New Transit Projects Coming in 2012

[Metro Jacksonville]

New Transit Projects Coming in 2012



Metro Jacksonville shares a recently released Reconnecting America report analyzing the Obama administration's request for funding 32 transit construction projects across the nation in 2012. The administration is proposing to spend $3,225,556,000 on a mixture of heavy rail, light rail, commuter rail, streetcar, bus rapid transit, and ferry projects across the country, including $6 million for Bus Rapid Transit in Jacksonville.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-mar-new-transit-projects-coming-in-2012

[Jdog]

This is a one year snapshot list but, for what it's worth, from what I can tell cities listed that have little or no rail and are receiving no rail money but are working on BRT and are receiving BRT money are:

                       2009 Metro Area Population (millions)              % Growth from 2000

El Paso, Texas                         0.751                                                        10.55%

Grand Rapids, Michigan              0.778                                                        11.47%

Fresno, California                      0.915                                                        14.49%

Hartford, Connecticut               1.196                                                           4.12%

Jacksonville, Florida                  1.328                                                          18.29% 

[Garden guy]

In hopes for all who are foward thinking these new ideas and plans for more train usage are awesome and will bring us a little closer to what the rest of the world caught onto 100 years ago...unfortunatley our country is behind in many ways due in part to the conservative wealthy of this country who maintian that cars buses and such are the way to go...it's kissing the ass of the auto world and gas barons. Why would the republican party want more trains when the auto and oil companies fund many of thier activities....so thanks to our president for making this issue something that our country needs.

[wsansewjs]

Garden Guy,

You are so confusing me. One day I thought you are a conservative, then you would be a liberal on another day. Wait... Is that sarcasm I just detected in your post?

-Josh

[PeeJayEss]

The conservative wealthy don't even know what a bus is, but I'm with ya on the cars thing.

[Ocklawaha]

The conservative wealthy don't even know what a bus is, but I'm with ya on the cars thing.

No, but they're fixing to find out in JACKSONVILLE... Note we have no money for rail!  As I keep saying the BILLION DOLLAR BUS is STILL in the planning...

BOHICA!

OCKLAWAHA

[thelakelander]

It's not a billion dollar plan anymore. MJ helped kill that concept, which also included converting Adams Street into a bus mall. The revised plan looks to be in the $125 million range and the North corridor has been significantly modified to the point to where it makes some sense.  However, it should not cost $22 million to make changes within this corridor.

[Jdog]

It's interesting to note changes in federal criteria for awarding grants based upon application dollar amounts.  Rather than working under a "New Start" application, which I think is where the original BRT plan was headed, an application targeting solely the "BRT" on the North Corridor slips in as a "Very Small Start" application. In this scenario, consideration of adjacent land use, including around stations, for example, is ignored.  TOD is not relevant.  I wonder if JTA can isolate applications, corridor by corridor, and continue garnering funds under very small start applications.

Please correct me if I'm wrong!  Thanks,

[tufsu1]

I know of one big transit project in Flroida that will NOT be coming in 2012....thank you Governor Scott and the weasel legislators who changed their mind since last year (or even last week).

[urbaknight]

All that talk about light rail, heavy rail, streetcar, commuter rail, ever ferry projects. (please excuse my french) And all we get, all   we   get   is, fucking BR GODAMN T!!! Why, why, why are we not getting any of the rail projects!!! That's exactly what we need to get into the 21st century!

[stjr]

"BRT" = "Bypassing Rail Transit" !

[urbaknight]

"BRT" = "Bypassing Rail Transit" !

So true.

[wsansewjs]

"BRT" = "Bypassing Rail Transit" !

That completely cracks me up so much. It is so damn true that you know it!

-Josh

[Doctor_K]

"BRT" = "Bypassing Rail Transit" !

Sadly, +1

[CS Foltz]

I concur with the trend of reply's! Wasted money and resources.........make bus's and routes usable! Lets not forget about the lack of covered shelters either!