Rail on a Budget: Austin's MetroRail

[Metro Jacksonville]

Rail on a Budget: Austin's MetroRail



Austin's MetroRail is one of the most financially efficient systems in the country because it's already paid and it runs on existing track.  Other cities that build from scratch pay much more, which is generally done with bonds or taxes.  - Misty Whited, Capital Metro spokesman.  This is a plan Jacksonville should seriously consider locally as an alternative to the current BRT proposal.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/589

[Ocklawaha]

Also, unlike traditional light rail, the diesel-electric articulated cars eliminate the need to electrify the route, thus reducing the overall costs of the system as well.

Great points on the Austin system. It really is a modern model for Jacksonville. The only point in the story I would question is, how long will it stay diesel? The pay-off for electric railroads comes with increased traffic. Thus a rail line with high traffic is much more economical under the wire then it is as a diesel operation. As traffic grows, the economics of using diesel falls. (not to mention the dependency on fossil fuels). This is why so many new systems go electric from the start.

Ocklawaha

[thelakelander]

The good thing is, they don't have to wait ten years or so to afford to electrify the line from the start or raise taxes.  Instead, they'll have a system up and running in less than 5 years after it was approved by voters and when traffic grows to the point where it needs to be electrified, it can be done.  San Deigo, Miami and Harrisburg, PA are also either constructing or seriously looking into similar systems.

This is completely different and well below the price of JTA's idea of building bus lanes only to rip them up and install light rail once the bus lanes become too congested.

[Steve]

Can JTA PLEASE look at this?

[downtownparks]

I thought the Head of JTA met with you guys. What did he have to say? Can we get a town hall set up to try to get some community support for this issue?

[Lunican]

He said they are going to do a study...

[Ocklawaha]

Anybody want a friendly wager that this "study" comes back to prove the JTA is right about BRT (being the smart alternative) and Rail the (super costly) wrong answer? I'll bet any of you. These guys can "MAKE" the numbers say whatever they want them to say...

Ocklawaha

[RiversideGator]

I predict JTA will push forward with their misguided BRT approach (which no one wants and no one but the indigent will use) and it will then inevitably fail.  JTA will then say "see Jax just isnt ready for mass transit" and will return to building more roads to nowhere in crooked deals with big property owners (see also Gate and the Mayor).

[thelakelander]

The funny thing is that the BJP does not specifically state that the $100 million set aside for rapid transit right of way, must go towards BUS rapid transit or that JTA must manage that money.  When the BJP passed, BRT had not been selected as the technology for Jacksonville's rapid transit system.  Maybe its time to pull the rug from under these guys?

Sec. 761.102. Elements of The Better Jacksonville Plan.
The goals of The Better Jacksonville Plan, i.e., growth management, improving and constructing roads, environmental protection and preservation and targeted economic development, and providing public facilities shall be accomplished by the acquisition, construction and development of the following projects, listed with their approximate costs:
(a)   Roads/infrastructure/transportation.  A $1,500,000,000 Work Program with $750,000,000 funded from the restructuring of existing JTA and City sources, and the remaining $750,000,000 funded from The Better Jacksonville 1/2 Cent Sales Surtax. The Work Program includes new, expanded and widened roads; interchanges, overpasses and intersection improvements; and also includes: 
(1)   Road resurfacing . . . $105,000,000
(2)   Drainage . . . 70,000,000
(3)   Sidewalks/bike paths . . . 20,000,000
(4)   Landscaping/tree planting along road improvement projects . . . 18,000,000
(5)   Safety grade crossings . . . 25,000,000
(6)   Rapid Transit right-of-way acquisition . . . 100,000,000

[Ocklawaha]

Give that money to JTA and watch the BRT become BUILD ROADS TODAY!


Ocklawaha

[willydenn]

Has anyone sent the JTA the book Suburban Nation?  It epitomizes Jacksonville and it's administration.

[RiversideGator]

I dont know what the debate is all about.  As we all know, buses are the future of mass transit.  People prefer riding on them, they are attractive and non-polluting and they really fit into the historic neighborhoods.  This is why cities all across America are flocking to Bus Rapid Transit.   

[Jason]

Is that a human arm hanging off the front of the train?  If that is all it costs I say go for it because gas costs an arm AND a leg! 

[gatorback]

Kudos MetroJacksonville for the awesome artical.  I live in Austin and haven't see this much info in a single place.  Thanks for putting that together.  And okay, I'll bite, but not on the arm rather Suburban Nation--what's that all about?

[jonathan1957]

in the case of jacksonville the proposed bus rapid transit system should be built with 100% BUSES ONLY BUS LANES!!!can commuter/regional rail service really fit the needs of the jacksonville/duval metro region since it MUST SERVE all points of the jacksonville/duval metro region?!the same goes for the proposed bus rapid transit project.