Council Passes Mobility Plan Unanimously.

[Dashing Dan]

In any case the tricky part of this job is going to be at the other end, i.e. beneath I-95 and past the parking garage.

[thelakelander]

What are the issues of concern in that particular area?

[acme54321]

You can't just stick it on the ground and hope that it stays in the same place for 50+ years. 

On the ground or up in the air, there has to be a substructure.

Sure, and on the ground it is a lot less substantial.  A bridge is more expensive and more maintenance intensive no matter how you try to spin it.

I don't like the skyway at grade for one major reason, expansion.  It would need to cross over Atlantic to continue south to places like Jackson Square further down the line.

[arb]

Is there a way that they can modify the existing infrastructure that the skyway is running on currently by adding tracks and making the system like an elevated light rail system and then as it extends out into the surrounding area it becomes at grade? Not sure how they would do that, but it seems like an idea.

[Dashing Dan]

What are the issues of concern in that particular area?

#1 Others may be more up to date than I am, but I haven't seen where the JTA and FDOT have come to terms on how the JTA skyway would run beneath FDOT's new I-95 overland bridge.

#2 Depending on how #1 works out, the extension may have to run along the east side of the Kings Avenue Garage instead of between the garage and the hotel.  Also, I'm not completely certain that the skyway would still fit between those two structures, even though there is supposed to be enough space there for that to happen.

[Charles Hunter]

I've heard JTA folks say at public meetings that the tracks could fit between the hotel and the garage, but a station won't fit there - it would have to be over the retention pond just south.  I don't think there is a problem getting the Skyway under the new overland bridge - looks like there is a lot of room underneath.

[Dashing Dan]

I've heard JTA folks say at public meetings that the tracks could fit between the hotel and the garage, but a station won't fit there - it would have to be over the retention pond just south.  I don't think there is a problem getting the Skyway under the new overland bridge - looks like there is a lot of room underneath.

I hope you're right - I'm just not sure.

[Ralph W]

I've heard JTA folks say at public meetings that the tracks could fit between the hotel and the garage, but a station won't fit there - it would have to be over the retention pond just south.  I don't think there is a problem getting the Skyway under the new overland bridge - looks like there is a lot of room underneath.

I hope you're right - I'm just not sure.

Fitting could be determined by how the stations are constructed. Nothing says those stations have to be space hogs and look like all the others on the block. Station space on the garage side could be within the parking structure itself with the track hugging the side of the building. Giving up  a short stretch of parking area would not pose a hardship. Computer controlled car positioning would be a snap in lining up the car doors with the current openings in the side of the structure.

I'd have to take another long look at how the hotel is built to say that station space could be borrowed from one of the hotel floors or maybe a good looking walk up covered platform adjacent to the facade would make a good station on that side.  Having only one track between the buildings, especially if that is going to be the end of the line, would gain more space.

However, if the cute Disney style train thru the hotel is not doable, the guests would just have to walk across to the garage, either at the ground level or a dedicated walkable covered skyway under or over the track level.

[peestandingup]

You can't just stick it on the ground and hope that it stays in the same place for 50+ years. 

On the ground or up in the air, there has to be a substructure.

Why can't they build the beam track into existing bridges, middle lanes & medians? Doesn't it do something similar crossing the river from San Marco??

They'll never be able to expand this thing otherwise.

[Dashing Dan]

An extension of the skyway is very doable.

[thelakelander]

^True.  The main thing holding the skyway back at this point is local politics.  It really is a hot potato issue in this city.

[tufsu1]

But its only amongst a small handful of people.

maybe so, but some of them are in pretty powerful positions

[JeffreyS]

I would prefer to keep it elevated and turn it at Atlantic to drop people where the new publix is slated.  It could just be a single elevated beam.

[thelakelander]

But its only amongst a small handful of people.  Its like saying that sustainable and green living is a real hot potato in this city.

There are certainly some very passionate people on that issue.

I think that if the skyway went to san marco square, that there would be considerable support for it.

During the mobility planning process, there was no issue with including green and sustainable living policies into the new comp plan.  There was also no issue including streetcars and commuter rail in it.  Slipped the skyway in and enough commotion took place that it was decided for the sake of moving the entire thing forward, to remove the San Marco extension link.  Nevertheless, I do believe that fears of the skyway will go away once this city fully implements strategies to better utilize it.

[fsujax]

I believe it will to, Lake. Things are looking up.