Transportation Center NEED'S YOUR COMMENTS!

[Ocklawaha]

Hey folks, this is coming on Jan. 10, and we all better show up and let them know what we think. My own opinion is this is not a "Center" at all, rather a collection of JTA offices, bus sheds, a skyway station and a nearby Greyhound and Amtrak station. This will go down in history as the most disjointed Transportaiton-Center in the history of the USA. We will be a laughing stock. Sort of like JIA, putting each airline at a different little building somewhere scattered around the airport property. So hear it comes Jacksonville...

Subject: Jacksonville Transportation Center


Dear Greater Arlington Beaches Neighbors:

You are invited to a subsequent hearing to discuss proposed transportation improvements for a future Jacksonville

Transportation Center (JTC). The hearing will be held Thursday, January 10, 2008, at the Florida Department of

Transportation's Jacksonville Urban Office, Training Facility, 2198 Edison Street , Jacksonville , FL 32204 .

Doors will open at 4:30 p.m., to allow you time to review and discuss the exhibits and have your questions answered by

one of our staff. The formal portion of the public hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m., with an audio/visual presentation

followed by an opportunity for public comment.

The purpose of the JTC is to provide one central location for the different forms of transportation in the area. JTA Bus,

JTA Skyway, Greyhound and Amtrak will be located at the Center. This will give passengers a way to safely and easily

move between each terminal. Also proposed for the Center is an office complex for transportation agencies, a parking

facility, retail space and a regional transportation management center. The purpose of this hearing is to discuss the

Department's recommendations for the Center and to receive your input. Additional Right of Way will be required for

the proposed improvements, so the Relocation Assistant Program will be part of the hearing.

As of December 20, 2007, project information will be available for inspection and review during normal business hours

at the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Urban Office, 2198 Edison Avenue , Jacksonville , Florida 32204 ,

and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, 100 North Myrtle Avenue , Jacksonville , Florida 32204 . It is the policy of

the FDOT to prohibit materials and/or exhibits in our public workshops, meetings or hearings that are not the property

of the Department. Therefore, no outside party will be allowed to display or hand out materials in any of these events.

This hearing is being conducted to inform the public of the project and afford the public the opportunity to express views

concerning the location, conceptual design and social, economic and environmental effects of the proposed

improvements. Those who wish to submit written statements may do so at the hearing or mail them to the address

below no later than January 21, 2008. All comments received by this date will become part of the official record.

The project has been evaluated in accordance with Federal Executive Orders 11990 “Protection of Wetlands” and

11988 “Floodplain Management” and this involvement will be discussed at the hearing. This hearing will be held in

compliance with Chapter 339, F.S., Chapter 120, F.S., 23 CFR 771 and 23 USC 128. Public participation is solicited

without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability or family status. Persons who require special

accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or persons who require translation services (free of charge)

should contact Craig Teal at the number below at least seven (7) days before the hearing. Your attendance at this

hearing is encouraged and any comments made are appreciated.

Ocklawaha
(Thanks Kay)

[Charles Hunter]

Then you've got Ron Littlepage promoting the Jack Diamond idea to put the Courthouse in the Convention Center! http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/122107/opl_227403979.shtml!

One of those is being pushed by architect Jack Diamond. He says the little used Prime Osborn Convention Center could be converted into a courthouse for $200 million.

If true, Diamond's suggestion has numerous positive benefits besides saving taxpayers a bundle of money, including recouping the money spent on six downtown blocks for the courthouse site by selling the property and putting it back on the tax rolls.

Whenever I mention Diamond's idea during talks to civic groups, it's met with enthusiasm.

About that last, I guess he hasn't talked to the folks at MetroJacksonville about that idea?

[Ocklawaha]

Jack Diamond needs to go back to drawing kindergartens and picnic shelters. We need to keep him away from Union Station either from my point of view (return it to rail) or JTA's (make it part of a city of buildings hosting everything from Hot Dogs to Greyhounds). I am certain when they talk about a Courthouse look, they are not talking about the modern convention center rooms to the back, they are talking about the 1919 headhouse that IS UNION TERMINAL! Move the Courthouse into the Bell South ATT building downtown and save us all a fortune. Use the transportation terminal for something novel... a transportation terminal! Sell off the JTA lots north of the Skyway station for use as re-development, offices and retail-residential. Take the back of the Prime Osbourne and slice it's width to allow for bus space on the South Side between the buildings and the tracks. Move JTA into the Prime, with the Greyhound and JTA terminals housed in the current convention center. Take down the Skyway station across the street, (leave Jefferson Street Station) and extend the skyway south from the end of the line into the current Prime Osbourne parking lot, continue to curve the track as it runs alongside and between the bus loading zones and new railroad terminals. Lower it's track and bring it to a stop right in the center of the action, with it's own platform and boarding gates.

Return the Train Station to a train station, perhaps have Greyhound or some of the other intercity lines moved into the station too. Make the Center a TRUE CENTER! Move the convention business downtown, maybe the Courthouse site?

Ocklawaha

[Charles Hunter]

oooh, I like it!  I like it!

The notice you quoted above (besides being wordy - but I guess there's a lot of required language in there) says the plans are available at either JTA or DOT.  Would probably be a good idea to take a look at the plans before the January meeting.  Go by next week - I'm sure anyone working then would be happy to see someone.

[thelakelander]

The entire transportation center definately needs to be SOUTH of Bay Street and the rest of that land should be sold to the private sector for urban infill development.  Imo, the old terminal building should also house some sort of museum (like a transportation musuem) to showcase Jacksonville's contributions to the industry and the grand station to the general public.  The key to this happening is the convention center issue.  If the convention center is relocated to the city hall annex/courthouse site, then this can happen.