JTA to make skyway transit free

[acme54321]

Imagine if it had a station in san marco then continued a mile or two east down atlantic/beach.  Lots of riders there

[blandman]

JeffreyS, agree whole-heartedly.  I've never understood why public transit is the only type of public service that people seem to get all worked up about when it "loses money."

[ProjectMaximus]

Especially when the alternative (ie roads) "loses" so much more money!

[danem]

I think all transit should be free. It is a public service. The farebox recovery issue is a joke, no system recovers all their expenses at the farebox. LIRR is the closest that comes to doing it in the States. I also believe the JTA should allow the skyways cars to be wrapped and they should lease out space at the stations for  vendors and also allow the open display of local art at all the stations. I also agree the San Marco extension makes the most sense.

Well, at least the Skyway should be free. It's not like people are tripping over each other to get on it. I'm all about the advertising to cover some costs, and if the higher ridership gets more federal funds (like someone above mentioned I think), go for it with making it free.

[jcjohnpaint]

yeah I really think the wrapping and kiosk idea is golden.  It seems obvious, but.. 
Also they absolutely have to get these into residential neighborhoods, or I don't know if the lack of fee will matter much.  I will tell you what.  I would park in San Marco and take the ride over now in a second.  I guess maybe it does matter.  Not sure.

[Jdog]

Every downtown hotel is linked to the convention center by the Skyway...part of a convention center tax?  50 cents a night or something for a downtown circulator tax?  (yes, probably not much). 

[IamAmerican]

I always felt that skyway fare skipping gave Jacksonville a big city vibe. Watching people slide through the turnstiles made me feel like we were a city of innovation...our people won't let anything get in the way of their dreams and goals.

We should keep the fares just for the emotive qualities that come with living in a city with real public transportation.

[IamAmerican]

Side note: mta in new York fines fare skippers 100 dollars when caught.

[thelakelander]

I'm confused.  Is this a three month trial period or not?  In this article, it appears it isn't.

http://jacksonville.com/news/transportation/2012-01-25/story/jta-skyway-rides-free-next-3-months-new-pay-system-implemented

[jcjohnpaint]

I was thinking the same thing. 

[tufsu1]

guess they changed their mind....that sort of thing never happens at JTA 

[Coolyfett]

A skywalk from San Marco Station, over the Acosta, to Baptist and Aetna would also help.  As for attracting more riders by being free, I'd expect a small increase.  However, I believe a free skyway could easily be fed thousands of extra riders by eliminating the duplicate bus routes in downtown.  In other words, treat the skyway, Kings Avenue Station, Convention Center Station and Rosa Parks as one large transfer center.

Northside/Arlington buses go to Rosa Parks and then head back to serve their sections of town.  Westside buses do the same at the convention center and Southside buses do the same at Kings Avenue Station.  Those seeking transfers to other local routes then use the skyway to access each specific terminal.  As BRT (enhanced bus service routes) come online, those and express buses should be the only ones making full cross town bus trips.  I think a system retrofit similar to this will add tons of riders to the skyway and reduce annual O&M costs of JTA's entire transit system.

I totallu agree with this set up!!All buses dont need to go downtown. The terminal stations should Bus stations. JTA WOULD be so much faster if it was set up that way.

[Ralph W]

Don't forget the free transfers to go with the free skyway. Riders should be able to go from one end of the JTA service area to the other for just one one-way fare.

[Coolyfett]

So is it still free??

[fsujax]

yes till the end of April.