Five Cheap Things to Help Fix Downtown

[thelakelander]

Some central streets don't even have lamps.  Julia, which is only one block west of Hemming Plaza, is a perfect example.  Others, like Laura, have certain blocks where the historic lamps aren't present as well.

[Lunican]

Of these 5 suggestions, JTA was the only agency to take action with the revision of their trolley routes.

[Driven1]

yeah, for all their (what seemed like) initial hard-headedness, JTA has turned out to be the one governmental (or pseud-governmental) operation that has actually listened to citizen input and responded accordingly.  and it has not only been with the trolleys. 

city council?  a joke.  the mayor?  inexperienced and ineffectual - even when on "listening tours".  police?  still rushing people out of downtown after jags games as fast as possible.

kudos to JTA. 

[Jason]

Kudos JTA.  Thanks for the hard work.

I'm looking forward to seeing a finalized commuter rail plan soon as well.  Hopefully our input will be taken into consideration and debated.  Too bad Mike Miller and other don't chime in more often to discuss these topics in the forums.

[thelakelander]

They may not chime in much, but they do read the site and are aware of what's being discussed.

[brainstormer]

If so, then Mr. Miller, when is the Springfield Trolley coming?  I realize there isn't money for real streetcars, so can we at least get a Trolley that loops up Main, to 8th to Shands to the Landing, down Bay, up Adams and then Ocean to Main?  Let's start connecting neighborhoods...it doesn't cost much.  I also was unaware that the Trolley's were free.  Just make a rule that a person can't make more than a full loop on one ride.  If you are still on the Trolley when it comes back around, then you get kicked off back where you started.  Take that homeless people.  Problem solved.

[sheclown]

How about 2-way streets again?

Driving through the maze of one-way streets is a nightmare.  And for what?  To get in and out more quickly? 

[thelakelander]

PCTs won't revitalize a thing.  If so, Beaver Street and downtown would be booming.  They have been here a while now.  Real streetcars don't cost that much, they just have to be the city's priority.  Unfortunately, at this point, Jacksonville's leaders remain mostly ignorant to the true benefits of mass transit.  This is why you continue to read stories about investing $29 million in Metropolitan Park.  If Jax was willing to simply maintain the Metro Park we have today, that $29 million would get you a lot of streetcar.  Integrated with the areas the skyway serves, it could get you into Five Points, Springfield or the Stadium depending on the route chosen.

Sheclown, there is a plan to 2-way several of downtown's streets.  One conversion (Bay Street between Ocean and Newnan) is underway right now.

[stjr]

Here is another: better street light synchronization and, for full houses at the Florida Theater, T-U Center, Baseball Grounds, and Arena, have someone improve the traffic flow to the bridges so coming to an event downtown doesn't mean an hour to get out of it.  Not everyone wants to hang around 'til midnight or 1 AM for drinks and parties, especially on weeknights.

Also, a little more street presence by police, etc. around the theaters during shows so you don't fear for your car while inside the theater, or yourself, when you leave it.  Most streets are desolate a block or two from the theaters.  The risks may be small but perception counts for a lot.  If Walmart can have a security guard with a blinking yellow light circle their parking lot all night (and the malls, St. Johns Town Center, etc.), downtown should be able to do the same.  The only break in I ever experienced by the way was during a Sunday matinee at the Florida Theater so weekend days need to be covered as well.

If Downtown was managed like a giant SJTC with good lighting, traffic flow, parking, cleanliness, landscaping, signage, and security, it would likely do at least as well.  SJTC doesn't have a river, the size, or the convenience of being in the center of the population or in the presence of thousands of Downtown workers and the HQ's for the bus system so Downtown has lots of untapped potential.  Downtown is just missing a coherent management plan like any successful shopping center has.