JTA meetings on the future of the Skyway

[thelakelander]

Maybe the Skyway track is salvageable for some future use but as long as JTA is calling the shots the way they are doing today, don't expect the public to buy in.  If JTA is going to continue to screw the pooch, here is a compromise:  Convert the Skyway track to a pedestrian/bike path that even JTA would have a hard time screwing up.  When a day ever comes that JTA is a competently run MASS transit agency, maybe convert the Skyway track back to carrying a proper vehicle as some of you are proposing here.  We will save millions in dollars in the meantime that the current JTA will just be flushing down the drain.

This would be another boondoggle. This would still cost hundreds of millions and serve a fraction of the population recreationally, if even feasible. The width of the Skyway is so narrow, you would not be able to allow bikes up there. Then after all the money is burnt, we're still looking at a few billion and decades for a transit replacement, considering the type of river crossing needing to be constructed for an alternative. Some real analysis work and planning should be done prior to a decision to raze or eliminate 2.5 miles of dedicated transit ROW. It would really be shortsighted to make that move without a viable mass transit alternative decided on, funded and moving forward.

[thelakelander]

I agree that JTA has an incredibly difficult job. I think that many on this board wish JTA would focus on doing THAT job, and not trying to out-silicon-valley Silicon Valley. And, that job is providing reliable mass transit services to the people of Jacksonville, for work, education, and recreation/entertainment.

I'd agree with this. Focusing on the basics would really be a great thing. Its difficult enough trying to provide transit services for city spread out over 800 square miles, without making some tough decisions. It gets worse when factoring in the local politics, cottage industries and consulting practices in town that have little to do with logic or the agency's core mission and reason for existing.

[Jax_Developer]

Just to put it out there... I also disagree with the majority of this board on the negative opinions on JTA's leadership on this.  Nat knows what he is doing.  JTA has an incredibly tough job in this city.  They get a lot more right than they get wrong.  They are working on doing something really transformative, which is rarely attempted in government.  It's not going to go perfectly, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try.

Many on this board were extremely skeptical of Lori Boyer and the DIA 2-3 years ago... but there was a vision, and it came together, and now (while there is still a long way to go) people are really starting to see and believe in true progress in downtown. And now, in hindsight, opinions here seem to have shifted in a positive direction on Lori and the DIA.  I think at some point in the future the same thing will happen with JTA.

Lori Boyer had years of experience in LUZ, Economics and Government Affairs. I would agree many here didn't understand the position she was in but she was absolutely qualified.

Nat Ford, nothing against him personally either, has literally zero technical background or experience with AV's. The entire JTA staff has zero technical background or experience with AV's.

There simply is no equating the two. Again the main 'co-founder' of this program, per Nat Ford's own words... is a civil engineer. This isn't news but the sad reality is that our business community doesn't have the Technology Leadership to call this BS out. Yes we're just some plp upset online but if a local Technology business with greater or equal influence to JWB (for example) called out the program, this wouldn't be a conversation right now & we wouldn't see absolute silence from the rest at the top. 

In other cities, this program would already be dead with a clean leadership sweep. Truly incredible what is happening at JTA right now.

[Jankelope]

The U2C money could genuinely preserve the skyway for decades and decades to come with new cars, modernization, and a great Brooklyn station.

Skyway, even in it's dilapidated form is still a monorail that crosses our massive river. That's a pretty cool thing as we are building up so much around the Skyway stations. Increased ridership is inevitable.

Imagine also having left over money for finishing the Emerald Trail quicker, starting development of First Coast Commuter Rail, bringing Amtrak downtown, etc.