

[JeffreyS]

How many counties does the JTA serve.  I have been emailing the benefits of rail for the surrounding counties to the county commissions, city councils and even the commanding officer at NAS looking for a public statement supporting commuter rail.

[Charles Hunter]

JTA's charter (Florida Statute 349) defines their service area as Duval County.  They can make agreements with other counties to provide bus service.  They have done this with Clay and St. Johns.

The proposed changes to their charter (discussed in another thread) would make that ability more clear (or something).

[JeffreyS]

Thanks

[David6600]

Can't a referendum be held to just stop the BRT?  Just an up or down yes or no on it. 

Worry about getting the rail later when there's a new administration and a new environment. 



 

[fightingosprey07]

I agree, I would much rather have nothing than the full BRT plan. The city already has $100 million set aside for transit, I think they should use that money to fund incentives for companies to relocate downtown, and for developers to build affordable housing downtown. If gas prices keep going up, it might be easier to convince people to live within walking distance of their work.

[JeffreyS]

They should use the money on transit!!! This was promised to the people of Jax if we voted for the better Jacksonville plan. I could live without another BJP broken promise.  We have  good plans for transit and we will crush the BRT.  Keep the faith and all of you council members reading this KEEP YOUR PROMISES!

[David6600]

I hope you're right!  You know a lot more about this than me, but I'm just thinking:  Is the JTA making such a monumental decision here that the process needs to be attacked as much as the BRT?  Did the BJP specifically cede the decision as to routing and the form of transport solely to appointed members (of the JTA)?  Wasn't the BJP - itself founded and confirming the importance of public voting - only about setting aside funds and beginning a process for developing mass transportation?  Is having occassional meetings with some time allotted for questions and comments from the public that could attend the meetings a sufficient democratic process? Isn't it the standard practice in other metro communities for there to be referendums on the type of mass transit to be implemented (to me that seems to be clearly the case)?  Is it within the spirit of the city charter for a decision that has such massive demographic and transportation ramifications to be made in the fashion we are seeing?

It would be great to halt the process (legal analysis?) and get a well crafted referendum question to the public.  I do trust the public, but I trust neither the JTA nor the administration.  As early as the purchase of right of way (i.e., alongside interstates - how do you get rid of that to recover funds?), we're going to be past the point of no return.  I do think working expeditiously is of utmost importance at this point. 

Be gentle in your responses - just my novice thoughts and observations.   

[dejumoshi]

code for embedding rail documentary into web pages:

Code:

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[WitchDoctor]

Not to detract from the excellent video presentation, but look what was on Jacksonville.com today:

Water buses?

I think they are an idea, but just as much of a novelty as the PCT "trolley".