Transportation Transition Team - ANSWER THE POLL

[Ocklawaha]

Hello team, I think it's time to take an MJ poll before our transportation transition committee. You can vote only once but I do allow you to change your vote.

CHANGE JACKSONVILLE?YES WE CAN!

OCKLAWAHA

[dougskiles]

Even though I really want to see the skyway expansion and commuter rail, I voted for streetcar because it is one that I believe we can do locally without involving state or federal politics (and JTA).

[iMarvin]

That was a really hard list but I had to go with the skyway. We need to invest in the little bit of transportation that we already have. I would love to see commuter rail, streetcar, and the JRTC, but the skyway is the most important, IMO.

[brainstormer]

Why isn't "moving Amtrak downtown" on the list? Can't that be done without building the transportation center?  I really think that would show this administration is serious about public transportation.  Even though I voted for the Skyway, I fear that Brown will have more of a political battle trying to expand the Skyway.  Whereas if Amtrak moves downtown first, then we have a stronger argument for expansion.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I know that the mayor doesn't have any say on the bus routes, but I think that pressure should be placed on JTA to streamline their system.  It's been mentioned on here ad naseum about all of the routes that circle through downtown, but it's truly adding between 15-20 minutes per bus per trip - multiply that by the dozen and a half busses that travel down Newnan & Bay everyday and IMO JTA could instantly generate faster headtimes, less operating cost and more importantly generate more ridership with a better working system.  I've submitted forms online, I've emailed people that I've been referenced to from others on this site - no response.  I've talked with the drivers personally and they tend to agree with me that they would rather not make the loop.  They would rather hold at the Prime Osborne skyway station and terminate their routes there rather than fight the morning/afternoon traffic.

[Ocklawaha]

Why isn't "moving Amtrak downtown" on the list? Can't that be done without building the transportation center?  I really think that would show this administration is serious about public transportation.  Even though I voted for the Skyway, I fear that Brown will have more of a political battle trying to expand the Skyway.  Whereas if Amtrak moves downtown first, then we have a stronger argument for expansion.

Fixed it for you. Frankly it was one of those "so obvious" poll questions that I passed it by... Can't see the forest for the trees?

OCKLAWAHA

[Noone]

Even though I really want to see the skyway expansion and commuter rail, I voted for streetcar because it is one that I believe we can do locally without involving state or federal politics (and JTA).

I voted for the streetcar too. A straight shot from the Prime Osborn to a spot near the Stadium down Bay Street. I just believe that you bring the 3 big rail players and just ask and seek guidance on dividing the length of the rail that will be needed into 3 sections. Have a contest.  CSX, FEC, who is another one?

I don't pretend to be a rail guy but just one thought. Start with the Shipyards property. The straight shot down Bay and then when you get to the Shipyards what if you then bring the track around the perimeter of the bulkheaded improvements with a setback of 10', 20' 30' that is up for total debate. But what you have done is guaranty an additional visual public access corridor along the river.

The 3 big railroad guys can then break this area in three equal sections. Have the CSX rail team, The FEC rail team, The vacant property can store supplies, and it would just be good practice and knock some of the kinks out it before you would have to get into road closures and a lot more logistics. I know personally I'd volunteer to lay a section of track. Singles and not the big homerun.

[Miss Fixit]

I was torn between the skyway and street car because I believe both will yield big benefits but voted skyway in the end.

[Dog Walker]

Ock,

Thanks for adding the last one.  It's cheap.  It can be done quickly.  It will bring passengers downtown and it will let people traveling on Amtrack see our city.  Thin end of the steel on steel wedge!

[duvaldude08]

I wish I could have chosen them all, but I choose the streetcar. It is the cheapest fix and can be implemented rather quickly. Some of the other items are long term goals.

[peestandingup]

In order:

-Streetcar (because its time).

-Bike Network. So far no one has voted on this but it is SORELY needed & a big chuck of an interconnected/walkable culture. Oh, and we're in FL (bike-friendly climate year round). The city sucks badly on this one & there's no excuse for it.

-Skyway Improvements. I put this one further down because even though its needed, it will likely be pretty expensive & therefor harder to implement. We should fix the core basics first then finish it off with a Skyway expansion. Plus you'll get better support for it.

-Move Amtrak Downtown. I think you'd have to get the city better connected before this makes sense. Although it probably wouldn't hurt to do it sooner so the demand it greater.

-Commuter Rail. This should really be the last piece of the puzzle for obvious reasons. Meaning getting the core hooked up first, then worry about bringing people in from the outer areas. If you do it backwards it probably wouldn't work because if a person takes the rail into a poorly connected core, then no one will bother.

[Dashing Dan]

I appreciate the inclusion of "complete streets" as one of the choices but unless more people understand what that means, nobody's gonna vote for it.  It costs nothing to adopt a policy and once that policy is in place it will become much easier to do everything else on this list. 

Stay tuned.

[JeffreyS]

Streetcar now our past and future.

[simms3]

1) Mile Point
2) Bring Amtrak downtown
3) Intermodal rail terminal
4) Complete streets
5) Privately funded transit shelters
6) JRTC
7) Commuter busses
Streetcar

Some of these are simple policy changes, like encouraging private companies to sponsor bus stops.  This should be an easy pass a new referendum, sit back, and watch the results.

Mile Point and the Intermodal Terminal are extremely expensive and extremely important projects and will boost our economy and make Jacksonville a very attractive place for industry.

Bringing Amtrak downtown to a temporary terminal is also important.  These should be the short term fixes, as in let's get started on them this year!

Streetcars, commuter rail, and BRT are major projects meant for economic development and promoting urban infill, but we don't necessarily "need" them right now.  Also commuter busses are less expensive and heavily used.  They are actually quite nice.  Commuter busses come to Downtown and Midtown stations ever minute from 4 different counties and bring tens of thousands of commuters a day.  They pay 1.5x as much as traditional train fare to sit in comfortable cushioned seats.  During rush hour there will be 5 of these busses at a time lined up at the MARTA station across from me in Midtown and they will fill up quickly.  GRTA, CCT, and Gwinnett County transit busses.  These could work in Jacksonville by bringing beach commuters and Orange Park commuters to downtown.

[cityimrov]

Some of these are simple policy changes, like encouraging private companies to sponsor bus stops.  This should be an easy pass a new referendum, sit back, and watch the results.

Are you sure about the phrase "easy pass"?  Especially in Jacksonville, FL? 

I would say everything listed by everyone here is pretty much going to be a strong political fight that takes up a ton of work, energy, and cash to implement (except those already planned).  People are going to want studies, research, consultants, lawyers (a lot of these guys!), and so forth before they even open their minds to even considering the projects. Even then, they are going to want more and more stuff till you figure out why a $5 toilet seat can cost over $200.