JTA pays 400k for Pennsylvania Study to Restate MetroJacksonville's Free Studies

[mtraininjax]

It will be an effective report that will further help in the use of trees, then it will be moved in the dust heap as we figure out how to pay for it. But it will get us all excited for a brief amount of time.

[CS Foltz]

tufsu1 how many studies have taken place since 2006? All boiled down say pretty much the same thing just slanted to reflect the views of the payer for the study, right? We get the same information that a prudent person doing a little research would come to the same conclusion right? I understand all about ROW studies and ridership projections and cost feasibility studies  and cost analysis and so on..........but we know that something has to be done or we will have a road block from hell that will never unlock! That does concern me since I live here too! If there were a mass transit system available............I would use it but there is not. So far we have a projected system for 2.5 Billion of our tax dollars to serve a small niche with what is labled HSR and nothing could be further from the truth. Jacksonville does not need more bus's or BRT, we need to think outside of the box and LR appears to me to fit the bill! For an intercity people moving system that operates 24/7 rain or shine I don't think bus's can beat it! Bus's should be feeder for LR and kept outside City limits to control smog and the like...........at least that's my take@

[thelakelander]

BRT is primarily JTA's baby.  The community has already stated their preference.  Mass transit is more than moving people from point A to point B.  Its also about place making and community shaping.  This is where BRT as the top local transit priority falls flat.  Sure, we can use a couple of express bus lines but that should not be billed as the future backbone of a transit system serving the nation's 40th largest metropolitan area.

Btw, for those concerned about cost, its been proven multiple times also that rail can be affordably implemented if the host community is willing to get creative and go "no-frills."  Also, the money in the form of property taxes coming from infill economic development will more than justify the investment.

[tufsu1]

tufsu1 how many studies have taken place since 2006?

Actual official studies...one!

As to your point on the $2.5 billion HSR...that has very little to do with our local trasnit system and you know it...that said, the 2035 Needs Plan for our area has about $2.5 billion worth of transit projects....what we need in this country is both intraurban and interurban transit systems.

And as to Stephen's point, Delaney and folks did get the BJP passed....but as we've now seen, many of the cost projections were grossly underestimated...I'd rather not study things to death, but taking some time is preferable...in the case of transportation, most studies account for less than 10% of the actual project construction cost!

[Ocklawaha]

tufsu1 how many studies have taken place since 2006?

Actual official studies...one!

As to your point on the $2.5 billion HSR...that has very little to do with our local transit system and you know it...that said, the 2035 Needs Plan for our area has about $2.5 billion worth of transit projects....what we need in this country is both intraurban and interurban transit systems.

And as to Stephen's point, Delaney and folks did get the BJP passed....but as we've now seen, many of the cost projections were grossly underestimated...I'd rather not study things to death, but taking some time is preferable...in the case of transportation, most studies account for less than 10% of the actual project construction cost!

tusfu1, I think Stephens point comes directly from research of our history in the library. Reading ANY account of the early electric railroads in this metro area is a pretty rapid ride. Typical scenario: Jan, Company Formed; March, Routes Granted (by the city, state, or county under franchise); April, track and line work began; Nov. shopping season, Full Operation.

We both know that can't be done today thanks in a large part to Uncle Sam, the piggy bank and environmental concerns, but like Stephen, I'd agree that it shouldn't take 10 years.

OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

sure Ock...and I will tell you that it takes far less time for a private company to build something than it does the public sector....but that's a result of all the safeguards put in place so as "not to waste tax payer money"

[mtraininjax]

"not to waste tax payer money"

Mayor Peyton, anyone listening in the Ed Ball building?

[CS Foltz]

But Johnny is running the City like a business.......isn't he?

[buckethead]

For personal gain?

[CS Foltz]

Well it is somebody's gain........don't know whose......darn sure is not the publics gain!

[CS Foltz]

tufsu1 .........I do not remember saying the 2.5 Billion dollars was earmarked for Jacksonville's region. That money is earmarked for the HSR Project down Orlando way.............you know the Mouseville feeder line! Granted I have not read the Pennsylvania Study yet, but when it becomes available ...I look forward to it! I do think that 400K is an over priced figure since I think that most of the information is readily available with just a simple research engine. ROW issues are pretty cut and dried since your using exsiting ROW, thats already documented and your looking at feasibility of expansion. Cost analysis is something seperate since that has to be done from scratch but overall..............I do think that is high!

[tufsu1]

you are entitled to your opinion....but I'm pretty sure the consutant didn't make much profit off this job!

[mtraininjax]

....but I'm pretty sure the consutant didn't make much profit off this job!

Charity work by consultants? Free milk everyone!