$500 Million Available for 2015 TIGER Grants

[JFman00]

DOT welcomes the return of our favorite TIGER

What projects will Jacksonville be submitting this time around?

[Charles Hunter]

I would guess JTA will try again for the Brooklyn Skyway Station, and system upgrades.  They tried the last 2 times.

[KenFSU]

I would guess JTA will try again for the Brooklyn Skyway Station.

The timing has never been better.

Put up a no-frills station at first, toss in weekend service, and you've got the makings of a much more useful system.

[Jaxson]

I would guess JTA will try again for the Brooklyn Skyway Station.

The timing has never been better.



Put up a no-frills station at first, toss in weekend service, and you've got the makings of a much more useful system.

+1,000

[jaxjaguar]

Agree about adding the no frills spur  / adding weekend hours.

I was recently at Disney and noticed several things about their monorail system that made me question ours. The first thing I noticed was how small the support pillars are compared to the SkyWay's and how narrow/unobtrusive the guide beams are. The support pillars are only about 8' (many are no more than 6') in diameter at their widest point and the guide beam is only 26" wide!

The other thing I noticed was the scale of their trains compared to ours. I feel like our current tracks are designed waaaaaay beyond any realistic capacity for larger, future trains. The amount of extra material used just on the pillars and beams seems like enough to extend the whole line a few extra miles...

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but couldn't we bring the cost of constructing additional spurs for the SkyWay down significantly by altering the new tracks to use the least amount of material possible? I mean as much as we hate on Orlando and Disney, I feel like there's something to be learned here.

[Charles Hunter]

In a word, "Yes" future extensions could use the Disney mono-beam style - if JTA wants to commit to that technology.  I think someone posted that they are about to begin a study evaluating the entire system.  The original system used four-wheel vehicles that needed two tracks to run on.  I think the current structure could handle street-cars / light rail vehicles.

[ProjectMaximus]

you discovered for yourself what Ock and Lake have been saying over and over for years. Yes, the skyway could and should be built for far less per mile, the only debate is whether there's any sense in pouring more money into the system.

I'd say yes.

[tufsu1]

I think someone posted that they are about to begin a study evaluating the entire system.  The original system used four-wheel vehicles that needed two tracks to run on.  I think the current structure could handle street-cars / light rail vehicles.

actually the study has been underway for several months.  I think they expect some initial answers this spring

[DuvalHusky]

The downtown side of the Matthews Bridge near the MLK connector, APR, and stadium exits have all reached their life expectancy. They should be replaced and widened using modern aesthetics.

[tufsu1]

^ TIGER grants are for projects that are basically ready to go.  Since the MLK connector/APR/Mathews Bridge corridor does not even have a completed environmental study, that would not be a viable candidate. 

Also, it would likely use at least 25% of the $500 million available nationwide itself...and that's with a state/local match of 50%!

[spuwho]

^ TIGER grants are for projects that are basically ready to go.  Since the MLK connector/APR/Mathews Bridge corridor does not even have a completed environmental study, that would not be a viable candidate. 

Also, it would likely use at least 25% of the $500 million available nationwide itself...and that's with a state/local match of 50%!

A PD&E was done for the Mathews Bridge replacement by RS&H under contract to FDOT.  It covered from University Blvd west and included the MLK interchange.

This excerpt from the FDOT website www.mathewsbridge.com

What areas will be addressed in this study?
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has begun a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study to identify the best improvement alternative for the Mathews Bridge/Arlington Expressway Corridor.

Mathews Bridge
- Alignment
- Use Existing Bridge
- Replace Existing Bridge

Downtown Area/East Jacksonville
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Expressway Interchange
- Missing Link
- Access to Sports Complex and Downtown

Arlington Expressway
- Frontage Roads
- 8 Lanes
- Interchange Improvements
- Community and Business Access


The PD&E Study is scheduled to be completed in approximately 30 months, beginning with the notice to proceed in December, 2002 and ending with the location design acceptance by the Federal Highway Administration.


My understanding is that the hearings were held and public input completed. 2 options were provided and then it stopped due to lack of FDOT funding and delays from JTA on getting express bus funding.

It got tossed into the BJP-2 proposals in 2012 and JTA put a PM on it.

DESCRIPTION: Planning - FDOT is conducting a Project Development and Environmental (PD&E) Study.

STATUS
Current Activity: Selection of the recommended alternative is ongoing. Additional information is available at http://www.mathewsbridge.com/.

Funding: The revised BJP Program provides $3.3 million for the PD&E Study.

Schedule: The PD&E Study schedule is being revised to accommodate additional documentation on the significance of the Mathews Bridge.

DBE/MBE: DBE participation will conform with FDOT policies.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: Eastern terminus of project at Southside Blvd. and the future depressed areas of Arlington Expressway at Mill Creek Road. There is no funding identified for future phases. Provision of transit corridor.

PROJECT MANAGER: Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)

[tufsu1]

^ the study was never completed

[thelakelander]

I'm not even excited with this new TIGER grant. Since it's out there, we might as well apply for it, but I'd be surprised if Jax landed any money from it.

[thelakelander]

^ the study was never completed

We're talking about something that could very well exceed a billion dollars. Because it costs so much, it's routinely passed down on the list of LRTP priorities. My guess is someone will address the Mathews after it falls in the river!

[Charles Hunter]

^ the study was never completed

We're talking about something that could very well exceed a billion dollars. Because it costs so much, it's routinely passed down on the list of LRTP priorities. My guess is someone will address the Mathews after it falls in the river!

And we got >this< close last fall ...