30 Days of Plight. Stephen Dare goes JTA every day.

[Ocklawaha]

Hello Stephendare, Hope I've got Mikes attention. Check out my blog at

http://jacksonvilletransit.blogspot.com/

scroll down the left column and ask yourselves WHY JTA IS NOT part of the NEXT BUS TOOL?

Mike, here is a chance to lead, everybody in town has a computer, laptop or blackberry so why not allow our buses to talk to them right where they are?

Check out the NEXT BUS WIDGET TOOL. there are a couple more similar sites but this one is more USA centered.

Ocklawaha

[Coolyfett]

JTA Skyway
The Skyway is another convenient way to travel to your downtown destinations.

Hours
July 1-3: 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.
July 4: 6 p.m. - Midnight
July 5: 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.

It says at coj.net that the Skyway was to run from 6pm to 12 am on the 4th??? What time were you trying to get on Stephan??

I'm wondering why this would be put on a website and the Skyway was actually shut down.

[gatorback]

Ocklawaha, didn't that line down US17 have 2 rails on it years ago, and CSX decided to save some money by getting removing them?  Couldn't we just put our commuter rail?  How much would that cost to add back the second rail for us?

[Ocklawaha]

Ocklawaha, didn't that line down US17 have 2 rails on it years ago, and CSX decided to save some money by getting removing them?  Couldn't we just put our commuter rail?  How much would that cost to add back the second rail for us?

Yes, though I'd call it a second track...in hopes all track have a second rail...LOL (just pulling your chain) The old Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Mainline from Richmond to YUKON was all double track. The second track came up and the signals were changed in the 1960's prior to the merger with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad. One should remember not to fault the railroads too much on this note as the high tech signals gave more capacity to a single track railroad with passing sidings then the old double track. The right of way is there today, and was never really dug up, the curves were lowered as freight became more common then passengers. Otherwise, yes for about $4 Million a mile, new track could go on a ready line like this.

Ock, I am going to take your advice and include the details for the transit folks.  Would it be better at the beginning or end of the essays?  Also is there any other information that would be useful?

Equipment type... make and age (if you can choke it out of the driver)
Faults... bad doors, window rattle, loose seats etc.
Engine...Quiet, smokey etc.
Crowd and Hour... Surfers, Geeks, professionals
Any consistantly busy stops, include any that SHOULD have shelter, maps, signs etc. (I know they all should but being real here, lets try and help ID the ones JTA missed)
driver name
any rude driver gets his name in shame on your post.
Missed connections, where the driver waits for the guy to get to the door and laughs as he pulls away.
DETAILS DETAILS DETAILS
Oh and don't forget the buses running on retreads that are stamped MAX SPEED 35 MPH, tooling along at 60 down Roosevelt.

Your gonig to do this City and JTA a HUGE service Stephendare. IF Mike reads this, I'll challenge him to GIVE you, myself, Lake and any other volunteers a month pass and a notebook, and we'll show em what we can do.

Ocklawaha

[Ocklawaha]

Look at the sidewalls of the tires, you'll see obvious signs. For example the words Goodyear but only the bottom half of the words are visible. Then there is this extra rubber/black layer from Midwall around the tire to the other side midwall. Bottom line, look for half words on the old tire, and new stamping on the new part that say MAX SPEED XXX. Very interesting if you can get a photo. Illegal as hell to speed on them.

Ocklawaha

[Ocklawaha]

Stephen, this is an EXTREME example of a retred, but it gives graphic evidence of where to look, check that sidewall.

Ocklawaha

[walter]

Color me unimpressed with "Sunday Service".   It now sounds like an especially dirty trick practiced in one of the more vicious order of bordellos.

JTA.  seriously.  WTF are you people thinking.

sounds to me like a perfectly reasonable system in Jacksontucky.  What do you want, this is hooterville.

[gatorback]

a little bit better customer service?

[gatorback]

CapMetro was on a Sunday schedule today.  I didn't know about it.  I freeken missed the 383 by 30 seconds and the maggot driver saw me and didn't wait.  It took 2 hours for the next bus to come.  But, I hope your monday was better.  I think it's luck of the draw on the drivers, or are you seeing a trend that just says screw you JTA rider?

[gatorback]

Lucky you got one of the better drivers today I take it.

[Lunican]

What is JTA's policy on drivers using cell phones?

[BridgeTroll]

How about the policy regarding name tags?

[gatorback]

call the super from your cell phone next time and wait on the super to arrive....report that please???

[Driven1]

thanks for the emails to the three of you that responded.

Great points.

no problem man.

[Downtown Dweller]

Can you talk to them about bus drivers that attempt to hit pedestrians, bikers, and cars...you know just pulling out or turning whenever they feel like it as if the rules and laws of the road don't apply to them?