Transportation Center Gets Some Bucks! Let's alter those plans!

[Ocklawaha]

As we debate in other threads if Jacksonville is "city enough" to have world class mass transit, the administration is moving right under our feet to fund Transportation Center. Representative Ander Crenshaw has helped push through a bill to brighten our transit future. Within the bill are funds to do the Environmental Impact and other details of Jacksonville Terminal, the bad part of this is, if we move the Convention Center, which is a MUST, will we have to fund this study again? What about the Lee/Park street viaduct? I'm not sure any of us know who is in the locomotive or where this train is headed, but it's moving and THAT is a start.

U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, a member of the House Appropriations committee, said on Friday the House approved $3.7 million for high priority Northeast Florida transportation projects, including and $1 million for taxiway improvements at the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport and $800,000 for a Jacksonville National Cemetery Access Road Study.

The Fiscal Year 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bill passed the House on Thursday, July 23 and now moves to the Senate.
“Investments in Northeast Florida's transportation infrastructure, whether road, rail, air, or sea provide the groundwork for a strong and growing regional economy,” said Crenshaw, who said he guided the funding requests through the appropriations process. “That’s why I’ve fought to ensure these projects get the money they need today so they can be successful tomorrow. The Jacksonville National Cemetery Access Road, the Mayport Ferry, the Regional Intermodal Terminal Center in Jacksonville, and the other regional projects funded in this bill are key to the regional transportation network.”
Northeast Florida initiatives contained in the legislation include the Fernandina airport taxiway improvements in FAA and Airport Improvements Program funding for the extension, repaving, and taxiway lighting replacement.

Crenshaw said, “This funding will open new areas of the airport for night operations and improve the safety of existing operations.”

Elsewhere, a Mayport Ferry rehabilitation project will get $500,000 in Federal Highway Administration Ferry Boats and Terminal Facilities funding to provide for better control and enhanced safety for ferry operations. Specifically, funding would be used to rehabilitate the present ferry dock ramp on both sides of the St. Johns River and improve the gantry system.

Star Metro buses will receive $1 million in Federal Transit Authority buses and bus facilities funding to be used to buy new buses. Currently, Star Metro has 30 buses which are past their useful life. The manufacturer no longer carries replacement parts for these outdated buses, making it both expensive and increasingly difficult to keep the buses maintained and operational.

Also in the bus domain, a Regional Intermodal Terminal Center will receive $400,000 in Federal Transit Authority buses and bus facilities funding to be used for completing design, acquiring of right-of-way, and constructing the multi-modal facility. This facility will serve rail, bus, rapid transit and pedestrian services in the Northeast Florida region.

The Jacksonville National Cemetery Access Road will get $800,000 in Federal Highway Administration and Federal Lands funding to complete project development and environmental assessment to determine how to establish alternate access to the new Jacksonville VA National Cemetery. An alternative access route will enable access to the cemetery from I-95 and the Jacksonville International Airport

How easy would this be if the honorable Representative Crenshaw was to add funding for a Skyway expansion study as well as the final phases of our streetcar study? All of which could then move into the shovel ready category.

OCKLAWAHA

[thelakelander]

Isn't the JTC something like a $127 million project?  How much funding for this has been secured to date?

[Ocklawaha]

My understanding is that this just the start of funding. The half million or so for the study, is likely to be matched by the State and/or JTA. Amtrak could also be a player as the FEC route gets closer to reality. They are already talking  about splitting trains in Jacksonville again. If anyone has heard anything on funding please speak up!

OCKLAWAHA

[fsujax]

FDOT has pulled all their funding from the JRTC. Our last hope is stimulus funds and maybe working something with Amtrak and the TIGER funds.

[copperfiend]

Thank you very much Ms. Lippy!!!

[brainstormer]

This is one of the reasons I would like our Mayor and City Council to form a vision and make a decision so that we can move forward in an efficient manner.  Make a decision to move the convention center to the old courthouse site in say 2014, so that we can plan a transportation center utilizing the Prime Osborn and rail tracks already in place.  With a decision in place, we can then lobby Amtrak to eventually move their station downtown.  We save costs on studies now that we won't use later as well as saving Amtrak from upgrades at the current station that will eventually be unused once they move downtown.  Can we please think ahead and become more efficient with the small amount of money we have?

[tufsu1]

The JRTC, as envisioned currently, is around $150 million....but if the existing terminal and exhibit hall space could be used, the cost could likely be cut in half.....of course someone would have to come up with $200+ million for a new convention center too.

[fsujax]

we can use stimulus funds for a new convention center....

[GatorShane]

If we could somehow get this built, along with the Bay Street Station and its proposed streetcars, it could definitely turn that side of downtown around.