Skyway on the Move: An exclusive thread on EXPANSION and IMPROVEMENT!

[dougskiles]

In short it can be done, it will take some thinking, something missing from our past ventures.

So true!  Thank goodness for the internet.  It was so much easier for the 'non-thinkers' to get away with stuff before this little gem came along.

[Ocklawaha]

Well here is the last word on possible capacity from Bombardier themselves... Just add those center cars or better yet buy fixed 4-6 car trains. Now calculate these running on 2 minute headways and you'd have a pretty accurate picture of what our monorail COULD be. With 6 cars and medium full load, there is every reason to believe that 13,500 ppdph is possible. This assumes a fleet of trains

BRT NUMBERS for you "let's buy more buses" types:
1 lane everywhere : 150 buses-pdph* = 100 passengers per bus = 15000 ppdph*
                           150 buses-pdph = 160 passengers per bus = 24000 ppdph
                     *pdph=per direction/per hour, *ppdph=passengers per direction per hour
This of course assumes JTA or another carrier has 150 buses just laying around to be used on special days. It also assumes 150 BRAND NEW articulated buses (which are laying around) and that you'll use 150 drivers to achieve this performance... the Achilles heal of highway transit.

OCKLAWAHA'S SAN MARCO TERMINUS DESIGN CONCEPT.


A.END TO END LINE LENGTH (ALTERNATIVE ONE)


B.END TO END LINE LENGTH (ALTERNATIVE TWO)


C.EXTENSION'S ONLY LENGTH


D.END TO END LINE LENGTH


E.EXTENSION ONLY

OCKLAWAHA

[Coolyfett]

Okay, here is the "OFFICIAL SKYWAY EXPANSION THREAD" It's here for you to vote and comment on, and I've set it up for Skyway supporters only.

Anti Skyway tirades will be deleted.
(REASON FOR DELETING? Because we want to know your opinion on positive ideas and concepts for the little railway)

This is not to say we can't have a healthy give and take on the positive aspects of this thread, IE:  "I like this idea more because..." or "I completely disagree with that plan or concept because..."

I'm also going to bend a bit and allow reposting of pertinent posts from the past, if you think you've got a post or drawing/map/or diagram that qualifies lets dig it our and try it on our fresh audience.

Have fun and let's do the work for them! And remember Uncle Ock is watching, so don't try and spoil the party.


OCKLAWAHA

My Honest take on the Skyway.

It needs to go where people ARE.

People are in Riverside, People are in Springfield. Five Points and 8th & Main would be the perfect locations for both neighborhoods.

Sports Complex is the 3rd most important section that needs to get rail. Those are just baby steps and all 3 areas need to be covered. Maybe eventually go down to Beaver & Davis and have a La Villa Station...seems to be much open land in that area. Thats all I got. Ill read the thread now.

[Timkin]

Ock.. which one of these extensions would be the LEAST expensive to do at this stage in the game?

[Coolyfett]

As soon as Jacksonville was awarded an NFL franchise construction to the stadium should have started the next day. With a new arena hosting many events and hopefully metropark and shipyard improvements in the future serious thought in this needs to take place. Streetcar in Riverside probably wont happen.

I like Streetcar IN Riverside, but NOT Streetcar TO Riverside. The Skyway should at go to Post and Margaret by the duck pond across from the church. Easy access to Riverside ave, Park Str, 5 Points, Post Str, College and Edison.

[Timkin]

As soon as Jacksonville was awarded an NFL franchise construction to the stadium should have started the next day. With a new arena hosting many events and hopefully metropark and shipyard improvements in the future serious thought in this needs to take place. Streetcar in Riverside probably wont happen.

I like Streetcar IN Riverside, but NOT Streetcar TO Riverside. The Skyway should at go to Post and Margaret by the duck pond across from the church. Easy access to Riverside ave, Park Str, 5 Points, Post Str, College and Edison.

How would that be possible with the Interstate over pass between Brooklyn and Riverside

[Ocklawaha]

Ock.. which one of these extensions would be the LEAST expensive to do at this stage in the game?

San Marco, would be the easiest build, it would contingent on the right-of-way deal with the Florida East Coast.

OCKLAWAHA

[ChriswUfGator]

As soon as Jacksonville was awarded an NFL franchise construction to the stadium should have started the next day. With a new arena hosting many events and hopefully metropark and shipyard improvements in the future serious thought in this needs to take place. Streetcar in Riverside probably wont happen.

I like Streetcar IN Riverside, but NOT Streetcar TO Riverside. The Skyway should at go to Post and Margaret by the duck pond across from the church. Easy access to Riverside ave, Park Str, 5 Points, Post Str, College and Edison.

How would that be possible with the Interstate over pass between Brooklyn and Riverside

It's a very tall bridge you just run the tracks underneath.

[thelakelander]

As soon as Jacksonville was awarded an NFL franchise construction to the stadium should have started the next day. With a new arena hosting many events and hopefully metropark and shipyard improvements in the future serious thought in this needs to take place. Streetcar in Riverside probably wont happen.

I like Streetcar IN Riverside, but NOT Streetcar TO Riverside. The Skyway should at go to Post and Margaret by the duck pond across from the church. Easy access to Riverside ave, Park Str, 5 Points, Post Str, College and Edison.

I know this is a make believe thread on skyway extensions people would like to see but in reality, none of them will come close to happening without other improvements happening within our local mass transit system, including the streetcar to Riverside.  The political will isn't there.  One of the best ways to get that will there will be to rally around our realistic projects (streetcar from DT to Park & King, S-Line commuter rail corridor, Amtrak/JTC, etc.) and do all we can to push them into use, along with having all mass transit integrated properly with the skyway. When that day comes, it will be much easier to extend the skyway in al directions.  Btw, I really like the idea of extending it to the farmer's market/Dennis Street areas.  That section of town could become a pretty cool warehouse/market district but its been completely overlooked by most urbanites.

[Dashing Dan]

It will be easier to extend the skyway to San Marco than to build a streetcar line in Riverside. 

As noted in this thread, a lot of the skyway infrastructure is already in place.

[longhaul]

Can a skyway line transition into a light rail line?  Or, would a passenger have to get off at an ending skyway node to get on a beginning light rail node?  

If given the option, I like light rail over skyway.  I'm not a fan of the out-of-scale raised foundations that skyways require.  They kill views of buildings and cast further shadows on mostly sun stricken, dense environments.  I think light rail, on-ground systems are more user friendly, more inviting, better fit into surroundings, and are cheaper.

I know this a pro-skyway thread only, but can someone explain how skyways and light rail tie into into one another?  And, why one would want a skyway over a lightrail in Jacksonville?

I'm a fan of rail, but if all else equal I'd rather spend $100mil on more light rail than less sky rail.  

[longhaul]

(one quick clarification to above, previous comment)...I know the skyway would have to come down to ground level to transition to light rail.  I'm more asking if the actual car and rail used on a skyway can be used on light rail.  Thanks.

[JeffreyS]

No but streetcar can same rails can be used.

[thelakelander]

It will be easier to extend the skyway to San Marco than to build a streetcar line in Riverside. 

As noted in this thread, a lot of the skyway infrastructure is already in place.

Construction wise, but not when it comes to political will. That's the simple reality of things when politics come into play.  If I had things my way, the skyway would have been extended years ago, so you're preaching to the choir.

[Dashing Dan]

The political will behind the streetcar has not been tested yet.