The Governor Vetoes Duval County 2016

[TheCat]

Money for the St. Johns River Ferry and developing downtown Jacksonville are among the items Gov. Rick Scott has decided to veto.

Overall, Scott is trimming more than $256 million worth of projects out of the state budget Florida lawmakers passed last week. He made the announcement Tuesday.

For the third year in a row, Scott is vetoing $1 million that would have gone to renovate the Mayport Ferry. The city-operated ferry shuttles people and cars across the river at State Road A1A. It's scheduled to be transferred to the ownership of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority this spring.

A JTA spokeswoman said in an email to WJCT: "While we're disappointed Governor Scott vetoed $1 million for the St. Johns River Ferry, it does not affect the transfer of ownership from the City of Jacksonville to the JTA. The St. Johns River Ferry is an integral part of the East Coast Greenway and an iconic landmark in Northeast Florida.  The ferry also makes a significant contribution to the economic vitality of Northeast Florida. Capital funding is crucial to the future success of ferry operations. The funds would have been used to match federal grant dollars for additional fender and slipwall rehabilitation.  JTA will continue to aggressively seek grant funding because it is our intent to provide world class transportation alternatives for our residents and visitors. We are looking forward to the St. Johns River Ferry becoming part of JTA's services." 

Scott also said no to:

$250,000 for storm water improvement at the Jacksonville Arboretum
$300,000 for the Beaver Street Enterprise Center business incubator
$500,000 for Guiding Stars of Duval County
$1 million for a Downtown Investment Authority pilot project called "urban homesteading"
WJCT reached out to Downtown Investment Authority Director Aundra Wallace, but he has not yet returned our call.

Other Northeast Florida vetoes include money for a sewer expansion in West St. Augustine, the widening of the Old Dixie Highway in Nassau County, restoration of the Lightner Museum and the Florida Agricultural Museum in Flagler County.

http://news.wjct.org/post/scott-vetoes-millions-dollars-northeast-florida-projects-lower-years-past

[spuwho]

I rode the ferry this weekend.

JTA already has their logos all over the boats and the signage.

The Heckscher dock rebuild is 50% complete. When you pull in you immediately see the difference between the new and the old.

You have to really read the fare sign, especially for weekend carries.

The transit rates are higher on the weekends. There is a surcharge 2 lines down from the base fare that they say everyone misses.

As far as the service goes, they are still the best.

[UNFurbanist]

Can someone go into a little more detail about what the DIA homesteading program would have been and hoped to accomplish? Scott is the worst modern governor this state has ever had to deal with IMO.

[spuwho]

Can someone go into a little more detail about what the DIA homesteading program would have been and hoped to accomplish? Scott is the worst modern governor this state has ever had to deal with IMO.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_homesteading 

[UNFurbanist]

Ok that is pretty close to what I was thinking. Wow. What a missed opportunity! Really annoying that we have to keep suffering these setbacks. Hopefully we can find an alternative grant or something to help.

[exnewsman]

Can someone go into a little more detail about what the DIA homesteading program would have been and hoped to accomplish? Scott is the worst modern governor this state has ever had to deal with IMO.

JTA did not change the rates. All the rates (including the weekend) hare exactly the same as they were when the city ran the operation. JTA officially takes over on 3/30. Big kickoff on Mayport side on 4/16 with the Friends of the Ferry and JTA.