Amtrak: Flagler Line Will Happen

[JeffreyS]

I don't think we would want to lower the bridge every time a pedestrian or bicyclist wanted to cross the river.  I don't know why we would replace the existing bridge  unless it is worn out.

[ChriswUfGator]

Will this project and/or the commuter rail project involve the replacement of the existing FEC RR bridge over the St. Johns River? 

If so, then I'd like to see the existing bridge adapted for re-use by bicyclists and pedestrians. 

It's flat, so it would be an ideal way for non-drivers to get across the river.

I doubt it, it's already a double-track bridge, and the freight trains weight a lot more than passenger trains, so it's more than capable of handling the traffic. Also FEC is spending big money this year to renovate the bridge I doubt they'd be doing that if they were replacing it shortly.

[thelakelander]

The expense of building an unneeded river crossing would easily kill both of these projects.  If we want an extra crossing for bike/ped, perhaps we should consider something like this for the Fuller Warren between Riverside and San Marco?

[Dashing Dan]

I don't think we would want to lower the bridge every time a pedestrian or bicyclist wanted to cross the river.  I don't know why we would replace the existing bridge  unless it is worn out.

Just leave the bridge down except when a boat comes through. 

That's the way it works for the Main Street Bridge and the Ortega River bridge.

[Dashing Dan]

The expense of building an unneeded river crossing would easily kill both of these projects.  If we want an extra crossing for bike/ped, perhaps we should consider something like this for the Fuller Warren between Riverside and San Marco?

With this option I doubt that you could maintain sufficient vertical clearance beneath the bridge.  It would be more practical to put a barrier separated bike lane on the existing bridge deck.

With commuter rail on the FEC bridge, I wonder how you could maintain capacity for existing or projected levels of  freight traffic. 

Nashville and Chattanooga have both made pedestrian bridges out of obsolete or redundant structures.  Both bridges have contributed to the vibrancy of their respective downtowns.  If the FEC bridge ever becomes obsolete, I would like to see it reused for bicycle and foot traffic. 

If it ever becomes redundant or obsolete, I'd like to see the same outcome for the old Shands Bridge between Clay County and St. .Johns County.

[thelakelander]

With this option I doubt that you could maintain sufficient vertical clearance beneath the bridge.  It would be more practical to put a barrier separated bike lane on the existing bridge deck.

I agree.  There's a good example on I-279 in downtown Pittsburgh.

[thelakelander]

With commuter rail on the FEC bridge, I wonder how you could maintain capacity for existing or projected levels of  freight traffic.

I doubt it's anywhere near capacity.  It probably receives a small fraction of the traffic it got in the 1940s.

[Dashing Dan]

I am not an expert on this topic, but from what I've heard I believe that passenger trains suck up a lot of track capacity, and that the FEC is currently hauling freight at all-time record levels.

Isn't there somebody out there who has the expertise that is needed to resolve this question? 

I would like to see that bridge adapted for use by pedestrian and bicycle traffic IF - and only IF - it is ever replaced. 

Think of it as an urban rails-to-trails project.

[Ocklawaha]

Not a chance. Sorry. Maybe time to think about a cantilever bike/walks on some of our 'FREEway' bridges. Matthews, Buckman, Fuller Warren, Hart, Captain Broward?

[Ocklawaha]

With commuter rail on the FEC bridge, I wonder how you could maintain capacity for existing or projected levels of  freight traffic.

I doubt it's anywhere near capacity.  It probably receives a small fraction of the traffic it got in the 1940s.

Actually in freight tonnage, the FEC bridge gets many times the traffic it did even at the peak of WWII. Toss back in the 10 passenger trains each way daily and this whole line approaches gridlock without RE-double tracking all the way to Miami. Modern signaling protects the whole route and allows for this growth of traffic on a mostly single track railroad south of Sunbeam Road. The thing to watch when laying the FEC and CSX mainlines side by side south of Jacksonville, is the FEC is mostly the carrier of containers, autoracks and TOFC, and the CSX handles more rock, coal etc...