Let's Tweak The JTA Poll... With Options They Somehow Failed To Provide!

[Ocklawaha]

From the current JTA website:

These are the only choices on the official poll, I thought we should add some 'other' options.

Weekly Poll

How do you feel about JTA's proposed bus system transformation?

_______Can't wait. Very Excited.

_______I'm concerned I won't know what bus to take.

_______Not sure yet. Still studying the plan.

_______Haven't heard about it.

[thelakelander]

I voted not sure yet. I see a redesign of the regular bus system as being necessary, regardless of if rail or BRT comes online at some point in the future. 60 minute headways are not effective. It seems like this system redesign will add a significant number of shorter headways throughout the city. That's a great thing.  However, I haven't studied the plan enough to provide a professional opinion on the routing or roll out.

[exnewsman]

I have a better question. When will Ock stop being an ass and trying to tear down everything. His act got old a long time ago.

[Ocklawaha]

Really?  Improved Bus Service to be sure, but  do you honestly believe this is light rail on rubber tires?
In your expert opinion do you think this is BRT? Based on what? By the international standard score card it doesn't even rank as basic BRT. So I will not stop being an ass or anything else until JTA stops poisoning the water, while pissing on our legs and telling us it's raining. BRT in the form of Transmilenio in Bogota, will indeed produce amazing TOD, but even as a ExNewsman, you must realize that selling this as a magic Transmilenio TOD builder, while failing miserably to actually make a Transmilenio like investment, sets them up for another huge and very public failure. Guess I could shut up, but as a transportation professional that would be irresponsible of me. I am trying to warn everyone, INCLUDING YOU AND JTA, that this is NOT what they are telling the public it is. This IS a badly needed bus service improvement, but it isn't going to do a damn thing economically, spur TOD, or 'Transform Transportation in Jacksonville.' As Lake is so fond of saying this is lipstick on a pig.

Want to see REAL development with BUSES? Easy, use the Arlington Expressway as the mainline east, take it down the center of the expressway, stations have stairs coming down from the overpasses. No cross streets until Regency and signal priority there. This could be 'gold standard' BRT for a song...

Do you really think we are all that stupid? Apparently some of us are, but those of us that understand the industry know this is headed downhill from the get-go. I hope it works, but I'd bet the farm on it's complete failure. As I did in a Skyway article, before it was built, 34 years ago with the late great Newsman George Harmon,

If I must be labeled an 'ass' so be it. I'll gladly take any label you want to toss at me as long as we can get the attention of those in the know and shine a light on this and other projects.

FYI, tonight at a book signing event, I had clandestine meetings with several JTA board and/or executives, we had a great time laughing about these articles and them discussing how they can support my efforts... Yes ASS! Hell maybe I'll change my name! Ass has a ring to it!  XOXOXOX