Emails reveal FDOT concerns over U2C

[thelakelander]

Funding has never been our issue. That's a benefit of consolidation. Unfortunately, vision and follow through has been a struggle.  But yeah. Imagine what we'd could fund with the amount of local money set aside for the U2C. We're in the cost per mile of streetcars, LRT and real BRT, but we're getting an unproven gimmick that will serve a handful of people and not spur TOD.

[jaxlongtimer]

If we are lucky, the Feds shot their Jax wad with funding the Emerald Trail this week and we are now off US DOT's radar for a good while so U2C moves to the bottom of any list for funding.

[marcuscnelson]

If we are lucky, the Feds shot their Jax wad with funding the Emerald Trail this week and we are now off US DOT's radar for a good while so U2C moves to the bottom of any list for funding.

It's not even about luck. It's a bad project. Even if we went to Washington with the full $250 million to match, the U2C would not successfully rank in the scoring well enough to be awarded funding. Philadelphia had a similar project with this problem (although it was a rail line, not... this), too much money for too few riders and too many NIMBYs choking out TOD, so the FTA said they wouldn't touch it. Now Philadelphia is pushing for good projects and surprise surprise, money is heading their way, just like with the Emerald Trail.

The meager federal funding the U2C has received was 1) mostly given by an administration much more willing to tolerate this kind of thing, back when maybe it made an ounce more sense and 2) were comparatively tiny grants given through discretionary programs that don't require the rating system that major capital projects do. Even the First Coast Flyer required a more stringent review. That's why so much of the funding is in JTA and the city's court instead.

[jax_hwy_engineer]

I really hope this project gets killed, it's such a waste of funding and will serve so few people. A bus route covering the proposed U2C network would be far cheaper and serve SO many more people.

And it could even run at night or in the rain!

JTA is playing a cruel joke on us with this one...

[Des]

https://jtafla.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/87644

U2C cancelled?

[marcuscnelson]

Interesting, but I don't think so. This appears to be canceling the $6.5 million contract with HNTB for design on converting the Skyway (testing off the superstructure and building a new one for AVs). It's not clear why they would cancel this after initially pretty publicly announcing it, but could be for any number of reasons.

They just announced another Autonomous Vehicle Day event, which I can't imagine they would do if they were actually about to (wisely) bail on this.

On a related note, City Council made initial approvals to reappoint Aundra Wallace to the JTA Board of Directors this week. Councilman Johnson had an interesting quote (around 50:41) about that:

...I have to say this publicly, in some spaces, in some places, Mr. Wallace and his team have been characterized as not doing the right thing for some institutions in this city. One thing I know for sure is that he is equitable in what he does, and he tries to ensure that everybody has an opportunity to sit at the table. Now whether they take that up or not is on them, but Mr. Wallace does the work, and so I am honored to support the work that he does and to be a cosponsor of this legislation, for him to be a part of the JTA board.