JTA to make skyway transit free

[Ocklawaha]

But it's not like we ever fight crowds to board the thing. What about making it 24 hours? Or at least expand the hours to later in the evening and weekends? Or is that too much money and I'm talking crazy talk?

Actually a 18-24 hour schedule would greatly effect ridership. On occasion when there is an event downtown JTA keeps the monorail running until late in the evening, but how many more smaller events can you think of that found the Skyway a virtual ghost train? Extending the Skyway's schedule would also have the added benefit of a designated driver. Ridership increases would make the Skyway a REAL candidate for FTA grants and possible expansion.

The idea?

Extend the Skyways operation between the hours of 5 am and 11 pm at a minimum. Concurrent with the extended hours downtown shuttle buses (aka: PCT or Potato-Chip-Truck-Thinks-Its-A-Trolley) operating the same schedule would stretch the Skyways reach from Central/Hemming/Rosa Parks to cover everything east of Hogan all the way to the stadium/Arena/Metropolitan Park/AP Randolph-Jessie Street areas.

Keep it fare free to serve as a 'transfer train' downtown. Revenue would be captured by wrap advertising, platform advertising and Kiosk leases in the huge vacant spaces within the stations.

After a short trial period to help identify market hours, extended services would operate on call. A late night shuttle bus east side connector could operate Jitney style during these hours.

The 'Automated Skyway Express' actually needs at least two persons to operate it over at Skyway Central. Late night operation would require hiring and training a couple of two man night crews, likewise the shuttle bus/es would also need drivers.

Two sets of trains could be kept on the line, 'held out' just short of a station one on each bank of the river to cover the calls for service.

MEANWHILE:

The city should build the 'Skywalk' from San Marco Station to Aetna and Baptist Hospital, likewise covered bridges/covered walk connections into the Prudential Building, ATT, Omni, Riverplace etc. should come on line. These Skywalks/or surface covered walks would have the effect of making the Skyway a working part of these buildings.

If the mobility plan is ever put into action, a true San Marco station at the FEC RY and Atlantic Blvd would bring the Skyway into it's first true residential area, meaning it would now run from Someplace to Something. JTA should be at the forefront of pursuit of these expansions while we have a local congressman in place that 1. loves the Skyway, 2. Chairs the House Transportation Subcommittee. When the Overland Bridge I-95/Atlantic interchange is built and FEC rail comes on line, this station would be a game changer.

Another avenue to explore, one which a certain Mr. Khan should be very interested in, is an expansion through downtown to the stadium area. I would give a long look at a station near the Baseball Grounds and another north of the Arlington Expressway on A.P.Randolph, effectively giving the Skyway event day crowds, and introducing it to the next true residential area.

Lastly, I would rename the San Marco Station to prevent confusion with a possible expansion southward...

GOODBYE PCT'S

http://www.youtube.com/v/zKM8v0Vdasc?version=3&hl=en_US

PCT'S would be replaced when retired or sold in exchange for downtown ELECTRIC BUSES.

This would change the whole face of JTA... DREAM ON...

OCKLAWAHA

Winding your way down on Water Street
Light in your head and dead on your feet
Well another crazy day, you'll drink the night away
And forget about everything

This city desert makes you feel so cold
It's got so many people but it's got no soul
And it's taken you so long to find out you were wrong
When you thought it held everything

You used to think that it was so easy
You used to say that it was so easy
But you're tryin', you're tryin' now

Another year and then you'd be happy
Just one more year and then you'd be happy
But you're cryin', you're cryin' now

With Apologies to Gerry Rafferty....

[Jdog]

Any recent word on:

1. Ridership numbers?
2. Likelihood of permanent no fare policy? 

[Anti redneck]

Any recent word on:

1. Ridership numbers?
2. Likelihood of permanent no fare policy?

I was just about to ask that.

[Marley Weinstein]

But it's not like we ever fight crowds to board the thing. What about making it 24 hours? Or at least expand the hours to later in the evening and weekends? Or is that too much money and I'm talking crazy talk?

Actually a 18-24 hour schedule would greatly effect ridership. On occasion when there is an event downtown JTA keeps the monorail running until late in the evening, but how many more smaller events can you think of that found the Skyway a virtual ghost train? Extending the Skyway's schedule would also have the added benefit of a designated driver. Ridership increases would make the Skyway a REAL candidate for FTA grants and possible expansion.

The idea?

Extend the Skyways operation between the hours of 5 am and 11 pm at a minimum. Concurrent with the extended hours downtown shuttle buses (aka: PCT or Potato-Chip-Truck-Thinks-Its-A-Trolley) operating the same schedule would stretch the Skyways reach from Central/Hemming/Rosa Parks to cover everything east of Hogan all the way to the stadium/Arena/Metropolitan Park/AP Randolph-Jessie Street areas.

Keep it fare free to serve as a 'transfer train' downtown. Revenue would be captured by wrap advertising, platform advertising and Kiosk leases in the huge vacant spaces within the stations.

After a short trial period to help identify market hours, extended services would operate on call. A late night shuttle bus east side connector could operate Jitney style during these hours.

The 'Automated Skyway Express' actually needs at least two persons to operate it over at Skyway Central. Late night operation would require hiring and training a couple of two man night crews, likewise the shuttle bus/es would also need drivers.

Two sets of trains could be kept on the line, 'held out' just short of a station one on each bank of the river to cover the calls for service.

MEANWHILE:

The city should build the 'Skywalk' from San Marco Station to Aetna and Baptist Hospital, likewise covered bridges/covered walk connections into the Prudential Building, ATT, Omni, Riverplace etc. should come on line. These Skywalks/or surface covered walks would have the effect of making the Skyway a working part of these buildings.

If the mobility plan is ever put into action, a true San Marco station at the FEC RY and Atlantic Blvd would bring the Skyway into it's first true residential area, meaning it would now run from Someplace to Something. JTA should be at the forefront of pursuit of these expansions while we have a local congressman in place that 1. loves the Skyway, 2. Chairs the House Transportation Subcommittee. When the Overland Bridge I-95/Atlantic interchange is built and FEC rail comes on line, this station would be a game changer.

Another avenue to explore, one which a certain Mr. Khan should be very interested in, is an expansion through downtown to the stadium area. I would give a long look at a station near the Baseball Grounds and another north of the Arlington Expressway on A.P.Randolph, effectively giving the Skyway event day crowds, and introducing it to the next true residential area.

Lastly, I would rename the San Marco Station to prevent confusion with a possible expansion southward...

GOODBYE PCT'S

http://www.youtube.com/v/zKM8v0Vdasc?version=3&hl=en_US

PCT'S would be replaced when retired or sold in exchange for downtown ELECTRIC BUSES.

This would change the whole face of JTA... DREAM ON...

OCKLAWAHA

Winding your way down on Water Street
Light in your head and dead on your feet
Well another crazy day, you'll drink the night away
And forget about everything

This city desert makes you feel so cold
It's got so many people but it's got no soul
And it's taken you so long to find out you were wrong
When you thought it held everything

You used to think that it was so easy
You used to say that it was so easy
But you're tryin', you're tryin' now

Another year and then you'd be happy
Just one more year and then you'd be happy
But you're cryin', you're cryin' now

With Apologies to Gerry Rafferty....

+1  Great ideas!!

[Anti redneck]

Ock, are all those photos you have from Jacksonville?

[Anti redneck]

But it's not like we ever fight crowds to board the thing. What about making it 24 hours? Or at least expand the hours to later in the evening and weekends? Or is that too much money and I'm talking crazy talk?

Actually a 18-24 hour schedule would greatly effect ridership. On occasion when there is an event downtown JTA keeps the monorail running until late in the evening, but how many more smaller events can you think of that found the Skyway a virtual ghost train? Extending the Skyway's schedule would also have the added benefit of a designated driver. Ridership increases would make the Skyway a REAL candidate for FTA grants and possible expansion.

The idea?

Extend the Skyways operation between the hours of 5 am and 11 pm at a minimum. Concurrent with the extended hours downtown shuttle buses (aka: PCT or Potato-Chip-Truck-Thinks-Its-A-Trolley) operating the same schedule would stretch the Skyways reach from Central/Hemming/Rosa Parks to cover everything east of Hogan all the way to the stadium/Arena/Metropolitan Park/AP Randolph-Jessie Street areas.

Keep it fare free to serve as a 'transfer train' downtown. Revenue would be captured by wrap advertising, platform advertising and Kiosk leases in the huge vacant spaces within the stations.

After a short trial period to help identify market hours, extended services would operate on call. A late night shuttle bus east side connector could operate Jitney style during these hours.

The 'Automated Skyway Express' actually needs at least two persons to operate it over at Skyway Central. Late night operation would require hiring and training a couple of two man night crews, likewise the shuttle bus/es would also need drivers.

Two sets of trains could be kept on the line, 'held out' just short of a station one on each bank of the river to cover the calls for service.

MEANWHILE:

The city should build the 'Skywalk' from San Marco Station to Aetna and Baptist Hospital, likewise covered bridges/covered walk connections into the Prudential Building, ATT, Omni, Riverplace etc. should come on line. These Skywalks/or surface covered walks would have the effect of making the Skyway a working part of these buildings.

If the mobility plan is ever put into action, a true San Marco station at the FEC RY and Atlantic Blvd would bring the Skyway into it's first true residential area, meaning it would now run from Someplace to Something. JTA should be at the forefront of pursuit of these expansions while we have a local congressman in place that 1. loves the Skyway, 2. Chairs the House Transportation Subcommittee. When the Overland Bridge I-95/Atlantic interchange is built and FEC rail comes on line, this station would be a game changer.

Another avenue to explore, one which a certain Mr. Khan should be very interested in, is an expansion through downtown to the stadium area. I would give a long look at a station near the Baseball Grounds and another north of the Arlington Expressway on A.P.Randolph, effectively giving the Skyway event day crowds, and introducing it to the next true residential area.

Lastly, I would rename the San Marco Station to prevent confusion with a possible expansion southward...

GOODBYE PCT'S

http://www.youtube.com/v/zKM8v0Vdasc?version=3&hl=en_US

PCT'S would be replaced when retired or sold in exchange for downtown ELECTRIC BUSES.

This would change the whole face of JTA... DREAM ON...

OCKLAWAHA

Winding your way down on Water Street
Light in your head and dead on your feet
Well another crazy day, you'll drink the night away
And forget about everything

This city desert makes you feel so cold
It's got so many people but it's got no soul
And it's taken you so long to find out you were wrong
When you thought it held everything

You used to think that it was so easy
You used to say that it was so easy
But you're tryin', you're tryin' now

Another year and then you'd be happy
Just one more year and then you'd be happy
But you're cryin', you're cryin' now

With Apologies to Gerry Rafferty....

And one more thing... Ock, why don't you consider running the JTA?

[exnewsman]

Any recent word on:

1. Ridership numbers?
2. Likelihood of permanent no fare policy?

I was just about to ask that.

At 50 cents a ride - 1800-1900/day
Free - 3100/day

[Jdog]

Thank you. 

[Ocklawaha]

Tell you what boys and girls, if Mayor Brown would approve it, I will work with an administrator and plan our transit projects for free... Give me a company car and expenses.

[Ocklawaha]

Ock, are all those photos you have from Jacksonville?

Sadly as I recall, none of them were. I posted them to demonstrate the corridor could be a 'tourist attraction' in it's own right, scenic overlook for the city skyline and a vital connector for the Skyway, hospital and insurance workers. Transportation starts with the shoes on our feet.

[duvaldude08]

Tell you what boys and girls, if Mayor Brown would approve it, I will work with an administrator and plan our transit projects for free... Give me a company car and expenses.

How can we get this arranged?? 

[Anti redneck]

Tell you what boys and girls, if Mayor Brown would approve it, I will work with an administrator and plan our transit projects for free... Give me a company car and expenses.

Tell us what we need to do!

[fsujax]

The Skyway will remain free through September 2012.

[thelakelander]

and then what?

[tufsu1]

and then the new Director can figur it out