Independence Day in Jacksonville

[Metro Jacksonville]

Independence Day in Jacksonville



The City of Jacksonville put on its annual Freedom, Fanfare and Fireworks show in Downtown Jacksonville to celebrate Independence Day. Will future fireworks displays have to be cut back in the face of a budget crisis?  

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/491

[fsujax]

Great pics.  The fireworks were really good.  I love the pic showing all the people waiting at  the Skyway Central Station to catch the train.  It just goes to prove that if Downtown were more vibrant, people would use the Skyway.

[copperfiend]

If there is one thing that Jacksonville can get right, it is fireworks. And by the way. The fireworks at the World Golf Village - underrated.

[thelakelander]

Great pics.   Now we just have to figure out how to get downtown's streets looking like that on a regular basis.

[hightowerlover]

i spent the 4th in atlanta this year and i noticed they had put the at&t logo on their downtown tower...i wonder what the hold up is for the jax tower?  the new at&t needs to get it together.

[JUSTDAVE]

FSUJAX, your kidding right, because people willing to use the skyway (mostly because they have lived here for years and never been on it I guess or maybe they are looking for something cheap to do) on a holiday doesn't mean it goes from anywhere people are to where they need to be.

If I had all the money in the world I would __________ not build a toy train that most poeple laugh or cry about.

[thelakelander]

I kind of see the skyway and ferry as being in the same boat.  Both are under appreciated assets in our mass transit network that we've done a poor job at utilizing them to the best of their abilities.  They both also cost less to maintain annually than our roads do, yet no one really complains about the costs associated with keeping them up to drivable standards.

[Lunican]

FSUJAX, your kidding right, because people willing to use the skyway (mostly because they have lived here for years and never been on it I guess or maybe they are looking for something cheap to do) on a holiday doesn't mean it goes from anywhere people are to where they need to be.

If I had all the money in the world I would __________ not build a toy train that most poeple laugh or cry about.

But with that said, would it make more sense to finish it and make it actually go somewhere, or would you recommend tearing it down?

And don't forget, tearing it down isn't free either.

[spidey]

My vote is to finish it and make it go somewhere.  Tie it in with mass transit and make it useful.

[Ocklawaha]

Hey Dan, excellent photos. I'm not sure which person you are but you took those fireworks shots while standing about 10' from me; and over my back! I'm in one, and my daughter, and Son-in-Law, in two others! Shame we didn't meet.

As for the Skyway, yes finish it... but...having been on it now, it suffers the same plagues as all monorails. It "hunts" from side to side and "gallops" far too much at any speed. Perhaps their IS merit in a study of a refit for something hybrid, modern streetcar + elevated downtown private right of way? I know they already rebuilt it once, but moving from a 4 wheeled rubber tired horizontal elevator to a multi-wheeled rubber tired monorail horizontal elevator isn't much more then an expensive paint job. If it must stay a monorail on tires, then lets finish it and connect it to a commuter rail, heritage trolley, streetcar, water taxi, bus, park and ride network of connectivity. MIX IT JTA!

Ocklawaha

[thelakelander]

Why don't we just take a page out of Miami's book.


The Metromover has been expanded twice, since it's creation and it really is a downtown "peoplemover" taking riders just about any place they wish to go in downtown Miami, Omni or Brickell.  Also notice how the Metrorail (green line) connects with Metromover at a few key stops.  Basically, Metrorail (which stretches into the suburbs of Miami-Dade County and connects with Tri-Rail, which stretches into Broward & Palm Beach Counties) fees riders into the "Downtown Peoplemover", which is free by the way.  The pattern has been laid before us and the skyway is already in place.  It would seem the best way to make it work would be to make it that "Downtown Peoplemover" and tie it in with a regional wide transit system at the planned Jacksonville Transportation Center.


Metromover ties in with Metrorail (green line) at Government Center and Brickell stations.  This gives riders in inner city neighborhoods and downtown a direct connection with Miami's suburbs without having to get in a car or bus.