San Marco Line hits 2,000 daily riders!

[Ocklawaha]

Wow I was just imaganing the transit news IF the City and JTA would get moving on a mass transit system of connected lines. Think, Skyway, Streetcars, Buses, Trains for a moment and look at the change...

The Governor was too busy to attend the San Marco extension but the line finally reached Atlantic. A huge crowd of well wishers, a parade and a day of celebration resounded throughout the City.

Just a couple of months pass and the San Marco extension is up to 2,000+ daily riders.

Over on the Southwest Side, rail transit has reached NAS Jax, and the response has been incredible. Even though the full electric system hasn't been installed, the new LRT cars are running as expresses right through from Dowtown to the base.

Headways? Oh, when the full electrical system is installed in the new commuter rail line, cars and double-car trains will run every 10 minutes from downtown tp the base.

Springfield, Mayor Peyton, has lobbied for Parlor Cars on the new electric streetcar lines. These cars can tour the whole of the downtown system in about 2 hours, and offer all of the comforts of a railroad tavern-lounge-observation car. The builders have made these for larger systems, and these will be the first of their kind to operate in the Southeast. They will also be available for VIPS, special events, tours and holiday schedules. Plush, and looking for all the world like the original historic streetcars, they are being built in the USA.

Councilwoman, Glorious Johnson, has proposed that we replace the last of the BRT lines, Downtown to Arlington and the Beaches either along Arlington Expressway or Beach Blvd. Sadly the Council has defered action on the plan, which would be a Florida duplicate of the Norfolk Virginia to Virginia Beach line.

Shortly, the City will take delivery on two more classes of streetcars, the historic classic look cars, and the more modern Peter-Witt cars. 10 will be delivered within a week.

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Of course these "Headline" stories are not real... Skyway ridership is horrible at 1,300 a day system wide. The idea that San Marco could have 2,000 riders is beyond belief unless the extension is someday made to Atlantic. When it does open, I can well imagine the Governor of Florida showing up to see the completion of the 30+ year project.

Next can you imagine if the LRT electric trolley once again followed it's old route through Riverside - Ortega and entered into NAS? Can you imagine a transit system in that corridor with 10 minute headways? Indeed we might have to wait for delivery of the equipment, but I sure want to ride it.

Next, what if the Mayor, took on this legacy project and became the TRANSIT MAYOR of Jacksonville. Imagine him pushing for and creating the first Trolley Parlor cars to run EVER in the Southeast! They were well known in other parts of the country, but as a heritage system, we would be un-beatable.

Lastly, what a day when we are waiting for delivery of 10 new "old" cars of two styles. Indeed a brass band might lead the parade.

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Okay, so what am I suggesting with all this drool? Well lets re-read the above...

The San Marco line was already built, it opened in 1924 as the South Jacksonville Municipal Railways. It quickly reached a ridership of 2,000 daily and paid a handsome profit on it's bonds. The Headquarters and Car Barns are still standing. The route? Just follow the Skyway, and keep going to Atlantic! It opened with a huge celebration and both Citys (South Jacksonville) was an independent City then, held a holiday! The Governor was planning to attend, but many dozens of officials spent the day in Jax touring the City by Rail.

NAS JAX? Oops, we tore that out too. It too was in place and the article I am quoting is dated April13, 1918. 10 Minute headways to Camp Johnston (Todays NAS). How often does JTA plan to run that bus today? It really did open ahead of time with 30 minute headways, and non-stop service from downtown to the base, As soon as the power substation was delivered for 104Th street it went to 10 minute headways.

The Mayor battles for new Parlor Cars and WINS! Well, sorry Mister Mayor, I wish it were you, and this was today's news. But it was Mayor Sebring, on August 4, 1908. We did have the cars, and they became instantly famous.

Those 10 new cars, I dreamed of, well, they too once came in an order from St. Louis Car Company, on November 11, 1913. Today Edwards Car Company builds the replica right down to the smallest detail. They were just a part of the most modern Trolley fleet in Florida, and the largest Traction system to ever operate in our State 

Glorious Johnson, hasn't proposed the idea of going to the beach yet, but Councilman St. Elmo Acosta sure did, the date was April 1923. Sadly, the handwriting was on the wall. Jacksonville was headed into a Mass Transit coma. Maybe, Glorious and Peyton will lead us back to "Sainthood" we lost when Acosta was gone.

Ocklawaha