Nat Ford: Why Jax should invest in the future of transportation, Downtown

[thelakelander]

Ford: "In the US, we're talking about this like it's new and cutting edge, but in other parts of the world [they're doing this]...the challenge for us is the actual aerial structure conversion...The technology is coming."

So which is it? Are AVs the wave of the future that will set Jacksonville apart, as you've boasted repeatedly, or are they well-established transit solutions and we're just behind the curve? Is the technology ready to use, or is it coming? We're comfortable with the vehicles, even though we haven't chosen one? Good old concrete construction is the big obstacle?

Just a bunch of made-up nonsense that a substantial number of CMs are buying into.

Just a bunch of whatever gets them money from a pretty clueless set of councilmembers when it comes to transportation issues and infrastructure. They need to put some caveats in to protect taxpayers from this thing going haywire and blowing a ton of money. Unfortunately, not much is being discussed from this perspective.

I also wouldn't put too much into any renderings of Bay Street at this point. They'll need to get into design and have a lot more public involvement before something credible and realistic can be produced.

[marcuscnelson]

DeFoor's amendment failed, 4-13.

[thelakelander]

Not surprising. Most of that 13 would have voted for spending $379 million of LOGT revenue on the U2C project.

[Charles Hunter]

Defoor amendment fails 4-13

Now Diamond (?) amendment to give all $$ to COJ

[marcuscnelson]

^ it was Ferraro's amendment. He accidentally voted against it so now they're voting again.

[Charles Hunter]

Defoor amendment fails 4-13

Now Diamond (?) amendment to give all $$ to COJ

My bad Ferraro - going to revote, but was 0-16 first time

[jaxlongtimer]

DeFoor's amendment failed, 4-13.

Very unfortunate.  It is so obvious that the U2C is not anywere close to a fully baked project and is more likely than not to be a black hole sucking up funding for a lifetime.  I just can't understand why the majority of the Council can't let go of it.  Especially given the overwhelming community opposition to it making it politically easy and acceptable roadkill.  I hated Lot J as I thought it had no chance to succeed but, that said, it had a better chance than the U2C.

[Charles Hunter]

Ferraro amend 2-16 loss

Why is it so hard for Council members to pick the YES or the No button?

[marcuscnelson]

It is done. 14-5. Becton, Cumber, DeFoor, Diamond, and Ferraro were no's.

[Charles Hunter]

Septic tanks passed 18-0

[Tacachale]

^Marcus, it looks like DeFoor is listening based on the amendments up for consideration today. I don't have the option to attach a picture, but the amendments being considered are:

• Cumber: Require funds to be used on a pay go basis and not borrowed (Failed 4-15)
• Boylan: Require 3-year tracking tracking for project timelines, priorities, and cost to be posted on City website for public
• Boylan: Require compliance with Florida Ethics provisions
• DeFoor: Remove the U2C and Skyway Rehab projects from the JTA list
• Ferraro: Remove split with JTA; all funds will go to city

I had contacted Morgan and Salem pitching your amendment, so hopefully they will support DeFoor's amendment.

Cumber's amendment is the kind of thing you propose when you value looking like you're fiscally responsible over making a sound policy. That would have hamstrung the whole thing. I'm glad most of the rest of Council thought better of it.

[jaxoNOLE]

It is done. 14-5. Becton, Cumber, DeFoor, Diamond, and Ferraro were no's.

Wider passage margin than I expected. Time to start hoping JTA secretly knows what they're doing.

[thelakelander]

The better hope is that what's out there will evolve to be better for the end user by the time JTA actually builds anything. It would be hopeful that they complete Bay Street before screwing around with the Skyway infrastructure. That will at least save/protect a couple of hundred million in local tax dollars. In the meantime, there needs to be a local push to get the U2C operating on dedicated transit lanes as opposed to running in mixed traffic. That means convincing the DIA moreso than JTA.

[marcuscnelson]

Ford said today that it'd be about two years for them to go to bid on the conversion. By then, based on their timeline they'd be months or a year away from opening Bay Street.

Side note, on the way back to my car I ended up behind the JTA team, they're totally pumped. And I guess credit to them there, they sold Council on a quarter-billion dollars for their future project. I'd be pumped too. Apparently I got a little too close to Ford at one point and David Cawton stopped me.

[thelakelander]

I like Nat Ford but when it comes to the U2C and timeline, I don't believe much of what him or anyone at JTA have to say. So much of this is outside of their control and there's no telling what the unknowns of today will reveal tomorrow, in terms of timeline and cost.

Kudos to the JTA team. They shot for the moon and while they did not get it, they did secure $240 million in local dedicated funding for a big pet project. That's a huge coup for any type of public transit project. I'm also happy that the Emerald Trail ended up with a big source of funding as well, when just a few weeks ago, politicians were claiming it wasn't eligible at all. That move will play out to be more beneficial to Jax than any other project in the LOGT.