Mayor proposes water taxi stop for Riverside

[thelakelander]

Water taxi stop expected for Riverside

The mayor proposes adding a floating dock to ferry people to and from the North Riverbank.

The water taxis that ferry customers across the St. Johns River soon may add a new stop to their route: the Riverside Arts Market.

Mayor John Peyton wants to spend $395,000 on a 210-foot-long floating dock and 60-foot gangway near the popular Saturday destination under the Fuller Warren Bridge. Eleven of 19 Jacksonville City Council members have signed on to co-sponsor Peyton's bill, which will be introduced at Tuesday's council meeting.

Once built, water taxi passengers and boaters will have direct access from the St. Johns River to the market on the Northbank Riverwalk.

The proposal is the latest in a series of downtown improvements the mayor's office has launched. The council recently approved $23 million for renovations to Friendship Fountain, the Southbank Riverwalk and Metropolitan Park. Construction to make Laura Street more pedestrian-friendly, costing $2.7 million, is already under way.

The money for the floating dock will come from the Northbank Tax Increment District Fund - property tax dollars that are set aside specifically for improvements to the area.

Sherry Hall, the mayor's liaison to the council, said the project will help support the relatively new market that gained popularity in 2009, its inaugural year. According to its Web site, the market averaged about 15,000 visitors per week.

"We are looking at ways to continue to improve and expand upon the successes of the Arts Market," Hall said.

Council President Richard Clark, who is listed as one of the bill's co-sponsors, said he believes the floating dock will help connect the river, which he considers the city's greatest natural asset, with the 2-acre property.

"Riverside Arts Market has been more successful than any of us hoped," Clark said.

The market will be open every Saturday starting on March 6, ending its season in December. Director Tony Allegretti said providing direct access to the river would be a natural progression.

"I think it's going to be huge for us in terms of opening us up and giving us an even deeper and better sense of place," he said.

The decision to bring river access to the Arts Market is not due to parking problems that initially plagued the event, Allegretti said.

He said businesses along Riverside Avenue have opened their lots to alleviate most of these problems, but he does like the idea of having a public transportation link to the space via the water taxis, with one-way fares at usually $3 to $5.

The floating docks will provide a direct link with other downtown destinations, especially during busy special events weekends, Allegretti said. He is working with the St. Johns Riverkeeper to providing programming during the Arts Market dates that bring more people to the river.

Hall said the city is working with the owners of S.S. Marine Taxi to ensure the Arts Market is added to its list of stops, which currently include Friendship Fountain, The Jacksonville Landing and Metro Park.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-02-22/story/water_taxi_stop_expected_for_riverside

[Miss Fixit]

I like this idea but seems we are missing a perfect opportunity to actually generate some revenue for the city.  The arts market is so popular that a concessionaire should be willing to pay for the right to shuttle passengers from the southbank to the market.  Hopefully the city council will set this up so that it eventually pays for itself....

[tufsu1]

some might argue that this would be a public handout for a private operator (S.S. Marine Taxi) so that they can serve more people....basicaly, its the same as the people who were opposed to SunRail because it benefited CSX

[Lunican]

Isn't S.S. Marine Taxi already subsidized by the city?

[Jason]

Its about time.  I think this should go over well and actually become a benefit to those living downtown.

[Dapperdan]

Isn't S.S. Marine Taxi already subsidized by the city?

Pretty much. They have a sweetheart deal where no other water taxie company is allowed to operate. I don't know how this came about or whose lame brain idea it was, but it effectively shut down all competition, so now, one taxi  company has access to all the floating docks.

[JeffreyS]

Great idea. 9 times out 10 that I see the taxi it has few people on it but it is a service that enhances riverfront.  So if we need to subsidize it I do not see that as a problem.

[rjp2008]

How insane is it that the city feels it needs to spend half a million dollars for a dock?

The amount of bureacracy in Jax mind-boggles me.

[tufsu1]

How insane is it that the city feels it needs to spend half a million dollars for a dock?

The amount of bureacracy in Jax mind-boggles me.

that could be cheap...I think they may still need to get permits for this from State and/or Federal agencies.

[Lunican]

City names water taxi choice

SS Marine Ventures, Inc. has been chosen as the City’s sole provider of water taxi service for the downtown area.

Owned and operated by Greg and Donna Samuels, SS Marine topped three other water services â€" Safe Harbor Haven, Inc., River Cruises, Inc. and Bass Marine Taxi, Inc. â€" to get the contract, which goes into effect June 1 and runs through Dec. 31, 2004 with a three-year extension option.

After several years of having a free enterprise system for a service that wasn’t working (customers and Landing store owners often complained of inconsistent service, among other things), the City abolished the ordinance that pertained to the service. In March, the City issued requests for proposals. After being graded in 10 categories worth a total of 100 points, SS Marine came out on top with 76 points. River Cruises was second with 68 while Bass Marine (59) and Safe Harbor (57) trailed.

To Samuels, the decision to go with his company made sense.

“I think it’s justified,” said Samuels. “We’ve earned the right. We have been out there since 1993 religiously. I feel like we provided the best service as far as reliability and keeping our equipment up. We have good people on board and we survived some crazy pricing and crazy times.”

Full Article:
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=1436

[blizz01]

I read this as being a public dock - not just for River Taxi xfers - correct?

[Dog Walker]

How insane is it that the city feels it needs to spend half a million dollars for a dock?

The amount of bureacracy in Jax mind-boggles me.

that could be cheap...I think they may still need to get permits for this from State and/or Federal agencies.

And don't forget that the dock will have to be handicapped accessible and built to much higher standards or safety and durability than a private dock.

[Noone]

I think that it will be a fantastic benefit for the RAM. Anyone should be able to drop off and pick up passengers to access the Arts Market. This should be the catalyst for more access points to the river.

[Dapperdan]

I don't see much use for the dock the other 6 days of the weelk. Also, from December to March it won't be used at all. I like the idea, but it seems like it would be wasted the other days of the week.

[Bostech]

They should just install zip line across river.Saves major $$$$.