Jacksonville Transportation Center moves forward

[Ocklawaha]

You can begin by attending a few city council sessions and see how the system works.  Then, you can plan your approach so that it is the most effective.  


Juker777

Thanks Juke, I was using my usual sarcasm here, I see your a newbie so WELCOME! I'm the guy that first proposed HERITAGE STREETCARS and the TRANSPORTATION CENTER, back in the late 70's, and early 80's. The City paid no attention, though we built quite a network for pre-internet times, finally someone suggested I leave town, "for my employment health," (something I thought only happened in the movies). So being the apparent fool that I am, I went south of the border and designed railroads. Hum? THAT WAS EASY! So I've been going to some of those meetings for a long, long, time.

SEE: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2007-nov-27-years-later-jacksonville-transit

OCKLAWAHA

[CS Foltz]

tufsu1..........I would agree! Not being able to enter the traffic flow would also play hell with trying to keep to any kind of a schedule! I don't see any clear cut fix other than maybe a "traffic light" at the stop to allow the bus to enter flow....but then you might have issue's regarding lights and the distances between them which would require moving the stops and in some spots that might not be possible! Lack of planning plays havoc with everything.............go rail and be done with it!

[Urbanotter1]

re: OCKLAWAHA-  "That's a pretty impressive design (taking people where they want to go) and video.  What happened with their streetcar proposal?  Did that die when the mayor got arrested and sent to jail?  How much will it cost?"

Yes, convicted Birmingham mayor Larry (La La) Langford's streetcar proposal was predicated on digging up the VERY successful BIRMINGHAM GREEN and replacing it with kitch. The citizens, historic preservationists, business leaders and corporate stake holders said "Over Our Cold, Dead Bodies". So, the council has taken the idea and is working on a route that would leave our trees and primary streetscape intact. The new crooked mayor hopefully won't make the same mistake. But, who knows. Birmingham suffers from "Marion Barry Syndrome", so don't get too worked up about us surpassing Jacksonville. Not Gonna Happen.

As for the video: yeah, it's impressive, but it's not expected to get built anytime soon. Piece-by-piece, but not all at once. Federal money is allocated, but City Hall just can't seem to "get it".

btw, Birmingham is 73% black, and city government is more like 96% black, so that creates major problems, given how our metro is so heavily divided by race, class, economics, urban/rural/suburban battles and cultural mores.

[Ocklawaha]

Fortunately, no one is talking about building dedicated busways all over Jax anymore.  We can't afford it.

From what I've heard Urbanotter1, looks like the plan has stalled.  I would think race would play a positive role in the Birmingham question.  The African American and Hispanic communities as a whole seems to be much more urban and supportive of public infrastructure projects, and they don't generally mind the ante to pay for it. When we wanted to expand Medellin Metro it was NEVER a question of why or how, just how quick can we build it.  But then the Hispanic community tends to be very Germanic in meticulous paper layers and when they are finished, they'll invent MORE paper layers.  Any good 5 month project can normally take 20-30 years!  Of course the benefit is, THEY do have some rather interesting concepts on streamlining the process!

LAKE: Sorry buddy, but from what we are seeing at JTA, until they have a formal "PLAN BURNING" at some public function, consider the scheme locked and loaded.  Trust our luck with them REALLY putting BRT to bed with about the same odds as you'd give yourself barefooted at midnight, on the Goat Mountain Trail, out by my desert cabin.  OUCH!  If the Cats, Snakes and Dogs don't eat you, the omnipresent cacti will.


OCKLAWAHA

[CS Foltz]

I spit in JTA's milk.............those bovines just don't get it!

[thelakelander]

LAKE: Sorry buddy, but from what we are seeing at JTA, until they have a formal "PLAN BURNING" at some public function, consider the scheme locked and loaded.  Trust our luck with them REALLY putting BRT to bed with about the same odds as you'd give yourself barefooted at midnight, on the Goat Mountain Trail, out by my desert cabin.  OUCH!  If the Cats, Snakes and Dogs don't eat you, the omnipresent cacti will.[/color][/b]
OCKLAWAHA

I'm resting my hopes on the Feds.  Their mindset has changed 180 degrees since Obama hit DC.  Can't imagine that original billion dollar busway plan being approved by the feds.  There are too many superior projects across the country also in need of funding.

[CS Foltz]

lake ........I agree! Fed's should have something to say about it, especially if we are gonna use their (Our) money!