Stealing Transit Money? Technicalities Remove 100 million for Mass Transit.

[stephendare]

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2008-12-14/jta_fears_delays_in_shift_of_funding

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority's projects to untangle traffic snarls at major highway interchanges could take a back seat to smaller street overhauls under Mayor John Peyton's idea to extend the Better Jacksonville Plan.

That's been one chief concern for the public transportation agency, which has been crunching numbers since Peyton's Dec. 1 announcement that revenues for the growth management program were dwindling. JTA also is wary that a financial restructuring Peyton plans to submit to the City Council will set back plans to extend bus service and could cripple public transportation funding in the long run. Better Jacksonville contains $2.25 billion in projects, approved by voters in a 2000 referendum. The program thrives on sales taxes. Road projects are split between the city and JTA, with the city handling local thoroughfares.

Peyton said his proposed restructuring will not cancel any projects, but he said the local roads likely would come first. He said money has become too tight and he'd rather see the local projects completed while state and federal dollars are sought for the highways. "In an ideal world, we'd love to be able to do everything now," Peyton said. "We can't afford that luxury."

The mayor will be in Washington this week trying to get some of the JTA-managed Better Jacksonville projects paid for as part of a federal stimulus. Short of that, it looks like plans to rebuild busy intersections such as Butler Boulevard and Interstate 95 will wait.

The city's share of road projects won't come cheap. One example is Girvin Road, where it will cost an estimated $16.5 million to extend to five lanes with bike routes between Atlantic Boulevard and Wonderwood Drive.

"To me, it's not local versus state. It's Jacksonville," JTA Executive Director Michael Blaylock said. "All of these roads are in Jacksonville and they're for the people, the workers, drivers - everyone."

JTA operates independently of city government, but some of its funding is administered by City Hall. And that's becoming a sore spot. Last week, Blaylock unveiled projections showing the city likely would be taking control of 70 percent of BJP sales tax money under Peyton's plan, although no numbers are official.

The original plan was closer to 50-50. He said the Peyton plan could lose $174 million in funding for JTA, including $94 million needed to acquire property for bus rapid transit, a developing program intended to reduce rush-hour bottlenecks.

"They're asking the JTA to forego our money so they can work on their own projects," JTA spokesman Mike Miller said, referencing an agreement that started taking shape around two decades ago, when a half-cent sales tax replaced the city's toll plazas.

When Better Jacksonville passed, that half-penny became part of the funding stream. The city agreed to collect it while paying a chunk equal to the tolls, plus annual interest, to JTA.

The problem is, Peyton said, the agreement has allowed that number to grow larger than the city can continue to pay. Recently released city figures show Better Jacksonville's initial projections from eight years ago will be off by roughly $254 million over the next five years.

Peyton blamed the economy. Peyton's plan would extend a 6-cents-a-gallon gasoline tax through 2039 as a financial baseline for JTA. Better Jacksonville projects, which were set to finish in several years, would extend through 2019.

Blaylock said he's wary of counting on gas taxes as an income source as the agency tries to acquire long-term project financing. For one, federal transportation estimates show Americans have driven roughly 100 billion fewer miles in the past year because of gasoline prices. Also, he said, by 2039 he wonders if cars will even be running on gasoline.

Peyton said the gas-tax extension is critical for his plan to work. He stressed no project within Better Jacksonville - city- or JTA-managed - would be canceled. "I think we all wonder what the variable source of income will be in 30 years - whether we'll be running our cars on water, even," Peyton said. "But we have to work within the realities of today."

As he announced the Better Jacksonville funding shortfall, Peyton also announced a plan to dip into a city capital fund for $50 million. The money wouldn't be part of Better Jacksonville but would be critical to expanding infrastructure near the city's growing deepwater cargo ports. The council is expected to see legislation next month.

Councilman Stephen Joost said he's concerned with how Better Jacksonville projects will jive with other city debts. "We have the courthouse. That pushes borrowing capacity out. Now all of a sudden you have the Jags' stadium coming up.

Pensions have been hit with the stock market falling," Joost said. "At what point are we going to start affecting our bond rating?"

Councilman Michael Corrigan said he's concerned with holding up the plan voters asked for eight years ago. Several road projects were chopped in 2005 as city officials determined costs to be drastically underestimated. "BJP wasn't completely vetted," Corrigan said, "but we can't just leave it."

[CS Foltz]

Just one more example of a lack of vision.........planning and business acumen! This will be Johnny's legacy and all of the smoke and mirrors can not change that.

[Ocklawaha]

Johnny Peytons involvement in new bus routes for JTA.



Johnny's Streetcar visioning plan.



Johnny Peytons vision for our BRT busways.



Johnnys vision for Commuter Rail Jacksonville.



Johnny's scheme for Transportation Center at Jacksonville Terminal



Little Johnny's understanding of Mass Transit.


Just another case of "Johnny On The Job!"

OCKLAWAHA

[buckethead]

You have to admit; The JTB/9A interchange makes for a beautiful aerial shot. 

[thelakelander]

Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder.  Beauty is the last word that pops into my head when I see that interchange aerial.

[stjr]

To be fair, these money problems go back to the failure of the the financial models used to base the BJP's funding on.  And, how the split between JTA and COJ wasn't etched in stone?  Well, another "failure to communicate".

It's why, when we have all the "experts" assuring us these projects will roll out as planned, the public needs to be more skeptical. Hey, that's the model I use with another such failure, the $ky-high-way promises! 

[thelakelander]

JTA does have a choice, but they refuse to act on it.  Its the same choice we told them in that meeting months ago.  That choice is to make a real fight for mass transit's share of the BJP funds.  Take it public.  Why should Peyton get to dictate to everyone what should be done with the remaining funds?  JTA really needs to grow a pair and put up a fight.  Seriously.

Demand that all remaining projects be vetted individually on their impact to taxpayers, economic development potential and true need.  Once properly prioritized, then move forward on implementing the top projects first and secondary ones as the money comes in.

If this were done, I'd highly doubt that spending $16.5 million on Girvin Road would come out as one of the top city wide priorities.  Nevertheless, this will still come down to a council vote.  Peyton can't move around BJP funds without it.

Seriously, JTA.  You need to grow a pair.

[thelakelander]

I just realized the article used to start this thread is from December 14, 2008.  Is there an update on this issue?  My post above was made under the assumption that this was a recent story.

[thelakelander]

This is the verified outcome as of two weeks ago.

The council has voted to approve the Mayor's plan to shift dedicated BJP funds around?

[thelakelander]

The tagline is that 'someday', maybe there will be enough funds collected under the half penny raise.

But there isnt anything that requires the money receive 'priority'.   It apparently works on the same principle as Craig Van Horne's "dedicated' Leases.

Yes, its a load of bull that no one in their right mind should agree to.

[tufsu1]

I just realized the article used to start this thread is from December 14, 2008.  Is there an update on this issue?  My post above was made under the assumption that this was a recent story.

should hear something in the coming weeks....as prioritization of revenues for the Cost Feasible Plan should bring this to light.

[CS Foltz]

Yes....smoke and mirrors once again! Mayor Johnny just does not have the acumen to lead nor the business sense to pay........I would guess we are supposed to "thumb" our ways to where we have to go huh?