Downtown Bus Shelter Designs Revealed

[Jim]

I don't think the handicap sign is so much for their benefit as it is to ward off non-handicap from occupying that space.

Professor, I believe they are part of the design otherwise why have such detailed dimensions for it?

[dv8]

could the solar power be used for an overhead fan?  that seems so sensible in this climate.

[Captain Zissou]

could the solar power be used for an overhead fan?  that seems so sensible in this climate.

That's what i was wondering, will there be a ventilation/ cooling system?  And Jim, that makes sense about the handicap sign.  I can imagine urban outdoorsmen using that space for shopping cart storage. 

[Mattius92]

Option 1 is totally the best.

And for the solar powered fans and etc. I dont believe that the solar panel will be powerful enough to provide all the lighting and power an fan. Lighting isn't all that power consuming, but a fan can suck juice. Also the buildings DT could block the sun for several hours, therefore further decreasing the amount of power stored.

Handicap spots are a requirement I believe.

[duvaldude08]

could the solar power be used for an overhead fan?  that seems so sensible in this climate.

That's what i was wondering, will there be a ventilation/ cooling system?  And Jim, that makes sense about the handicap sign.  I can imagine urban outdoorsmen using that space for shopping cart storage. 

Urban outdoosmen. That is hilarous!! 

[Joe]

Yeah, option 1 is generally the best.

Is this an "all or nothing" selection? Because the glass is best for shelters adjacent to buildings. However, out in the suburbs with those GIANT right-of-ways, shelters on the south side of the street would benefit from a solid screen to block out the brutal Florida sun. Otherwise, in the morning and afternoon, the sun will be hanging low to the south and radiating heat sideways into the shelters.

Obviously, this isn't a problem in downtown or most older neighborhoods; however, on streets like Atlantic and Beach it could be a problem.

[thelakelander]

I believe this is just for downtown.

[Joe]

Yeah, the DDRB is obviously only approving shelters based on the downtown overlay. However, since the design allows for advertisements, I was assuming that it will become the template for the eventual city-wide privatized shelters.

[urbanlibertarian]

The glass panels of option 1 should also make the advertising on the inside more visible and therefore more valuable to the advertiser.  Hopefully that would allow this program to expand to even more shelters in the future.

[urbaknight]

You know how southreners like to label people who are different. That's what the handicapt sticker is really for.

[stjr]

I just saw shelters similar to this in NY and the ad facings on each side featured a scroll that rotated the ads every few seconds.  As such, this would require the solar power as well.

Did you notice the Haskell Company was the "ad" in the Option 3 drawing?  Tell me politics isn't the reason this program got pushed through.

As to three options, they are all really just variations of one option.  I expected to see three completely different designs.

Still waiting for JTA to tell us the economics/business model for this program.  Why are they holding back?

[Fallen Buckeye]

I like Option 1, but if there were someone in a wheelchair in the handicap spot it would be awfully awkward to lean over them to look at the route map. Unless of course you can see the map from both inside and outside the shelter. It doesn't really say whether you can. It's nice that it is fairly open too which would allow a breeze through on hot summer days, but it's closed off enough to keep most of the rain out during those afternoon showers.

[tufsu1]

Still waiting for JTA to tell us the economics/business model for this program.  Why are they holding back?[/b]

because JTA doesn't need to have a business model for this program....the private shelter company will construct, install, and maintain the shelters...and sell advertising to cover their costs

[stjr]

Still waiting for JTA to tell us the economics/business model for this program.  Why are they holding back?[/b]

because JTA doesn't need to have a business model for this program....the private shelter company will construct, install, and maintain the shelters...and sell advertising to cover their costs

If the private company provides the shelters, why don't they bid the contract and have the private company participate in the shelter selection?  The shelter type might be of interest to the private company that is to buy, install, maintain, and run ads on them, ya' think?  Also, the locations.  Do they have any bidders qualified yet?  Does the private company take the shelters away when their contract is up?  How long is the contract for?  How many shelters?  Where?  What constitutes maintenance?  Just the shelter or also emptying trash cans and cleaning the graffiti and crud off the structure?  What if JTA changes a route and the shelter needs to be moved?  Who pays for that?  What is the RFP looking like?  By the way, this contract will be public information so we will see the details eventually.

JTA better care about the business model because it will determine IF there are ANY bidders, and, if so, the number, location, and quality of shelters to be built. And, don't think the taxpayers are ever completely off the hook.  This is a typical government agency that is in over its head when it comes to being business-like.  I fully expect them to get out-hustled.  Just the way they are doing this, not to mention all the other things they do, makes that clear.

Still wondering why Haskell is featured in the prototype drawing.  I can't imagine that's an accident.  Ya' think Preston wants to sell or install for JTA the shelters?  Does he have influence over this program?  Someone is trying to curry favor somehow. 

[Ocklawaha]

Here's a couple of Ocklacomments for our JTA pro's...





Guess which ones are in Florida? Yeah right! BOTH! Note the roof extended out to cover the boarding area. Ever try to board a bus in a pouring Florida downpour with lightning falling like mortar shells all around... I didn't think so, but down in South Florida, THEY HAVE FIGURED IT OUT! Copy the railroad technology that has been around since about 1880, call it a "Butterfly Roof" and get our buses out of the rain.



Some agencies consider that bicyclist are part of the commuting world, when they do they offer protection from the elements not just for the rider but for the machine as well. Note the Bike Bollard is WITHIN the area covered by the roof line.




Ya know, we've talked about the 1,000 and one ways to grab some "choice riders" (people that normally would NOT ride public transit and prefer their own autos) in our system. Flying buses, zeppelins and onboard rodeo's, but if the guy or gal in the 3 piece suit is melting, IT WON'T WORK!  You have to provide something as comfortable as the family Edsel. In the 3Rd World, they have met this challenge with an air conditioned shelter.
Now before you jump off a bridge screaming that Ock has lost his mind, consider that I'm saying these COULD BE employed in key locations only. Ever see the Courthouse Bus Stop at 4:30 PM? How about Regency? Avenues? UNF?  Ah HA!  This coupled with the extended roof would be tantamount to a jet-way for motor coaches. Hey Mr. or Ms. PR Person? Want our REALLY premium ad sites? Do we wait for Commuter Rail or? Such a deal...



Will our shelters have any "COOL" to them besides a lack of AC or Fans? How about some cool lighting, since we'd have to admit it, Jacksonville does know how to light things up. So how about it JTA? JTA colors? Jag Colors? COLOR COLORS? Get out of the box!




This is a shelter in Boston that even an auto manufacturer can love... In fact this is called a PRIUS SHELTER, and the solar powered Toyota PR folks are plopping these about the country. Not just solar powered mind you but FREE WI-FI for anyone that logs onto the "JTA" MTA System.


OCKLAWAHA