Move to Split JTA, Create Mass Transit Commission?

[stephendare]

The group of citizens charged with restructuring our city government is in the process of formulating those changes at present.

Should the JTA be split into a road building authority and an actuall mass transit/light rail commission be spun off as a separate entity?

[FayeforCure]

Should the JTA be split into a road building authority and an actuall mass transit/light rail commission be spun off as a separate entity?

YES

[FayeforCure]

Wonder if a Jacksonville Mass Transit Authority headed by Ocklawaha and STJR could get some damn rail laid?

Well, Ock is more into existing rail

[Jason]

I agree, split them up.

[tufsu1]

It is a worthless question....the Charter Commission looks at how Ducal County government is set up....JTA was created by the Florida Legislature!

[Ocklawaha]

Let's just call this rendering, Boulevard at Shand's "S" line station, (where the new trail crosses the road).

Wonder if a Jacksonville Mass Transit Authority headed by Ocklawaha and STJR could get some damn rail laid?

Sure we could, if we didn't kill eachother first! LOL

Actually he's into not wasting existing resources.

I can tell you Ock would love to lay new rail where needed!   As it happens, because so much of our growth centered around the rail lines, they old routes remain the most effective way to reach the population centers that they serve.

That's a fact Stephen, outside of streetcar, we need to focus on what we already have. Even streetcar is just rebuilding what we trashed back when the city was duped by NATIONAL CITY LINES, at the start of what is known as the "National Streetcar Holocaust." Other then that we have the "S" line and port as well as SEHSR to be thinking about.

OCKLAWAHA

[Ocklawaha]

SOUTHEAST HIGH SPEED RAIL, it is an extension of the Northeast Corridor to Jacksonville, Charlotte, and Atlanta, plus Atlanta to Jacksonville. If they lay new track between Savannah and Jacksonville, rather then just upgrade the CSX, then I suspect they will reopen the old "S" line from Kingsland GA, just north of Yulee, all the way to Savannah. This is the same "S" line we have been pushing for several years, if the project can be joined to the Federal project, we'd have a hell of a commuter line on the Northside!

http://www.sehsr.org/

or my last post on this project...

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,5980.msg94838.html#msg94838

OCKLAWAHA

[Doctor_K]

Split 'em up.  J.H(ighway).A. and J.T(ransit).A.  We've already got a separate headache called "JEA."

[CS Foltz]

I agree.......they need to be split up and soon! JTA is a waste as is....new bus schedules my left ham hock! I wonder just what consulting agency was used to set initial routes up and how much they were paid? Anyone know something about that?

[tufsu1]

Stephen,

You may wish to re-read the state statute that governs JTA

[tufsu1]

History isn't that important....the current statutes, as written, are law....and what do you think JTA would do if the City tried to get the Legislature to change their mission?

[Captain Zissou]

Split them up, but I don't want STJR in charge of my rail.  The first thing he'll do is take an ax to the Skyway.

[Ocklawaha]

TUFSU?  Have you had your coffee yet?
Law is also based on precedent. It most certainly can be done, and more importantly it can be done at the Charter Review Process.

Did you know that Jacksonville also has the only Consolidated Govt as well?

50 years of not being able to implement a mass transit system is not working out as it stands.

TUFSU1 and STEPHENDARE: Wouldn't a change from JTA to a regional transportation authority be just as big a legal leap then to make that leap in two distinct parts? North Florida Highway Authority, and North Florida Transit Authority?

OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

Thats exactly right, Ock.  In fact it would be a bigger change because its multi county instead of just Duval.

sure but that's already underway.

All I'm saying is...put your energy into something that has a chance of success....taking transit out o JTA isn't very realistic right now.

[tufsu1]

ok...I'll check back with you eartly next year (when the Regional Authority study is due back to the Legislature) and see how this split idea is going.