JTA BRT MEETING UPDATE REPORT

[Ocklawaha]

Today from 11 AM-1 PM and from 4-6 PM. BRT is still on the road to reality in Jacksonville. The current routes have dwindled to Jefferson and Broad between Union/State and the Acosta Bridge. This stretch through LaVilla, might be a good idea and really help the neighborhood get moving again. A connection with the Skyway and Streetcar at Bay and Water would make it even more useful. While this is a short segment, done right it would set the stage for the whole of a passive BRT type system. A lighter, less costly version, that relys on current roadway with improvements, landscaping, curb, pedestrian and bikeways, shelters and turnouts. As I said, good choice of roads, good route to Rosa Parks and good looking plans.

Part two of the Northbank is on Bay and Forsyth West of Broad and Jefferson. For the most part this simple "branchline" just ties the main BRT routes into the new Transit Center Station located North of the Jacksonville Terminal Skyway Station. We touched on the tunnels, and I added public comment about opening up the tunnels all the way through to the Skyway, JTA and Greyhound. Done right, there could even be some small kiosk size spaces built into the sides that would offer an "underground Jacksonville shopping experience" to the station complex.

Part three of the JTA plan is the Southbank, and this is where I split with them on the route of choice. Right down Riverplace, and right under the Skyway this has to be the dumbest (but cheapest) route available. It seems to have been made as the "Walmart" version of BRT rather then "Saks". It comes off the Acosta and ducks under the Skyway and stays that way right through to the end! Uggh!

In public comments I added that we miss 9,000 employees at Atnea, Prudential and Baptist by 2 blocks or less. No shelter, no skywalk, no bus, nothing... So I suggested that we revisit the idea of a flyover off of the Acosta and having the BRT come down on Palm Avenue. This would allow for an elevated station at Atnea and Skywalks into both it and the hospital. After the route ducks under I-95 it turns East on Gary Street. Gary is a "sometimes there-sometimes not" sort of side street that plays I-95 ramp at one point then in another spot or two, just quits. I we could make Gary into a two lane, two way busway, cross up and OVER the FEC, NW of the FEC - Hendricks crossing. In fact the busway could even have a trolley track in it to allow future streetcars or LRT to roll over the FEC.

By using GARY Street we wouldn't duplicate the Skyway. Also, we would avoid the ages old FEC traffic backup. Done this way all Southbank buses would leave and arrive at the Kings Avenue Station, and between Kings and Downtown, the bus traffic would cover the SOUTH and WEST sides of Southbank. The Skyway would cover the EAST AND NORTH sides of southbankl. To tie the whole mix together and to San Marco Center, a streetcar and or an electric bus would cover the distance.

Mike Miller, Scott Clem, Ms Teaple, Victoria, and another 5 or 6 staff mermbers and planners were present.
I never saw Mike Blaylock at this event, even though it was in City Hall. It also seemed to be completely ignored by City Hall. The formal presentations played for a crowd of perhaps 50 in the AM and another 50 in the PM hours.

Several very interesting speakers went after me, to add to what I brought out about streetcars, Skyway, good planning and NOT to duplicate. In short, I told them PLEASE, lets stay off BAY, and WATER with BRT.
The developers for Bay Street Station were there and were promoting their narrow gauge trolley from BSS to the Landing.

All in all, it was interesting and much less confrontational then former events.

OCKLAWAHA