JTA Skyway to Remain Fare-Free for Another Year

[tufsu1]

Now that we've proved the damn thing will carry hoards of transfer passengers if it was operated right as a downtown transfer/circulator, its time to finish this little railroad.

1. Get that stadium line done.

2. Head to Atlantic, west of the tracks in San Marco.

3. Brooklyn is about to bloom, SERVE IT.

4. That new VA clinic, the Public Health Department and Shand's would spell success for a northward line.

5. The farmers market expansion and the ability to leap over the railroad yards would make Woodstock Park a extension worthy of study.

Ock...you do realize you won't get a massive skyway expansion and streetcar...so which do you prefer?

[Jdog]

The work that lies ahead will be in the funding.  There are two viable sources that I see:

1) Mobility Fee (if we ever start collecting it)
2) Value capture from the land development that occurs around the stations (in TIF districts) - which I am working to setup for the San Marco extension.  If successful, it could be the model for the other extensions.

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I think a quick thank you for your part in "2)" is in order.  Much appreciated.   

[thelakelander]

Now that we've proved the damn thing will carry hoards of transfer passengers if it was operated right as a downtown transfer/circulator, its time to finish this little railroad.

1. Get that stadium line done.

2. Head to Atlantic, west of the tracks in San Marco.

3. Brooklyn is about to bloom, SERVE IT.

4. That new VA clinic, the Public Health Department and Shand's would spell success for a northward line.

5. The farmers market expansion and the ability to leap over the railroad yards would make Woodstock Park a extension worthy of study.

Ock...you do realize you won't get a massive skyway expansion and streetcar...so which do you prefer?

Because you are chairing the committee?

Lets not self edit to the point that we are doing the bad guys work for them....

It's because there's not enough money laying around to fund multiple initiatives without overthrowing the entire political system currently in place.  Not only locally, but at the state and federal levels as well.  That's the simple reality of the world we live in today. 

Realistically speaking, the one true local funding source we have for any type of fixed transit is the mobility plan/fee, which generates cash for a streetcar....and it has a moratorium on it. 

That's not to say things can't change but they won't overnight and implementation will happen incrementally.  That's a reality all of transit advocates should understand as we push for improvement of Jacksonville's mobility options.  We will have to prioritize projects and get a successful one or two off the ground to enable change for more wholesale improvement. 

[thelakelander]

Visioning online and implementing are two totally different things.  No one is stopping Ock from dreaming.  He's had concepts for decades but now we have to chance to make one reality through strategic planning and implementation. 

The reality is to push something through, you do have to take the proper steps to move it forward.  That's not just here in Jax.  That's anywhere.  We've visioned for over 40 years.  A plan is already out there, now lets see some of it through.  That's where the dreaming stops and working within the confines of the actual environment begins. 

It's why we've been successful in finding a way to take the transit discussion from complaining online and at public meetings to getting actual projects added to JTA's long range plans, the TPO's LRTP (which qualifies them for federal funding) and becoming a part of the mobility plan, which provides a local way to fund them.

[thelakelander]

You still have to find away to implement.  That's my basic point.  What good is a dream is all it does is remain in your head? We've either dreamed or complained for 40 years while others have continued to implement things that have been a detriment to the community and taxpayer.  My view is, why not focus and drive something home in the short term that can actually help support and implement your long term dream.  So going back to tufsu1's comment, I understand his position on seeing at least an initial streetcar line through before focusing too much attention on something that will probably set you back a decade in getting anything off the drawing board?

[thelakelander]

You've made it to the world series and you have a chance to round third base and score the winning run.  You don't focus on going back to Spring Training and rethinking your overall strategy.  Score the freaking run... You can wait to next season to implement some modifications to help your game better so you can win two championships in a row.

The date went great and you've been invited back for a night cap.  Don't screw yourself by deciding you need to rethink your strategy.  Get in there and break the freaking backboard.

Ok, seriously though, all I'm illustrating is you do prioritize and even when you dream, work to find a way to make the dream reality without compromising the score you already have in hand.  In terms of time (which it how tufsu1's post read to me), it won't happen at the same period because of funding limitations and politics (unless you're advocating pushing the implementation of an initial starter back). 

[fsquid]

Kinda unrelated question, does the skyway operate during the Jaguars game?  I'm taking the kids to see Elmo at the Times-Union at 4 and I'm sure that will finish before the Jags game.  Do you think I'll be able to catch the skyway back over to the Southbank or count on the water taxi?

[Jason]

I've always found the river taxi to be reliable on game day.

[fsquid]

I've always found the river taxi to be reliable on game day.

thanks, will they run that during the game?  I'm thinking we will get out of there at 5:30 and will want to go back.

[exnewsman]

Kinda unrelated question, does the skyway operate during the Jaguars game?  I'm taking the kids to see Elmo at the Times-Union at 4 and I'm sure that will finish before the Jags game.  Do you think I'll be able to catch the skyway back over to the Southbank or count on the water taxi?

The Skyway does not typically run on Sunday, except for the occasional special event.