Mayor Questions Validity of JTA's Transportation Center

[thelakelander]

Well at least we know the FEC and skyway aren't going anywhere. So lets design a center that puts all new modes between the two existing fixed routes. In short, there should be nothing new built north of Forsyth Street, if possible.

[Jaxson]

JTA can only move as fast as Amtrak, FRA and the three major railroad carriers in our area on the Amtrak piece. It is probably the most complicated piece of the JRTC. It is a little more complicated than building a platform and opening up a ticket booth in a trailer.

I understand that it's all a complicated process, but I do not understand why our process seems to be taking much longer than other cities' efforts to consolidate their transit and transportation facilities.  If it boils down to communicating their intentions and their work, Amtrak and all of the players are doing a poor job. 
Besides, there are federal grants available that our area seems to be ignoring.  Once again, nothing in the news if I am mistaken...
http://www.greatamericanstations.com/

[Ocklawaha]

I wonder if those bureaucrats at the JTA care that, right now, Amtrak passengers enter our city via an Amtrak station that is more like an afterthought than an actual gateway into a city.

just to play devil's advocate...why should JTA care about that...after all, their charter is to operate local transit services.

Well the demons down at JTA should know when every single land, sea or air passenger transport pulls into any terminal in the city and arrange schedules to respond accordingly. Greyhound at the 8 am, 1 pm and 4 pm hours, Amtrak in the 6 am, 7 am, 9 am, 4 pm, 7 pm and 8 pm hours, and the airport during times when the air carriers cluster flights on the ground (several times daily - yeah, you might be amazed at the people changing flights in JAX), during these time periods JTA should be clustering buses at the various terminals and a REALLY good system would have the ability to hold out for 5 minutes or call ahead for a carrier hold-for-connections order.

Really JTA can either dig worms, cut bait, bait hooks, cast nets, drop lines and bobbers, set traps AND FISH FOR CUSTOMERS AND EXCELLENCE... OR they can continue in their stoic ways, arms folded, watching their own little fish bowl.

OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

I looked in to taking a train to Dallas. It turns out I have to go through DC, onto Chicago, and then to Dallas. Three days. 4-5 times more costly than driving (family of five) but equal +/- to flying.

Wrong thread?

that would be because Hurricane Katrina damaged several bridges between Pensacola and New Orleans....they got fixed by 2007, but due to budget cuts (thanks John Mica), Amtrak never reinstated the service.

[malseedj]

One fact overlooked by all considering use of the "A" route is that train traffic is growing in Florida.  It costs approximately Seven Million Dollars per mile to build rail.  That figure is on existing right of way. 

The "A' route track availability will rapidly decrease and commuter rail will be very limited in its access.

There is currently a very full schedule of other routes.  Railroad companies were hoping for the HSR project to free up track times and that is now DOA.

[thelakelander]

Where are you pulling your statistics from because there is no one-size-fits all number out there?  I can immediately lob several examples that came in well above and below that number.  So, $7 million/mile for what type of rail and service?  Nevertheless, even at $7 million/mile, that's still hundreds of millions cheaper than widening Blanding or Roosevelt to deal with congestion in that particular corridor.

Also, where will this traffic increase be headed to down the A-line and even if there is an increase and capacity is needed, you always have the ability to lay additional sidings to expand capacity, since its not like you'll have a commuter rail train running with 30 minute headways anyway.  Last, HSR would have done nothing for freight conditions in NE Florida.  Alive or DOA, our situation in Jacksonville is still the same.

[thelakelander]

Just horrible, Jacksonville.  I'm currently doing some research for a transit/TOD project in another city and just stumbled across Norfolk's proposed intermodal transportation center.  It will link Amtrak, HSR, LRT, passenger ferry, regional bus, and long term parking.  It will be constructed on the former site of the original Norfolk Union Station (1912-1963).  Here is the crazy part.  The cost will be $16 million.  Why does out center cost more than 10 times as much to accommodate nearly the same modes?

http://hamptonroads.com/2010/08/norfolk-envisions-one-hub-link-seven-modes-transport

[Kay]

Need to get this in the Mayor's hands and JTA's board and maybe do an article.

[JeffreyS]

The TU needs to do a front page compare and contrast.

[thelakelander]

Here are a few images:

Norfolk Intermodal Center - Phase 1


1. Intercity & HSR passenger rail station

2. Light Rail Transit station

3. Passenger Ferry dock and landing

4. I-264 access

5. Regional bus service

6. Local street networks including pedestrian and bicycle facilities

7. Remote parking

Phase 1 Site Plan


Phase 1 - Cost Estimates


Long Term Buildout with Transit Oriented Development

[thelakelander]

^How is that for site constraints?  They are squeezing this thing in between an existing baseball stadium, freight railroad tracks, elevated expressway and a river.  We have over seven square blocks to work with.

[JeffreyS]

Honestly TU help us expose this.