THE SKYWAY SHOULD BE...?? POLL

[Timkin]

Ock ,Jim and Lunican all know where I would have it run.   Ock's Idea for it to run to PS#4 is a fit . I wish it would become reality.

[mtraininjax]

Abandon it, tear down the concrete and use for reef projects, sell the cars to other cities or for scrap. JTA cannot justify keeping it without an overall transit plan that residents have buy-in and help in creating. JTA cannot find their way out of a paper bag.

[Timkin]

LOL!  Only you M.

[stjr]

LOL!  Only you M.

Not only M... his views are most prevalent outside the MJ community.  Good thing this poll isn't at the ballot box or you might see much different results.

[Timkin]

the Skyway would be more commonly used if it were connected to more than one or two even reasonably decent destinations. You may be right stjr... But I was thinking this idea takes care of two issues, one being a useful destination for the SW and a reuse for a building that deserves another chance..  M would be opposed to either one just because I am for them  but thats okay too.  Tear it down if the majority rules. but leave ps 4 to find a new use for it.

[mtraininjax]

stjr - I am a realist and can see what the Skyway is: A daily bloated reminder of taxpayer waste that should be removed so that some good can finally come from the pieces and parts.

Of course, Timken and others would gladly place the historic tag on the Skyway and rally to save it when it loses money and is a lightening rod for continuous waste. Thanks to the JTA and their continuous waste, you will soon be paying 6 cents a gallon more, for even more "future" waste.

[Timkin]

on this note M, I will correct you.  I would not place a historic tag on the Skyway..  I simply am stating that if the thing is ever going to be usable , I would propose extending it to some destinations where people would use it. 

I do not apologize to you or anyone for loving buildings that are historic...and I sure wish monies and uses were readily available for them... extending the skyway to Brooklyn/5points (in my humble and perhaps wrong opinion) would make use of the School when one other than residential was never seriously considered.  Of the two (historic buildings or the Skyway) Id see the skyway taken down.  I regret that a more serious approach to the thing was not entertained before building it. I do not like that it runs down Hogan and Dead ends at Union.  I sort of side with you about its feasibility as it currently is.  To make it usable and ever profitable , it must be expanded to other destinations.  That was all I was saying.  There is nothing historic about it. It was built well after my time.

[stjr]

Timkin, I share your love for all things historic and you have seen my posts to that effect repeatedly on MJ.  As to the school, I would fully support it in anyway possible and its use as a terminal/station for streetcars/buses would have my full support.  I don't need to repeat here my concerns, along the lines of Mtrain, regarding the cost/benefit ratio of further expanding the Skyway to there or anywhere else.

[Timkin]

Thanks stjr.  That was all I was getting at.  For as long as I can remember the only proposed use for the School was residential.  Given its proximity, and lack of land space, I just cannot envision residential working there.  I can envision a transit terminal, be it skyway, bus , train, trolley, mule and wagon, whatever.  I was personally NEVER in love with the Skyway.  But I do feel that part of the growth of our city hinges on transportation modes similar to this extending around the city.  Appreciate your support of Historic Buildings.  This is a fit for Annie Lytle School.

[mtraininjax]

Timken - expanding the skyway to save PS4 is akin to saving the Riverside Fire Station because someone might come along and have a use for it later. So far no one in the city or RAP has shown how or if PS4 could be used for anything other than a landing post for pigeons. No city council person has brought new plans forth and no one on MJ has put forth anything, other than hot air, to provide a credible solution. Be thankful the residential and commercial problems overshadow the issues with PS4.

[stjr]

Timkin, I once suggested that the school may also serve as an entry point/gateway for tourists coming off the new I-95/I-10 ramps or connecting by streetcar.  As such, it could be the starting point for tours of Riverside, Downtown, Springfield, and San Marco and may be a good location for such organizations as RAP, the Tourism Council, Convention and Visitors Bureau, local hotel and restaurant associations, and other tourist related companies/activities.

[Timkin]

   Perhaps it could be utilized for both...setting aside the Skyway , and just using Bus/Trolley.

[mtraininjax]

stjr - The skyway is a political albatross that will take the leader who tackles it to the bottom of the river. No one on the southside cares about the skyway and most of the population is removed from using it. JTA is only concerned with increasing the gas tax to pay for new road construction. They don't care about the skyway anymore than the people who live on the southside.

Tours from PS4? Ghost tours are a great start, let's see how much revenue comes in from these tours. Seriously!

[stjr]

stjr - The skyway is a political albatross that will take the leader who tackles it to the bottom of the river. .... JTA is only concerned with increasing the gas tax to pay for new road construction. They don't care about the skyway anymore than the people who live on the southside.

Mtrain, we agree on your Skyway and gas tax points.  I have tried to make these points on MJ but, for the most part, the reception in these quarters could hardly be called "open" to this line of thinking.  Most here think they can have a further expanded Skyway, streetcars, commuter rail, buses, and other mass transit modes at once and don't see one interfering with the likelihood of getting the others.  Aside from the political constraints, there are the financial ones.  JTA can't find a few hundred grand from taxpayers for "popular" bus shelters... I don't know where people think they will find tens of millions for the "unpoplular" Skyway.

[comncense]

I voted to expand its routes. I'd have it go to the Sports Complex, San Marco, The Landing, 5 Points and possibly Avondale. The Sports Complex is a no-brainer though.