Choose Your Path: The Best Transportation Investments?

[Metro Jacksonville]

Choose Your Path: The Best Transportation Investments?



Chamber leadership stresses the importance of investing in the port to our region’s economy while JTA is developing a blueprint for enhanced transit services.  Bicycle and pedestrian advocates continue to ask for enhanced access and safety while private companies, like Uber, seek to fill a niche in our market.    With needs so extensive and diverse, how can we plan an integrated transportation network that works for everyone?

Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-dec-choose-your-path-the-best-transportation-investments

[tufsu1]

Why is the budget allocation set with an automatic allocation of $46 to roads and $54 for the other 9 categories?  Is there a reason why $100 out of $130 has already been spoken for.  Couldn't priorities be changed?

[cline]

Yeah that doesn't make sense.  Clearly I don't have much say in allocating if the majority of the money is already spoken for and placed in the "Widen Roads" catagory.

[thelakelander]

One can only assume that the construction of wider roads will remain a higher priority than investment in other forms of mobility throughout most of the region.  I say this, because it says "this amount represents planned spending and cannot be moved."  While probably true in most of our suburban and rural areas (really most of our region), the automatic allocation will most likely taint the results of identifying true public sentiment.  So when I dispersed my budget money, widening roads ended up with the same base number that had been pre-allocated.


In the Alternative solutions section, it provides you with predetermined solutions to prioritize.  What if you don't agree with all of the predetermined solutions you're asked to rank by desired priority? For example, in the expand transit section, you're asked to rank your desired priority of the following solutions:

- Expand bus services (adding new routes)
- Enhancing bus services using BRT (higher speed buses with fewer stops)
- Trolley services (smaller buses)
- Commuter rail (trains operating on railroads)

In my opinion, commuter rail (specifically connecting Clay to DT) is the only thing on there with a remote chance at cracking my top 4.  Instead of expanding the bus system, I'd rather see the network possibly reduced if it makes higher used corridors more efficient and reliable.

Enhancing bus services using BRT (as currently proposed locally) would be closer to the depth of hell than near the bottom of my list. Trolley services (smaller buses) are pretty insignificant to me as well.

Oh, and where are the options for streetcar, light rail, skyway expansion, etc.?  Some of us actually would like Jax to join the rest of the world in the 21st century. Because of their importance in stimulating TOD and economic development, I'd rank these options higher than all four items we're forced to select from.  In the end,  I skipped prioritizing projects I don't agree with being listed and spent more time filling out the "other" option.

[cline]

One can only assume that the construction of wider roads will remain a higher priority than investment in other forms of mobility throughout most of the region.  I say this, because it says "this amount represents planned spending and cannot be moved."  While probably true in most of our suburban and rural areas (really most of our region), the automatic allocation will most likely taint the results of identifying true public sentiment.  So when I dispersed my budget money, widening roads ended up with the same base number that had been pre-allocated.


In the Alternative solutions section, it provides you with predetermined solutions to prioritize.  What if you don't agree with all of the predetermined solutions you're asked to rank by desired priority? For example, in the expand transit section, you're asked to rank your desired priority of the following solutions:

- Expand bus services (adding new routes)
- Enhancing bus services using BRT (higher speed buses with fewer stops)
- Trolley services (smaller buses)
- Commuter rail (trains operating on railroads)

In my opinion, commuter rail (specifically connecting Clay to DT) is the only thing on there with a remote chance at cracking my top 4.  Instead of expanding the bus system, I'd rather see the network possibly reduced if it makes higher used corridors more efficient and reliable.

Enhancing bus services using BRT (as currently proposed locally) would be closer to the depth of hell than near the bottom of my list. Trolley services (smaller buses) are pretty insignificant to me as well.

Oh, and where are the options for streetcar, light rail, skyway expansion, etc.?  Some of us actually would like Jax to join the rest of the world in the 21st century. Because of their importance in stimulating TOD and economic development, I'd rank these options higher than all four items we're forced to select from.  In the end,  I skipped prioritizing projects I don't agree with being listed and spent more time filling out the "other" option.

All very true.  In my opinion, if you're going to engage the public and ask them to allocate resources based on what they would like to see, then the public should not be limited in its ability to actually allocate resources to transportation improvements they see fit.  Otherwise, like you said, it doesn't represent true public sentiment.  If you're only going to allow $30 of the $130 to actually be allocated according to what the public would like to see it's almost like "what's the point?"

[mvp]

The reason that there are limits on the funding you can allocate is that the funding sources (federal and state) define specific types of projects that the funds can be spent on so the TPO does not have the flexibility to change the state and federals laws.  For example, you can't take transit funding from the FTA and use it for highways. 

Of course you could create a new funding source, like taxes or fees, and dedicate to whatever projects you like. 

If you have other solutions you would like to be included, you can e-mail them to info@pathforward2040.com.

[thelakelander]

That makes sense. Thanks for the explanation. Hopefully, mobility fee revenue can be generated to assist locally.

If I read my budget allocation in comparison to other participants right, it appears people do want to see more money dedicated to alternative forms of mobility.

Cool game. I'd encourage anyone who hasn't tried, to give it a shot.

[tufsu1]

The reason that there are limits on the funding you can allocate is that the funding sources (federal and state) define specific types of projects that the funds can be spent on so the TPO does not have the flexibility to change the state and federals laws.  For example, you can't take transit funding from the FTA and use it for highways. 

Actually that isn't completely true anymore.  MPOs have the ability to flex some of the dollars if they choose.  Plus, roadway money doesn't have to be spent on widening roads as the allocation implies.  It can just as easily be spent on making complete streets.

[thelakelander]

^I kind of assumed with a change in policy, all roadway widening projects would be either complete or context sensitive streets based projects.  I didn't allocate any cash to truck movement because it seems that the money already dedicated to roads, intersection improvements, etc. would facilitate this. However, I would have loved to see some more diversity with the transit solutions. We all know what JTA wants and has proposed but I'd love to see a survey validate if the community is truly in agreement with those visions or not.

[Charles Hunter]

Lake, may I borrow those rose-colored glasses you are wearing?  You are much more optimistic than I about the coming of Context Sensitive / Complete Streets.  I have seen no indication from any of the road agencies to move in that direction.

[thelakelander]

The way I see it, we're talking 2040.  Most of the stuff that ends up in the LRTP will still be a decade or two from design, much less construction. IMO, we'll be pulled kicking and screaming to embrace and fund some of these concepts as the rest of the world changes around us and existing shot callers retire and die out.  However, the transition could easily be longer than a decade.

[sheclown]

Joe and I attended the JTA Community Advisory Group Meeting (CAG) last night at the Legends Center (which by the way -- wow -- what a cool space - who would have known that place was there).   

From the community comments to the leadership of JTA last night. 

 "ride the bus, ride it every day for a month and this will tell you all you need to know"

 "nobody wanna take you anywhere for $1.50"

"we need a transportation system like Phoenix"

"we need to hand out more bus passes to the prisoner re-entry program"

"bus drivers are rude, but getting better"

"transfers are a nightmare"

and from a man I had not met before "use places like Metrojacksonville to get the word out"

-----------------------

Below are the meeting dates, times and locations -- if you are interested, show up and give your 2 cents:

Tuesday, Dec 10, 6-7 @ St. Vincents -- Auditorium C

Wednesday, Dec 11, 5-6 @ FSCJ downtown, Adv Tech Ctr, Room T140

Thursday, Dec 12, 6-7 @ FSCJ Kent campus, Room E1112

Tuesday, Dec 17, 6-7 @ Arlington Sr. Ctr, 1078 Rogero Rd

If you cannot attend, you can email comments to Carl Weckenmann, JTA.   cweckenmann@jtafla.com

Other issues brought up were transfers from one bus to another (often bus drivers don't wait for passengers to unload from one bus before pulling out). The length of travel time.  The rude behavior of the bus drivers (although that has improved). The lack of bus passes.  Mainly the difficulty in getting from one place to another.

JTA admits that there are problems and that it wants input from the community.

 Since the purpose of the CAG is to give community input about transportation issues, how does this work with the North Florida TPO?  How do these groups work together?

[Charles Hunter]

The JTA has a seat on the TPO Board, and there are 2 from the JTA staff on the TPO's Technical Committee.  As with any federal transportation funds, any federal dollars JTA gets/spends must be approved by the TPO.  For big stuff - like commuter rail or BRT or streetcar - it has to be in the Long Range Plan.  Operating items, including bus purchases, have to be in the five year budget (TIP).

It looks like the JTA's meetings are about short or mid term service issues, which the TPO would not get involved with.

[sheclown]

The JTA has a seat on the TPO Board, and there are 2 from the JTA staff on the TPO's Technical Committee.  As with any federal transportation funds, any federal dollars JTA gets/spends must be approved by the TPO.  For big stuff - like commuter rail or BRT or streetcar - it has to be in the Long Range Plan.  Operating items, including bus purchases, have to be in the five year budget (TIP).

It looks like the JTA's meetings are about short or mid term service issues, which the TPO would not get involved with.

I specifically asked that question and was told the CAGs will deal with both the short term and plan for the long term issues.  And all issues are very important, IMHO.

Thanks for the info Charles, but could I get more?

[tufsu1]

^ you should call someone at JTA and/or the TPO and ask how they coordinate