Costly rail service for Jacksonville would lose money

[TheProfessor]

That article was disappointing.  It does not present a positive view on rail and the arguments are not well thought out.  The title is an ignorant statement.  Is the subway system in NYC a money generator, I think not, yet it is one of the best systems in our country to move people around.  I sent the T-U author an E-Mail with my thoughts on his article, I reccomend you do do the same!

[Ocklawaha]

I don't think it came from JTA on orders, Frankly, Mr. Blaylock is more of a visionary then this. My feeling is the TU is playing the game of the little kid on the block - He's GOING to whack that wasp nest before he grows up. Sadly, this kid has a serious case of printmediaemia and may soon go the way of all Neanderthals. But sensational, knee jerk, reactionary journalism, is not a cure - just a symptom. I didn't buy the paper today.

If the Times-Union thinks they will convince us to surrender with an article - to invade us with print, to intimidate us with veiled monetary threats, it won't work. We will simply smile and say, "That's alright, we already have YOUR children..."  (anyone what to guess where the original of that quote came from - Yes TU you can play too).

OCKLAWAHA

[Matt]

Hm...
MetJax needs its own periodical for the computer illiterate. :p

[civil42806]

Isn't the key question whether anyone would use the proposed system?  Its true that at the washington system looses money no one would argue whether its worthwhile, particularly at 5 in the afternoon.  I don't know if the NY system makes money or not, but again no one would argue about the value.  A jacksonville system hmmmmmmm not sure about that.

[tufsu1]

Although James gave a pretty good answer, I'm disappointed in this TU article.  I don't think I've ever read about a local road project (like SR 9B or JTB's widening) not being able to turn a profit, yet costing millions more per mile.  There was also no mention of the cost comparisons between this system and the proposed BRT estimates.

Furthermore, they have this thing stretching all the way to Yulee, Green Cove Springs and St. Augustine.  Once studies get further along, you'll see it begin to materialize into a shorter system with higher ridership numbers and cheaper costs.  Relaying the S-Line track is also a way for the system to make money for annual O&M operations and to take port truck traffic off the street.  Working with Amtrak is another way to properly phase a local system.  For example if Amtrak starts up a corridor service between Jax and Miami, running several trains per day between the cities, there's no reason to extend commuter rail to St. Augustine.  None of this is stuff is new.  We've been putting these things online and discussing them in public meetings for years now.  I'm disappointed that the reporter did not do his homework, thus creating a negative oriented article.  This type of reporting does not help the fight to turn public sentiment to more responsible growth.

Lake...perhaps this article deserves a letter to the editor?

[thelakelander]

Civil, what systems are you talking about in DC and NYC?  Their subways or commuter rail lines?

tufsu1, its looking that way.

[fsujax]

There was a much better article in last Wednesday's edition of the Financial News and Daily Record. I really dont think there is any colusion between JTA and the TU on this one.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=51170&text=commuter%20rail&type=thisexactphrase

[cracklow]

Still an obnoxious title to the article though.  Mass transit never turns a profit, neither do roads.  Both are capital infrastructure improvements that give commuters options one way or the other, but unless there are tolls on the roads, how exactly do they turn a profit?

[alta]

Has the TU ever run an article "Costly Outer Beltway Would Lose Money"?  Then you have to factor in all the infrastructure the city has to build to serve the new development such as road, sewer and power lines, traffic lights.  I wish we had city leadership that had vision of how great Jacksonville could be with a quality rail network (commuter or light rail) that would focus on infill development and encouraging quality developments like Jackson Square.  Getting people out of their car to use mass transit.  Even if you don't use mass transit the citizens of Jacksonville would benefit from people that normally would drive using a light rail or commuter network.  It's a win-win.  Of course I guess we will get the same quality transit oriented development and choice riders from JTA's BRT system.  LMAO   

[DetroitInJAX]

I dont know why we're all getting so bent out of shape about this.  We all knew the Times Union was a crappy birdcage liner before this came out.

Bunch of hack jobs.

I wish I lived in a city with a REAL newspaper (or 2, or 3).

Can we get a double dose of VISION around here?

[urbanjvl]

So the double dose of vision is coming from Detroit?  lmao.     

[RiversideGator]

I dont know why we're all getting so bent out of shape about this.  We all knew the Times Union was a crappy birdcage liner before this came out.

Bunch of hack jobs.

I wish I lived in a city with a REAL newspaper (or 2, or 3).

Can we get a double dose of VISION around here?

Delta's ready if you are.   

[redpixie]

I think its interesting that no one here has commented on what it might do to the economy since a rail system could be potentially non-oil based, thus giving the Jacksonville economy a little more freedom from the price of oil which seems to be bobbing more than a nit-wit's skull at a debate.
No road makes money. The rail system may or may not be expected to pay for itself in part or in full....EVENTUALLY. If the rail system is going to pay for itself or even make a dent on the expense it needs to go where people want to go, or people need to want to go where it goes.

[Jason]

Welcome redpixie.  Rest assured, many on these boards have commented on rail's benefit to the economy.  Take a look through the Transportation section and you'll find gobs of info, articles, and discussions on all of the benefits of rail.

[BridgeTroll]

Welcome aboard Red!  In many various threads throughout this site you will find many passionate advocates for rail, light rail, and public transport.  Many of them are experts in the field.