Downtown Trolley Bus coming to Five Points

[midnightblackrx]

Aren't we through with high expectations from this city?  Or are we really thinking these plans will go through? Metro Jax for Mayor! *tongue in cheek*

[downtownparks]

I agree, Springfield, Brooklyn, San Marco, and Riverside need to  join together the reestablish Jacksonville's "street car suburbs"

Any chance St. Nicholous and Ortega on that list.

St Nicholas maybe, Ortega is a little to far away for early plans, but yes, it would be cool to include many areas.

[Ocklawaha]

Ortega would have certain advantages with real streetcar or trolley. The old route of the Jacksonville Traction Company went over the Grand Avenue Bridge then took a right on Baltic to the village. It even went far beyond to Black Point at todays NAS Jax. Sadly they abandoned the base railroad about 20 years ago and with it probably the last segment of the JTCO tracks which they used for freight. For local history buffs, that angled truck gate across from Yukon was the Base Railroad - Trolley entrance until about 1965. Then the entry was shifted to the South end at Ortega Hills Drive, and the North (trolley) leg was taken up. Still much of it soldiered on for another 20 years. The fact that the road through Riverside - Avondale - Fairfax - Ortega is on old railroad right-of-way speaks volumes to the compact soils and the pre-construction crap that could be avoided by using the discarded routes. Another way to spot these routes (such as on Oak south of Five Points) is as the ties settle or rot beneath the pavement, the asphalt will corduroy which makes for an in in in in intrest ing ing ing drive. So bottom line, going to Ortega or Murray Hill would be cheaper then say, down Riverside Avenue, North of 5-Points where Trolleys never rolled.

Where are the Tourists? Well, they won't be here to ride those PCT things. But if we use the PCT shelters and street improvements then cut a tub and insert track, we could use the PCT routes for Trolley.

One needs to also stand back and look at the start of the elevated distributer downtown Our Skyway is dead until at least a "think change" in City Hall. Then perhaps it can be extended just enough to make it a working part of a regional system. Taking the Trolley down Riverside would be counter-productive when the new Skyway station is planned for Brooklyn and hence down Riverside to Blue Cross... Duplication. Look at Park Street. Ditto on going to the stadium. What ends with it's poor dead end spur pointing down Bay Street? The Skyway of course. Just waiting for that station at Hyatt/Newnan, Berkman, Shipyards, etc... So streetcars stay off Bay. Newnan and Beaver and Duval were all streetcar routes so they could be used with the same effect.

Ocklawaha

[thelakelander]

The new JTA Riverside route is set to start soon.  Unlike the free downtown routes, this one will cost 50 cent per ride.

The new Riverside Trolley service is set to begin running Monday, May 5, 2008 and you can ride for free. The first two weeks (May 5 â€"May 16) are free to get you used to the plan and get you hooked.

The service is brought to you by the JTA
• to reduce traffic congestion and addresses parking issues
• to connect restaurants, shops and businesses
• to support future Riverside area development
• to address interest from major employers and employees along Riverside Avenue

Features
• operates Monday -Friday from 10:45 am to 2:30 pm
• arrives every 10 minutes
• low cash fare of $.50 each way
• Seniors 60 years or older ride Free

The service comes courtesy of a grant by the FDOT and will fund the service for the first year. We need to have a minimum of ten passengers per hour to keep the service running. That shouldn't be too hard!

see map here: http://riverside-avondale.blogspot.com/2008/03/new-riverside-trolley-ride-free.html

[stephenc]

10:45am to 2:30pm??? Who is gonna ride it then? A small crowd for lunch, maybe?

[thelakelander]

I was hoping that this was a service that would be put in cater for residents.  I wish it the best, because a good transit link between Five Points and Downtown is needed, but I'm concerned the limited service time could have a negative effect.

[Steve]

This could probably work, if JTA can deliver on their service.  However, there is one thing that I think will be a disaster, and that is the .50 per ride.  I'm sure to keep homeless off, but here is the thing.  Their minimum is 10 people per hour, or $20 per day.  In the cost of running a transit service, is $100 per week revenue really that necessary.

Sometimes I think this city doesn't realize it's not 1980 anymore.  Nobody carries quarters, and you know change will be a disaster.

[lindab]

10:45am to 2:30pm??? Who is gonna ride it then? A small crowd for lunch, maybe?

That's what I asked JTA at the meeting. The thing is if you try to shop or eat in Five Points at noon - good luck. It is a mad house. My guess is that the people who work along Riverside Ave would pay anything to avoid the parking mayhem. JTA is hooking into a sure thing; no risks for them. 

[Jason]

Hopefully the line is well recieved and the service is extended to cater to the afterwork crowds.  This is a good start.

[Lunican]

Well, it took almost a year since we originally reported on the Five Points Trolley, but it is now in place and well received so far.

[Ocklawaha]

I found this interesting, but the top map is one I posted long ago on this site for the ground shuttle "PCT Trolleys". I figured this as a phase WITH a completed Skyway system, and streetcar on Water Street. Looking at the map JTA posted, I'd say we are not that far off...Wonder what it cost them to figure this out?

Ocklawaha

[thelakelander]

This is the same route they had planned to move forward with a year ago.  The only difference is they extended the downtown portion a few blocks to the Hyatt and Bay Street.  That decision was a very good one, because it helped turn the downtown side into a decent destination, as opposed to the original that circled parking lots off Water Street.

Interim Option 2 is the route that will start up in January.  Before this thing is up and running, let's make sure it directly ties into the Landing (right now it only reaches CSX's headquarters), instead of making the potential lunch crowd walk an extra block.  Doing so would increase ridership from the start by directly tying the system at both ends with quality destinations.

full article: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/478