Skyway Extension - Stadium

[Jason]

With all of the recent talk about the State/Union and the Hart Expressway issues, I've been thinking about what could possibly be done to utilize the existing Hart expressway versus tearing it completely down.

It occured to me that we "could" possibly use portions of the expressway as a structural support for a skyway extension to the sports district.  It would likely only take one half of the overland bridge and gives us a budget concious vehicle to extend the system.

The current Hart Expressway could easily be brought down to grade and tied right into Bay Street, east of Met Park.

What do you guys think?  Is this possible?  Feasible?

[Jason]

A convention center public/private partnership could help to offset some of the costs for a convention center station as well as using the "pink" alternate route (eliminating the Duval Street station). 

Perhaps Mr. Kahn would entertain the idea of helping with funding for the stadium portion.

[5PointsGuy]

This would be pretty awesome. Then extend it to 5-Points down Park Street (an actual residential area? no way!) and we could have ourselves a real, working Skyway!

[JeffreyS]

The Pink route looks like you might get the most bang for the buck. My favorite thing about this plan would be you could sell it to the public as utilizing existing infrastructure.

[JayBird]

Great idea, I saw a plan someone had drawn up that was very similiar to this ... involved closing down Monroe Street from new Courthouse to Hart Expressway ramps, closing off all Expressway from MLK (Meaning the bridge would only connect you to the Stadium right there at Duval? I think and then MLK Expressway.  All the bridges along waterfront would be combined to make an aerial pedestrian/bikeway park (greenway/pedestrian mall/whatever the hipsters are calling it that month).  And Monroe Street would be the same, with a streetcar setup running all the way to almost in front of the stadium (stairway/elevators were included from bridge in plan).  It has been at least a year since I have seen it, but that was the jist of it.

[Mathew1056]

As long as we are on the subject of the Hart Expressway and what to do with it, I figured i would pitch my idea. I'm sure most of you are familiar with the High Line in New York. Converting the Hart Expressway into something similar would create an instant destination for travelers downtown.

[duvaldude08]

This would definately ease game day traffic. I dont even drive down Bay Street on game day. I take the back way down A.Phillip Randolph. No to mention, we would be the ONLY NFL city with a people mover that goes to the stadium.

[Jason]

The Pink route looks like you might get the most bang for the buck. My favorite thing about this plan would be you could sell it to the public as utilizing existing infrastructure.

I think the Pink route is the most appealing from a cost standpoint, although the full Red route would open up the Duval Street area to TOD devlopments.


Matthew, I really love the greenway that New York did.

[urbaknight]

With all of the recent talk about the State/Union and the Hart Expressway issues, I've been thinking about what could possibly be done to utilize the existing Hart expressway versus tearing it completely down.

It occured to me that we "could" possibly use portions of the expressway as a structural support for a skyway extension to the sports district.  It would likely only take one half of the overland bridge and gives us a budget concious vehicle to extend the system.

The current Hart Expressway could easily be brought down to grade and tied right into Bay Street, east of Met Park.


I really like this idea Jason, But is it just an example of what can be done?

Do you have any kind of sway to get the authorities attention?

If not, can we find someone that does?

Or can MJ work its magic and put together a formal presentation?

And finally, can we get a few (if not 9 to 10) members of MJ to run for city council?

IMO that's the only way to get anything that's worthwile for the public. I can almost guarantee that the current leadership and those they would endorse wouldn't even consider it.

[dougskiles]

Jason and Matthew1056, you are on to something here.  The skyway wouldn't take up much of the expressway width, leaving the remainder for an elevated greenway.

[thelakelander]

The Pink route looks like you might get the most bang for the buck. My favorite thing about this plan would be you could sell it to the public as utilizing existing infrastructure.

I think the Pink route is the most appealing from a cost standpoint, although the full Red route would open up the Duval Street area to TOD devlopments.


Matthew, I really love the greenway that New York did.

I like the red route because of the TOD opportunities in the Cathedral District.  I'd think the significant costs would be constructing a link between Hogan and Liberty Streets, so if you've already invested in that link, you might as well go ahead and tap into the Cathedral District.

It may be far fetched but I wonder if something like this could be implemented incrementally, even with the expressway in tact?  For example, would it really impact traffic flow if the expressway was reduced to two lanes, freeing up half of it for the concepts discussed in this thread?

[Jason]

I really like this idea Jason, But is it just an example of what can be done?

Do you have any kind of sway to get the authorities attention?

If not, can we find someone that does?

Or can MJ work its magic and put together a formal presentation?

And finally, can we get a few (if not 9 to 10) members of MJ to run for city council?

IMO that's the only way to get anything that's worthwile for the public. I can almost guarantee that the current leadership and those they would endorse wouldn't even consider it.

Yes, I started this topic just to open up discussions.  I would also back a formal MJ proposal/presentation if we were to decide to push this idea further.


The Hogan to Liberty stretch is probably the hardest to get funding for, however, it is the most important (even if the line stops at Liberty).  This stretch could/should be anchored by a new convention center at the courthouse site allowing the station to be directly tied into to new building.  It would also have to be a two way line that would likely eat up a lane of traffic along Bay Street.

The next hurdle is coordinating with DOT/JTA on a joint venture to repurpose the expressway and tie in the skyway monorail beam and stations.  Also, the stations along that portion would be "taller" because of the elevation of the highway above the street compared to the other stations, which would cost more money to build.

The Met Park station could serve as the line's terminus until funding was secured for the extension to the staduim concourses.  This would be a one way loop around the stadium.

[Ocklawaha]

I'd say the Bay Street Route is superior on account of future development potential, directness and most of all the FACT that most any streetcar plan that taps the Stadium district will use Newnan to Duval/Beaver. A streetcar on Duval would render the Pink and red alternatives redundant.

Also looping the stadium would certainly be cool and would only require a single track, but we'd get more 24/7 usage out of a line that turned north from Bay to AP Randolph with a station located on the west end of the fairgrounds. A future extension of this same line could reach AP Randolph at Union and Jessie making the Skyway THE connection for all of east Jacksonville.

[edjax]

Having just recently experiencing the High Line I think this would be an excellent idea for the elevated roadway. I like keeping it as it does provide a nice covered area for tailgating for Jags games. Make sure the vegetation provided plenty of shade for the summer months. Encourage perhaps each of our local breweries to open small beirgartens on it to provide a fun reason to take it in and enjoy the great views. Also include a permanent kiosks you might see at Disney or even our beloved SJTC to sell ice cream, cotton candy, popcorn, fries etc. Add a few access points along the way with escalator or elevator access that are connected to street car stations at ground level.  What a great addition this could be to downtown. Are you listening Jax2025??

[edjax]

While were at it lets add a zip line area down to the Northbank Riverwalk extension and an area where the kids could either bring their own kites or rent some neat funky kites to fly.