Extending the Skyway and Bike Share in Jax's Future?

[thelakelander]

^ and not to "de-rail" this thread, but the LRTP Needs Plan has one streetcar line in the Riverside area and another in the San Marco area.  They are not connected, meaning two separate trolley barrns/maintenance facilities will be needed.  Unless of course the big plan is to run the streetcar up onto the Skyway tracks.

The needs plan was missing the streetcar routes from the 2035 LRTP and the 2030 Mobility Plan. Not sure why those were omitted and replaced with projects that will ultimately be proven to be unfeasible but I believe they've been added for evaluation since the initial release of the needs plan.

[IrvAdams]

I read quite a bit of it. Very thorough and very interesting. Looking forward to seeing how the first leg of the BRT works.

[JeffreyS]

My favorite choice is expand skyway to Brooklyn and San Marco and have streetcar interact. However I believe a much more practical Plan is to convert the skyway to a raised streetcar that we could have link to an ever growing streetcar network though out the core.

At all costs scrap the BRT in the core.

[tufsu1]

At all costs scrap the BRT in the core.

that simply isn't going to happen

[JeffreyS]

I just didn't want it to seem like I support taking what little transit we have and duplicating the same routes but I know that plan is religious dogma for JTA at this point.

[Roger904]

We need the bikeshare program now, this year.  It's a relatively small project requiring just $1.5M.  We don't need to tether it to the Skyway.  It would be a huge win for Mayor Brown who doesn't have much to run on except massive scoreboards.  Bikeshare is a hit in other cities and it would be a wonderful addition to Jacksonville.

[mbstout]

So in a year from the JTA's previous attempt at gaining TIGER funds to extend the skyway one stop, they've thrown in a bike share component?
I wholeheartedly agree with the bike share plan but why was it thrown on the end almost as an afterthought? 
It took them a year to add planning-world-buzzword/trend BIKESHARE into the same idea as last year in hopes the grant will come through this time?  Is that JTA's reasoning?  Don't get me wrong, i totally agree that ANY non-asphalt transit OPTIONS added to Jax's fabric are good - even a one stop Skyway extension to Brooklyn.
Bikeshare - it's a FANTASTIC IDEA and good start, but JTA & the City will need to really invest in proper infrastructure improvements.  Jax needs more safely designed streets & roadways for bikes before you start encouraging people to hop on a bike to run errands. 
Would be great to see more station options expand to into Miramar, Spring Park/St. Nicholas, Springfield, & Durkeeville.

Lastly, as MetroJax has promoted in the past - a Pedestrian Path/Bike Lane component to the Fuller Warren would be a blessing to connecting Brooklyn/Five Points/Riverside & San Marco/Baptist/Southbank.  I could almost see it as an extension of the Northbank Riverwalk, ramping up from the Arts Market, hopping under the bridge, connecting to the Southbank Riverwalk.  A shaded (protection from the harsh summer sun or heavy rains) non-steep inclined path with an excellent view of Downtown that accommodates Bikers, Walkers, Fishermen, & Tourists!

[fieldafm]

I wholeheartedly agree with the bike share plan but why was it thrown on the end almost as an afterthought? 

I wouldn't characterize it that way. JTA is interested in bike share and has met with many community partners regarding bike share.

I'm far from a JTA apologist, so I'll give some authentic credence here to the notion that JTA is geniunely serious about bike share. It all (always) comes down to realisitic funidng options. After looking at this for a few years, I just don't see some white knight in shining armor willing to write a check to start a bike share system in Jax... and working with JTA has the added benefit of integrating bike share into a functional transit system (successful implementation must include cooperation, not friction) and having shovel-ready (so to speak) ROW access. Success (with anything) is always contingent when the variables of timing and opportunity line up in harmony.

[jaxlore]

I totally dig the bikeshare idea. But I hope that JTA will incorporate the need for better bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure around the city or you'll have all these people on bikes riding up against same problems and safety concerns that we do today. I still don't feel like there is one good well marked route from Riverside through Downtown and San Marco.

[IrvAdams]

I totally dig the bikeshare idea. But I hope that JTA will incorporate the need for better bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure around the city or you'll have all these people on bikes riding up against same problems and safety concerns that we do today. I still don't feel like there is one good well marked route from Riverside through Downtown and San Marco.

Yes, very important. Agree.

[IrvAdams]

Saw bike share in D.C. and their roads were tight and busy also. Part of it is awareness and signage. Our drivers here need an education.

[finehoe]

Saw bike share in D.C. and their roads were tight and busy also.

They also have some protected bike lanes:  http://www.thewashcycle.com/2012/09/ddot-proposes-extending-the-15th-street-cycletrack-to-euclid.html

[tufsu1]

I totally dig the bikeshare idea. But I hope that JTA will incorporate the need for better bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure around the city or you'll have all these people on bikes riding up against same problems and safety concerns that we do today. I still don't feel like there is one good well marked route from Riverside through Downtown and San Marco.

often times starting a bike share system is the impetus to improving the on-road infrastructure.  That was the case in DC, NYC, and Chicago...and the same is now happening in Tampa and Orlando.

[Buforddawg]

It is STILL a train to nowhere.

[Buforddawg]

Saw bike share in D.C. and their roads were tight and busy also.

They also have some protected bike lanes:  http://www.thewashcycle.com/2012/09/ddot-proposes-extending-the-15th-street-cycletrack-to-euclid.html

Columbus, Ohio also has a bike sharing program.  https://www.cogobikeshare.com/
I think it's a great idea, except Jacksonville is notorious for running over bike riders.  I don't trust the drivers here, no matter how well marked the roadway is.