Guest Series: Councilman Bill Gulliford

[Metro Jacksonville]

Guest Series: Councilman Bill Gulliford



In a new series, Metro Jacksonville takes a step back to listen to, promote, and discuss the editorials, personal accounts, and vocal opinions of some of the key players in the preservation and progression of our community. This week, Jacksonville City Councilman Bill Gulliford addresses the future of the Mayport Ferry.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-dec-guest-series-councilman-bill-gulliford

[simms3]

Sounds good.  Can't find anything to disagree with here.  Who is this guy and when did he come into citycouncil position because he seems to have a big head between his shoulders.

[dougskiles]

The saddest day was when the State of Florida abrogated its responsibility and dropped the operation of ferry. It is part of a significant state road, A1A, and the State of Florida should have continued operating the ferry just like the rest of the road system. Of course the ferry would probably continue to lose money but so do roads and bridges. Resurfacing and repairing them is a major cost and makes roads and bridges a money loser in the strict sense of the phrase. There are other maintenance expenses for both too. The difference is in the accounting and the fact that the public doesn’t normally see the amount of the losses for roads and bridges when they are repaved or repaired. It is always a very significant cost.

When a public service is provided at no visible cost to the user, such as road maintenance, the validity is rarely questioned.  But when something such as the ferry (or other transit system) charges a small fee then suddenly it is expected to cover all costs with that fee.  Perhaps if the gas tax were more visible to people, they would become more aware of the expenditure.  Perhaps have two displays on the pump as we're filling up.  One to tell us how much money we are giving the oil companies and the other to tell us how much we are paying to drive on the roads.

[JeffreyS]

Yes services which contribute to their operating costs always seem to be punished for doing so.  The 250 million dollar off ramp at Collins will never will never be questioned even though it costs more to build and maintain than a starter streetcar line.

[fsujax]

I say turn the ferry over to the JTA. They are the transit operator and they should be the ones who oversee it. JTA wouldnt operate it, because it is contracted out.

[tufsu1]

Is JTA prepared to take on the operating losses?  And what would that mean to their already existing transit services?

[fsujax]

Those are questions that need to be answered, but at the minimum I think the discussion needs to occur. Also, JTA is able to recieve federal aid from the FTA that JaxPort can't.

[fsujax]

Well, it was just an idea. Maybe the City can take it back over. I just don't want to see it go away. As far as the funds go, they are funds that do not have to be applied for, it is discretionary funds that the agency would automatically recieve.

[fsujax]

I highly doubt the neighborhood advocated for the changes.

[Doctor_K]

Within months of taking over the Ferry, it would run twice a day only and the route would take you from Mayport to in Intracoastal waterway at Beach Boulevard.

ROFL.

Sadly, you're probably not too far off.

+1

[Ocklawaha]

Not a bad idea really FSUJAX.

Step 1. Immediately move the ferry into JTA's scope of operations.

Step 2. Split off all highway builder functions into a reborn 'Jacksonville Expressway Authority.'

Step 3. Consolidate a new TRANSIT ONLY agency with authority over Bus, BRT, Rail, Streetcar, Water Taxi's and Ferry's.

Step 4. Search the country for transit executive's who A. Would love to leave the snowy north and west, and B. Have the talent and a track record for introducing rail, and other innovative mass transit.

Ferry saved, streetcar, BRT, express bus, city bus, Light Rail, combine to set off a blow torch of new development. Competency returns across the board.

OCKLAWAHA

[fsujax]

Ock, I like that plan!

[tufsu1]

fsujax

with your contacts in the transportation industry, would you happen to know anything about the following:

The Riverside Bus Trolley route that started out was wildly successful.  It took you from downtown to Riverside for 50 cents and ran like every 10 minutes at peak.

It was then transformed into a regular bus route that charged a dollar, took an hour to complete and no longer worked.  It was eventually cancelled.

Who advocated for and designed the route change?  Was that the JTA route planner or was it a neighborhood group?

huh?

I thought the original trolley (running every 10 minutes) was during mid-day (lunch) only, connecting 5 Points with downtown.

then when expanded through Riverside and Avondale it was converted to a regular route running about hourly...except during the mid-day, when it still ran every 10-15 minutes...and the route itself and travel time between 5 Points and downtown didn't change.

And now, the longer route has been canceled and its back to the shorter length....with trolleys running every 20 minutes from 6am to 7pm.

perhaps fsujax could clarify

[north miami]

Somewhat handy,for some reason,is Mayport/1000 Friends Florida/ DCA file........anyone care to beat to a meaningful post??..........