Trolleys to roll into Five Points

[Ocklawaha]

so Ock...why has ridership on the Tampa line not increased over the 5+ years its been open...especially sxince it paralells a whole bunch of new development...could it be that it caters almost soley to tourists?

Speaking of the new development, there is a strong argument that it was not spurred by the streetcar...

Interesting comments my friend. The ridership HAS increased from 430,000 to the 440,000, it's just not quite what they thought. Tampa is almost unique in this as the other 50+ cities to rebuild streetcars have blown their ridership projections out of the water. I think the whole project suffers from Florida's foot dragging-too little-too late mental picture of transit. They really didn't plan this as anything but a tiny mile of "San Francisco" in Ybor City for the Mickey Mouse crowd. Bad Idea. Yet this tiny infant tourist ride with 4 trolleys operating is looking for 44 times our Riverside "PCT Trolley" ridership. Moreover they are approaching the 500,000 mark and have sponsors to assure the future and extend it into the City so it will become a major Transit link. One of the things they did RIGHT from the start is build it so the heritage trolleys and the modern LRV or Modern Streetcars could all use the same line. To do this cost them some pocket change, but the result is they have the core of regional Light Rail already in place in the tourist area. Bottom line, this mighty midget will carry 1/20Th the annual passengers of the entire JTA systems...all of them combined.

As for development, simply ask the developers, they'll tell you straight up that they go where trolleys are going. Ask in Portland, San Diego, Memphis, Charlotte, Houston, Dallas... Hell, even ask in Tacoma and El Reno Oklahoma, where either system is about 1 mile length... Tacoma is buried in new construction and El Reno went from Prairie ghost to bustling tourist town.

The plan we have laid out for Jacksonville will compliment the Skyway, it will feed and feed from the Skyway, and the buses. It could retire many of the downtown bus routes. It would eventually tie the Stadium with the Union Station/Prime Osbourne Transportation Center...as well as...St. Vincents with University Hospital. Park and King, 5-Points, Water Street, Landing, Omni, Hyatt, Newnan, Arena, Stadium, Baseball Grounds, City Hall, Metropolitan Lofts., Veterans Administration Clinic, Main Street Springfield. In the words of Galaxy Quest, I'll wager any of you that the return of Jacksonville Traction will be like pouring gasoline on a flame!

Welcome Aboard, WELCOME!

Ocklawaha
Sorry for the late reply, but I was on I-95 wishing there were a train to take me to the places I had to go this weekend!!

[gatorback]

Well, don't you think now that gas has gone through the roof that more people will be riding?  Surely, and I don't mean to call you Sherly, there is proof that more people are riding mass trans because of the high price of fuel.

[Ocklawaha]

Always on the wrong flight anyway!

Ever get that "sick" feeling when you fly?

Surely you know that I wouldn't have driven at all had there been a train. I understand about the price of gas but don't call me shirley. In fact I could have flown if I wasn't watching a gladiator movie in a locker room with my pal's Captain Over, Clarence, and Roger Murdock. Normally Ted Striker drops in on us and we have to sit through his sad story of George Zip, Ted has a drinking problem and the more he drinks the more he talks about winning one for the zipper.

Yes Gatorback, those were the days!

Ocklawaha

[Coolyfett]

also, nobody really cares what the trolleys really are...other than Ock!

I'm not so sure about that one. That thing is a bus.

I hope the community enjoys riding that thing. It would be better off if they would just extend the right of way Skyway down to the corner of Park and Post across the street from that church, but JTA wants to keep buying gas.  .

The ways of the turtle rules supreme.........

the point of my argument is that people will still ride...as the # are showing....

I hope they do man. Really I hope the people are riding it. The numbers are showing right now, which is good. I personally feel JTA could have made a better choice connecting 5 Points to downtown. This trolley/bus just doesn't say long term to me. Some people want the best RIGHT NOW. I commend you for your patience.

[Webini]

Coolyfett 


I took the Trolley everyday last week and traffic was never an issue. But, parking was the real issue, not the traffic.

[thelakelander]

• With the 50 cent fee in place for almost two weeks now, ridership for the Riverside Trolley is down, said Jacksonville Transit Authority’s Director of External Affairs Mike Miller. “We expected the drop, but ridership is still much, much better than we projected.” Following the opening two-week free rides that averaged 637 riders a day, the first week of paid ridership dipped to an average of 407 riders a day. Miller attributes that to the fees and the holiday weekend, but said initial JTA projections were only 120 riders a day.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/citynotes.php

[second_pancake]

I haven't ridden the trolley yet...haven't found myself down that way in order to use it as of late.

I have a question about Ock's sign.  I mean, he left off the best seating in row 69, wtf?  ;-)

[Jason]

• With the 50 cent fee in place for almost two weeks now, ridership for the Riverside Trolley is down, said Jacksonville Transit Authority’s Director of External Affairs Mike Miller. “We expected the drop, but ridership is still much, much better than we projected.” Following the opening two-week free rides that averaged 637 riders a day, the first week of paid ridership dipped to an average of 407 riders a day. Miller attributes that to the fees and the holiday weekend, but said initial JTA projections were only 120 riders a day.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/citynotes.php

Hmmm...

[Ocklawaha]

Who would have thunk it? 407,000 riders a year and falling? Gee at this rate, they only need to find 307,000 more riders to catch the Skyway @3,000 per day and 261 business days M/L a year. Wonder which one will fail first? The FAKE PCT TROLLEY or the MONORAIL TO NOWHERE!

Ocklawaha

[gatorback]

Ocklawaha:  Come on man.  Don't you have faith in the JTA to cook better then that? ROFL