Acosta Bridge LED Lights across span

[Jagsdrew]

https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2019/01/23/residents-will-see-new-colors-in-downtowns-skyline.html?iana=hpmvp_jac_news_headline

Acosta Bridge is finally replacing the blue lights that spanned across the bridge with new LED lights that will be able to change colors based off events or season.

Project is planned to start in late 2019/2020. Miller Electric will do the $2.5 million dollar work and will be financed by JTA over the next 10 years.

[heights unknown]

https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2019/01/23/residents-will-see-new-colors-in-downtowns-skyline.html?iana=hpmvp_jac_news_headline

Acosta Bridge is finally replacing the blue lights that spanned across the bridge with new LED lights that will be able to change colors based off events or season.

Project is planned to start in late 2019/2020. Miller Electric will do the $2.5 million dollar work and will be financed by JTA over the next 10 years.

Good, real good.

[marcuscnelson]

Nice.

[jaxrox]

Look forward to seeing it

[aubureck]

I'm excited to see this.

[Papa33]

What does it mean that the project will be financed over the next ten years?  Like credit and payment is built into the yearly budget?

[Steve]

What does it mean that the project will be financed over the next ten years?  Like credit and payment is built into the yearly budget?

Effectively yes. Think of it like JTA throwing the cost on their AMEX. They just budget the debt payment.

[Kerry]

What does it mean that the project will be financed over the next ten years?  Like credit and payment is built into the yearly budget?

Effectively yes. Think of it like JTA throwing the cost on their AMEX. They just budget the debt payment.

Is any local agency not capable of paying cash for anything?  I'm all for getting the lights back on but if history is any indication we will be paying for this 8 years after the system craps out (see Friendship Fountain, southbank LED lighting, burned out bulbs on the Hart Bridge, etc...).

JTA really doesn't have $2.5 million they can just pay in full with?  Is Miller Electric self-financing or is JTA going to have sell some tax-free bonds to cover the costs.  I think I hate paying interest on stuff more than anything else.

[jaxnyc79]

https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2019/01/23/residents-will-see-new-colors-in-downtowns-skyline.html?iana=hpmvp_jac_news_headline

Acosta Bridge is finally replacing the blue lights that spanned across the bridge with new LED lights that will be able to change colors based off events or season.

Project is planned to start in late 2019/2020. Miller Electric will do the $2.5 million dollar work and will be financed by JTA over the next 10 years.

Lipstick on a pig...

I'm slightly kidding:).  Too bad we can't re-appropriate $2.5 million from Government's Bridge-Lighting Fund to so many other purposes in a focused part of the Northbank Core.

[Kerry]

Since we are going to light it up teal for the Jags maybe Khan can throw us taxpayers a bone a pay for it out of his pocket.

[jaxlongtimer]

Is any local agency not capable of paying cash for anything?  I'm all for getting the lights back on but if history is any indication we will be paying for this 8 years after the system craps out (see Friendship Fountain, southbank LED lighting, burned out bulbs on the Hart Bridge, etc...).

Nice of JTA to "beautify" the City but $2.5 million for LED's?  I thought their prices had dropped a lot more than that.  Add, the far less power needs of LED's and I would think the existing wiring would more than suffice.  The current lighting system appears to be neon strips.

Regardless, the City spent millions on these lighting projects for the SuperBowl in 2005 and much of the lighting was defunct within a couple of years.  Check out the LED American flag lights that were on the towers of the Main Street Bridge.  Don't recall those?  That's because they failed soon after the final whistle for the game was blown.  For the millions spent, don't these systems come with some longer term warranties?  Most LED lights sold at retail claim 5 year minimum lives so why don't we taxpayers get the same?

[Kerry]

Interesting - the failed Main St bridge flag lights were also installed by Miller Electric.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20050131005176/en/OptiLED-Lamps-Illuminate-Jacksonvilles-Main-Street-Bridge

[thelakelander]

Is any local agency not capable of paying cash for anything?  I'm all for getting the lights back on but if history is any indication we will be paying for this 8 years after the system craps out (see Friendship Fountain, southbank LED lighting, burned out bulbs on the Hart Bridge, etc...).

Nice of JTA to "beautify" the City but $2.5 million for LED's?  I thought their prices had dropped a lot more than that.  Add, the far less power needs of LED's and I would think the existing wiring would more than suffice.  The current lighting system appears to be neon strips.

Regardless, the City spent millions on these lighting projects for the SuperBowl in 2005 and much of the lighting was defunct within a couple of years.  Check out the LED American flag lights that were on the towers of the Main Street Bridge.  Don't recall those?  That's because they failed soon after the final whistle for the game was blown.  For the millions spent, don't these systems come with some longer term warranties?  Most LED lights sold at retail claim 5 year minimum lives so why don't we taxpayers get the same?

Likely a different funding pot, but we can leave the bridges dark and invest that type of expense somewhere else.....more bus shelters, complete streets, two-waying DT streets, dedicated transit lanes, etc. Sort of like the old city hall and courthouse site. Could have issued and RFP and sold (or given) them to the private sector, and spent that $8 million on really fixing up Hemming, the Northbank Riverwalk, Landing, two-way streets, lighting streets, insert your public realm investment dream here, etc.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Haters get out of line. I'm looking forward to this being replaced. The rest of what Lake mentioned can still get done. Good grief!,, and let's take a shot at the Jags while we're at it. How pathetic.

[thelakelander]

^No hate or need to take a shot at the Jags. I hope they can put a better season together next year. Anyway, I'll still sleep like a baby but just tossing my opinion out there like you and the others. The other things can still get done but I wouldn't hold my breath on them happening because they aren't priorities at the moment.