Time for JTA Skyway to Brooklyn?

[Cheshire Cat]

The question of skyway expansion is not new but with the development planned for Brooklyn wouldn't now be the time for JTA and Jacksonville to take a long overdue step and extend the skyway?  I think so.  I wonder if anyone has any idea as to what the cost's per mile would be for such an undertaking?  It would seem that an extension to Brooklyn would be a win for transportation and downtown.  It might also put some excitement behind expansion to other areas.  It's time to grow the skyway and by extension bring more life to the core!

[urbaknight]

I saw the SkyWay packed during the OneSpark festival. There's now proof that people will ride if there's a reason to. And if they were to extend it far enough, people would pay to use it.

[Cheshire Cat]

I saw the SkyWay packed during the OneSpark festival. There's now proof that people will ride if there's a reason to. And if they were to extend it far enough, people would pay to use it.

Truth and the people riding were enjoying it.  Seriously, if it actually went outside of the downtown parameters it would see much more use.  For the past several years no politician wanted to touch the issue.  With the push of City Hall and private industries behind downtown, this is clearly the time to move from the stigma of seeing the skyway as a "White Elephant" when in fact it could now grow to be a viable transportation asset.

[thelakelander]

We asked this question in an article back in December.  There was a ton of feedback and discussion at the time.  Here's a link:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-dec-the-role-of-mass-transit-in-brooklyns-renaissance

[Cheshire Cat]

Thanks Ennis.  Do you think JTA and city officials would be a bit more willing to consider this after the success of One Spark?  Also in looking that the article using the link above, I see figures for streetcar expansion.  Do you know of any figures regarding cost per mile for skyway extension? 

[thelakelander]

At it's cheapest, probably $20 million or more per mile.  However, if you put an no-frills stop at the O&M center, the costs would be significantly lower because the Skyway is already there.  Personally, I think once you talk about really extending it, you have to seriously evaluate if you're better off, leaving it as is and complementing it with a cheaper fixed streetcar system that penetrates deeply into Riverside.

As far as the JTA and COJ, the best chance for better fixed transit funding in the downtown area will come with the creation of the DIA's CRA plan.

[Cheshire Cat]

I see your point Ennis.  Are you talking streetcars on rails?

[thelakelander]

Yes. If the goal is to connect downtown and surrounding neighborhoods with real reliable fixed (ex. meaning the route doesn't disappear or relocate overnight), it will be cheaper and easier to get a streetcar extended into Riverside than the Skyway.

[Cheshire Cat]

Yes. If the goal is to connect downtown and surrounding neighborhoods with real reliable fixed (ex. meaning the route doesn't disappear or relocate overnight), it will be cheaper and easier to get a streetcar extended into Riverside than the Skyway.

I could get behind this in a nano second.  I think now more than ever before connectivity is key to the growth folks want downtown and elsewhere.

[thelakelander]

The cost of the streetcar line connecting downtown to Riverside is supposed to be funded 100% by the mobility fee.  Unfortunately, when council refuses to collect a fee for new development, projects like this continue to get pushed into the distant future.

[Rynjny]

I think they should extended it to the sports complex first.

[thelakelander]

I think they should extended it to the sports complex first.

It would likely draw less ridership, serve less residents and spur less economic development while costing twice as much.

[Rynjny]

I think they should extended it to the sports complex first.

It would likely draw less ridership, serve less residents and spur less economic development while costing twice as much.

I agree, maybe later if they have some development for the shipyard then they would consider extending it to the sport complex.

[Cheshire Cat]

The cost of the streetcar line connecting downtown to Riverside is supposed to be funded 100% by the mobility fee.  Unfortunately, when council refuses to collect a fee for new development, projects like this continue to get pushed into the distant future.

Reading this and realizing how true it is makes me just plain angry at the leadership that allows this to continue in order to preserve political favor and standing with certain entities in this city over what is good for the entire community.  It's flat wrong no matter how cleverly it is spun to appear otherwise.

[Ocklawaha]

Stephendare, LOL ROFLMAO

Rynjny, streetcar has a significant advantage over the Skyway running NORTH from the stadium to Gateway. private-(city owned)-right-of-way extends from the back of the Maxwell House Plant all the way to Gateway. It would make a fantastic lineal Parkway, with streetcar, bike, and pedestrian trail running side by side OFF STREET. Add this to the streetcar from the area of Beaver and AP Randolph to Park and King in Riverside and we'd have a pretty amazing start on a massive infill generator.

Cheshire Cat, we currently have a story in the pipeline on another WIN-WIN angle on bringing the Skyway to Brooklyn and mixing that with a fantastic historic preservation move. I will be speaking with Mr. Ford and the Mayor's office next week on this and a couple of other projects.