Author Topic: I'm Smaller than Jax and I have Rail: Memphis  (Read 24784 times)

Lunican

  • The Jaxson
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4030
Re: I'm Smaller than Jax and I have Rail: Memphis
« Reply #15 on: August 28, 2007, 01:15:29 PM »
I think the people on these citizens advisory boards:

1. Have no experience in the topics being discussed.
2. Have no interest in the topics being discussed.
3. Have somehow managed to reach the age of 90 while remaining stupid and stubborn the entire time.

It seems that a good portion of the people that make up these committees are more interested in getting home in time for Jeopardy than discussing the real issues. Its not like they meet very often, They should really put in a little more effort when they do meet. If they can't do that, they should be removed from the board.

thelakelander

  • The Jaxson
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 35202
    • Modern Cities
Re: I'm Smaller than Jax and I have Rail: Memphis
« Reply #16 on: August 28, 2007, 04:28:48 PM »
You mean people actually prefer to travel one mode of transit over the other?



or

"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” - Muhammad Ali

Ocklawaha

  • Phd. Ferroequinology
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10447
  • Monster of Mobility! Ocklawaha is Robert Mann
    • LIGHT RAIL JACKSONVILLE
Those of Interest?
« Reply #17 on: August 28, 2007, 04:50:49 PM »
One consultant was certainly more interested in his "monkey shines" and making the assembled laugh then anything of substance... Oh, but he's a senior man on the project!

Another was too busy snoring, to hear ANYTHING that was said in the meeting!

Several more left early because the Jaguars were about to stomp the stuff out of Green Bay in a pre-season, doesn't count-for-anything game!

Another, took his ques from Mr. Monkey Shine, and he repeated some of the acts as Monkey Shine, cranked the organ!

Another was very concerned with out health, and made it a point to circulate around the room with a bag of chips and offer each person (often while they were speaking) a chip from his bag!

Yes Jacksonville, 6,775 passengers per year, per mile for our bus system today, or 153,846 passengers per year, per mile for Memphis Light Rail... Just imagine, with these Ducks running the show, we might spend a BILLION DOLLARS and crack 7,000! Just Daffy my friends!

This might be a stretch but, Where does JTA get it's fuel? It wouldn't be Gate would it? Peyton and company wouldn't be in bed with the same Oil company that fuels our buses would he? Where  does Gate get it's oil? Wouldn't be BP or one of our other tank farms? If so, is that the same one JTA uses? My how odd that would be. Wouldn't be a shock to me if the whole project from the Federal gift money to the fuel pump didn't stink of Hallburtin, Gate and the same old Petrol players guild...It's 1936 in Jacksonville, all over again, and the Streetcar could die a second death? Forget Hell Jacksonville!
 

Ocklawaha

gatorback

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2336
  • “Know thyself.”
Re: I'm Smaller than Jax and I have Rail: Memphis
« Reply #18 on: August 28, 2007, 04:57:54 PM »
It's a goal.  Remember, I'm a consultant, so I completely understand that somebody has to spend that money.  Let's get real people.  The motivation here is to keep my budget and grow my empire.  If I didn't spend all that money this year on getting us to 7,000 they'd figure out next year I didn't need all that money and cut my budget going forward?  And you know I need that money.  I drive a Range Rover for god sakes.  Those things ain't cheap.  It's in the shop all the time.  It get expensive.   ;D
« Last Edit: August 28, 2007, 05:07:57 PM by gatorback »
'As a sinner I am truly conscious of having often offended my Creator and I beg him to forgive me, but as a Queen and Sovereign, I am aware of no fault or offence for which I have to render account to anyone here below.'   Mary, queen of Scots to her jailer, Sir Amyas Paulet; October 1586

SeaEmBee

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 10
Re: I'm Smaller than Jax and I have Rail: Memphis
« Reply #19 on: August 31, 2007, 12:59:06 PM »
Why don't we have rail? A Rant...

Jacksonville is the largest city in the US by land mass (840 square miles), but in the city's collective consciousness people refer to Jacksonville as a small town. You hear it all the time – little Jacksonville, small market Jacksonville, big city with a small town feel, etc.

Yes, Jacksonville is larger (land-wise) than all the noted biggies -  Atlanta, LA, New York, Miami, Atlanta. If you don’t believe me break out an encyclopedia. Britannica’s online these days.

How can someone live in the largest city in the country albeit by landmass and think they live in a small town??? It’s all about perspective, I think. Some people have never traveled. Many aren’t well read. Others never leave their part of Jacksonville. Still others just don’t pay attention to the world around them.  While I know that Jacksonville is a behemoth sized city due to consolidation, I think 75% of the local adult population may not have a clue, after all you have to know the history of the city. If people never leave their neighborhood, think they live in a small town, never travel, and aren’t well read then history is probably not a fancy tickler.

I also understand that Jacksonville is not as densely populated as many other large US cities, but by sheer numbers we were the thirteenth largest city in the US in 2005. 

1.   New York, N.Y.      8,143,197
2.   Los Angeles, Calif.      3,844,829
3.   Chicago, Ill.      2,842,518
4.   Houston, Tex.      2,016,582
5.   Philadelphia, Pa.      1,463,281
6.   Phoenix, Ariz.      1,461,575
7.   San Antonio, Tex.      1,256,509
8.   San Diego, Calif.      1,255,540
9.   Dallas, Tex.      1,213,825
10.   San Jose, Calif.      912,332
11.   Detroit, Mich.      886,671
12.   Indianapolis, Ind.      784,118
13.   Jacksonville, Fla.      782,623
14.   San Francisco, Calif.   739,426
15.   Columbus, Ohio      730,657
16.   Austin, Tex.      690,252
17.   Memphis, Tenn.      672,277
18.   Baltimore, Md.      635,815
19.   Fort Worth, Tex.      624,067
20.   Charlotte, N.C.      610,949

In 2005, Atlanta was #35 and Miami was #45
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0763098.html

Today, Jacksonville is home to about 850,000 people. 

We may have slipped to #14 since 2005, but Jacksonville will always be one of the most populous cities in the country because of the size of our house (land mass) we simply hold a lot of people.

What does being 13th or 14th mean? It means that our Mayor and City Council have many of the same challenges as other elected leaders in large cites – crime, transportation, education, urban blight, etc. This is not Mayberry! This is not Mayberry. This is not Mayberry.

Jacksonville, is akin to San Jose, Detroit, Indianapolis, San Francisco, Columbus, Austin, Memphis, and Baltimore, based on the number of people being governed. I can hear the snarky comments now, “Jacksonville is no San Francisco”. Well duh.

The god-awful challenge here is to reconcile the myth of living in a small city with the reality of living in big-ass place with a whole lot of people. Over the last 50 years, it seems that the collective population of Jacksonville went from being big city strivers to people longing for village life, but the city didn’t shrink - it got bigger - and the population didn’t falter - it kept growing.

Of course we should have a rail system to travel these 840 SQ Miles. Of course we should have a fabulous downtown. Of course there is history here that can be tooled to drive tourism – this city is 150 years old. Of course Jacksonville could be better. We need visionary leaders who believe in planning not just pipe dreams that could fatten their wallets. We need citizens who are willing to pay the fees and taxes to finance a better Jacksonville. Then we need leaders who can turn our investment into a city beautiful. When the leaders fail, let's hold them accountable...that's another rant for another day.   

thelakelander

  • The Jaxson
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 35202
    • Modern Cities
Re: I'm Smaller than Jax and I have Rail: Memphis
« Reply #20 on: August 31, 2007, 03:48:23 PM »
Is Jax too small or spread out for rail?  The US Census Bureau says no.  Anyone who would claim otherwise should take a look at these numbers.



Other than Jax, every city in this list either has (or is in the process of getting) streetcars, light, heavy or commuter rail.  A few, such as Charlotte, will soon have more than one type of rail.
« Last Edit: August 31, 2007, 03:50:54 PM by thelakelander »
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” - Muhammad Ali

vicupstate

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3869
Re: I'm Smaller than Jax and I have Rail: Memphis
« Reply #21 on: October 16, 2009, 04:17:03 PM »
Quote
Jacksonville Metropolitan Area: 1,277,997

Memphis Metropolitan Area: 1,260,581

Difference: Jacksonville +17,416

City of Jacksonville: 794,555

City of Memphis: 670,902

Difference: Jacksonville +123,653


Memphis is wholly within Shelby County, yesterday, the Mayor of Shelby County, A.C. Wharton, won the election for Mayor of MEMPHIS.  He won with 60% against 24 other candidates. (I assume he must now resign as Mayor of Shelby County).

His 'pet project'  is to consolidate Memphis with Shelby County.  If successful, Memphis would leap from 19th to 11th largest city in the US (surpassing Jax). It would have 784 square miles and 909,000 population.     
"The problem with quotes on the internet is you can never be certain they're authentic." - Abraham Lincoln

CS Foltz

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2861
Re: I'm Smaller than Jax and I have Rail: Memphis
« Reply #22 on: October 16, 2009, 08:18:06 PM »
Peyton has no sense of anything other than taking care of his own! As for the citizens, we will just have to fend for ourselves. I will not buy anything from any "Gate" station.....I will use their bathroom in a pinch but spending any hard earned cash at any station, there is no way! Rail should be on the current Administration's mind, but when your an airhead......zero in and zero out! Thats the Payaton Legacy!

fsquid

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1688
Re: I'm Smaller than Jax and I have Rail: Memphis
« Reply #23 on: August 24, 2012, 09:31:23 AM »
great, I come upon this old thread after reading about Boise and I'm hungry for my hometown again.