JTA U2C TOD Pilot Study Underway

[mvp]

The project website for the JTA U2C TOD Pilot Study is up at http://u2ctod.jtafla.com/.

Learn about the study, take the survey and register for the virtual meetings July 15 & 16.

Background: The Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C) Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Study is funded through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Pilot Program for TOD Planning. The purpose of this FTA program is to examine ways to improve economic development and ridership; foster multimodal connectivity and accessibility; improve transit access for pedestrian and bicycle traffic; engage the private sector; identify infrastructure needs; and enable mixed-use development near transit stations.

[Charles Hunter]

May I suggest, on the linked website, an updated Hemming Park photo - without the now-removed statue?

[marcuscnelson]

Left my own comment in a few places.

AVs need to be used as a collector (from your door to the station) for an actual fixed transit system, not as the fixed transit system. Making Jacksonville the first city to use untested AVs in traffic as a transit system is making the same mistakes as the original Skyway. TOD won't happen around a station for tiny robo-buses.

[thelakelander]

Scanned the survey but don't see what it really has to do with actual TOD planning or what the ultimate purpose of it is. Shouldn't potential TOD sites be tailored to previous downtown and neighborhood plans, as well as coordinated with the market? I mean you want higher density within a 1/4 mile to 1/2 mile walking distance of each station site but not sure a survey is needed to dictate what should ultimately be built on each corridor.

Left my own comment in a few places.

AVs need to be used as a collector (from your door to the station) for an actual fixed transit system, not as the fixed transit system. Making Jacksonville the first city to use untested AVs in traffic as a transit system is making the same mistakes as the original Skyway. TOD won't happen around a station for tiny robo-buses.

Pretty much this. Not sure what's proposed will even have the capacity to attract or move passengers in a true dense TOD setting. For the TOD stuff, just pack as much density along the routes as possible, in the appropriate scale allowed with the surrounding context.

[marcuscnelson]

Thinking back, I should have finished with "please don't waste millions of taxpayer dollars on poorly implementing unproven technology for the second time in a row."

[Charles Hunter]

JTA is holding virtual meetings on the Skyway / TOD / U2C; from an email:
========
JTA has extended an invitation to attend virtual meetings in regard to the major Skyway Expansion Plans.  Please read below for additional information.  If you are unable to attend the meeting, there is a link that you can use to share your feedback or ideas in a survey.


More information about the study can be found at http://u2ctod.jtafla.com/.

https://publicinput.com/img/iocobdtcfnxna7bncbrd_1200_367.PNG


You can help shape development in and around downtown Jacksonville by participating in the upcoming JTA U2C TOD Virtual Meetings. The first phase of this study focuses on analyzing the existing conditions in each corridor. During the meeting, our study team will explain the findings and background information gathered for each corridor.  You can join your neighborhood’s meeting at the respective link below.



Visit the U2C TOD Pilot Study website https://publicinput.com/ActionCall/EmailLink?c=1225&camp=35684&encSub=O9zGROfQo4boa0V3dHrNGg%3d%3d&r=http:%2f%2fu2ctod.jtafla.com%2f to learn about the proposed corridors and stations and then share your thoughts in our survey https://publicinput.com/ActionCall/EmailLink?c=1225&camp=35684&encSub=O9zGROfQo4boa0V3dHrNGg%3d%3d&r=http:%2f%2fu2ctod.jtafla.com%2fsurvey%2f



Creating a plan for transit-oriented development is a community-driven process, so we really need your input to make sure we understand your neighborhood. You can submit questions and comments directly on the meeting page, via text or email. Just follow the directions above the meeting screen.

Virtual Meetings

July 15, 5:30-6:45 p.m. - North Corridor Meeting: https://publicinput.com/E041<https://publicinput.com/ActionCall/EmailLink?c=1225&camp=35684&encSub=O9zGROfQo4boa0V3dHrNGg%3d%3d&r=https:%2f%2fpublicinput.com%2fE041>

July 15, 7:00-8:15 p.m. - West/Downtown/East Corridors Meeting: https://www.publicinput.com/M323<https://publicinput.com/ActionCall/EmailLink?c=1225&camp=35684&encSub=O9zGROfQo4boa0V3dHrNGg%3d%3d&r=https:%2f%2fwww.publicinput.com%2fM323>

July 16, 5:30-6:45 p.m. - Southbank/San Marco Corridor Meeting: https://publicinput.com/U154<https://publicinput.com/ActionCall/EmailLink?c=1225&camp=35684&encSub=O9zGROfQo4boa0V3dHrNGg%3d%3d&r=https:%2f%2fpublicinput.com%2fU154>

July 16, 7:00-8:15 p.m. - Southwest Corridor Meeting: https://www.publicinput.com/A366<https://publicinput.com/ActionCall/EmailLink?c=1225&camp=35684&encSub=O9zGROfQo4boa0V3dHrNGg%3d%3d&r=https:%2f%2fwww.publicinput.com%2fA366>

Proposed System Map

https://publicinput.com/img/zshxaullwm8whgaietcm_1000_1000.JPG

We look forward to working with you to create vibrant, livable, and sustainable communities by making spaces wonder with TOD. If you have questions, please contact:

Alexander Traversa, Planner - Environment, Sustainability & TOD Planning & System Development
Phone: (904) 632-5501
Email: atraversa@jtafla.com<mailto:atraversa@jtafla.com>


https://publicinput.com/img/xwrma7qwuqoqrwzqidx6_225_225.PNG

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability or familial status. Anyone requiring special accommodation should contact Cheryl Riddick at (904) 632-5522 or email criddick@jtafla.com<mailto:criddick@jtafla.com>.

==========

[marcuscnelson]

I'm in the virtual meeting now, asking JTA why developers would spend the money on TOD when JTA can just "flex" the route and make their investment pointless.

Is this you, Lake?

(transportation planner here): flex routes are really only useful in super low density suburban contexts.if you actually want riders on-demand service will not be useful.

[marcuscnelson]

I asked them directly about the concerns with feasibility.

They said that in whatever meetings they've had with developers, there's been enthusiasm about "leading the nation" and "cutting edge," and that there was excitement about making this investment in our future

I retorted that there was probably enthusiasm about those same things 40 years ago, and gave a reminder that their investment was using taxpayer dollars. Not sure if that did anything, but at least I said something, I guess.

[thelakelander]

No not me. I'm watching the 1987 Hurricanes Penn State college football championship game. I'm transportation planning done for the day.

[thelakelander]

That transportation planner was correct. Also we'd get further getting the basics right and in place, than attempting to be cutting edge. This stuff really isn't rocket science.

[marcuscnelson]

It's really strange, they seem just totally convinced that this is all totally fine and that we're not making the same mistakes the original Skyway planners made by implementing unproven technology with millions of taxpayer dollars and brushing off all concerns about feasibility away with "cutting edge!"

Out of 15,000 new multifamily units since 2010, 11% of that is in the Skyway corridors. Interesting fact.

Lol they're considering Berkman I (Built 2002) a "recent delivery," good lord.

[thelakelander]

It's really strange, they seem just totally convinced that this is all totally fine and that we're not making the same mistakes the original Skyway planners made by implementing unproven technology with millions of taxpayer dollars and brushing off all concerns about feasibility away with "cutting edge!"

Unfortunately, it's not strange. The decision makers of today were not around the decision making process behind the Skyway in the early 1970s. When you don't know your history you're destined to repeat it. The consultants are an extension of the client, so their message will be the same as the client's. That's a major flaw in the traditional planning world, especially when it comes to disenfranchised communities and marginalized populations. I'm largely skyway'd out at this point and spending more of my time on things I believe can truly help communities in and outside of Jax. My hope with JTA is that they at least try this U2C thing down Bay Street and give it a chance to prove its worth or failure before spending too much tax money modifying infrastructure on something that could be a big gimmick.

[marcuscnelson]

They just finished.

Here are links to both the public meetings and the YouTube Live streams (they're unlisted):

North Corridor
https://publicinput.com/E041
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMW-aOTyJ6E

West/Downtown/East Corridor
https://www.publicinput.com/M323
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoUDtvjwMvY

[tufsu1]

No not me. I'm watching the 1987 Hurricanes Penn State college football championship game. I'm transportation planning done for the day.

put your army fatigues on

[bl8jaxnative]

My hope with JTA is that they at least try this U2C thing down Bay Street and give it a chance to prove its worth or failure before spending too much tax money modifying infrastructure on something that could be a big gimmick.

I hope so, too.

No use spending millions converting the Skway until the ground level stuff shows it's worth. 

Personally, I'd rather see them experiment trying to use a tech like this to better connect the Moncrief corridor with job centers.  Like focus on 30 min or less transit commute one-way