Fleming Island/Green Cove Springs

[GayLA]

I think it's safe to say that the Greater Fleming Island/Green Cove Springs area has grown to the point where we need at least a local transit plan. Choice Ride only runs at weird times of the day and almost senseless when it comes to job scheduling. Maybe JTA can expand the WS2 Route from the Orange Park mall to the Fleming Island Post Office and on to the Clay County Courthouse with stops along the way. That would boost the economy on the Island and the Springs greatly and also help Jacksonville in terms of branching out to a more developed transit system by accommodating it's populated suburban areas.

[JeffreyS]

Clay has set aside land for a multimodal commuter rail stop for Flemming Island but is stuck waiting for the JTA's commuter plans to get off the ground.

[Timkin]

It is amazing how much that area has populated in my time.  When I was a kid , there was zero out on Fleming Island.. now Clay County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the Country.

[Ocklawaha]

Unless they get with the program and find some funding for capital costs and operation within Clay, that station will stay a pine woods with good intentions.


OCKLAWAHA

[Timkin]

Ock I actually remember the building that once was the train station in GCS ..  Demolished long ago of course.

[Ocklawaha]

Yes the incredibly plain concrete "modern" station that sat South of Highway 16's crossing of the old Atlantic Coast Line.  Hell I remember when passenger trains stopped there regularly.

Stupid Speeder Wouldn't go...


And this was moving like a BAT OUT OF HELL right for us!

That station was close to the site where I lost one of my 9 lives! A bunch of off duty ACL crew members decided to take a joy ride on a small motor-inspection car. This took place at the Green Cove Springs Navy Railroad and a few hundred feet of ACL mainline. Since they had the keys, they pulled it out of the shed and off we went on the old Navy Base trackage. Then they decided to get brave and REALLY let her stretch her legs, so we putt-putted out onto the mainline just south of that station. For some reason I was the only one facing south and by far the youngest contraband rider on the rails.  The thing was loud and as we approached the closed station (Sunday) the operator said, "Guys this is serious, nobody make ANY jokes about a train coming..." So I looked up and to my horror saw the sweeping mars light of a rapidly oncoming train. "HEY! THERE IS A TRAIN!" We tossed it in reverse to get back down into the woods where we could hide our illegal activity on the old Navy tracks. As soon as he gunned it the stupid thing died, DOA!  Four big guys bailed and started pushing, "OH CRAP that thing is coming fast!" Of course we had to head straight for it! We were at a full run when we hit the switch and rolled off into the safety of the trees. These boys knew more four letter words then a 30 year Gunnery Sargent. I don't think we had stopped rolling when the northbound CITY OF MIAMI flashed past doing all of 80. The dummy's had to push the stupid car all the way across US 17 and far back out onto the base.

In the end I survived and the Station didn't... Sad, because it DID stay in place long after most had been torn down and I sort of hoped the railroad was going to find some use for it. I wonder if there was any local effort to save it? I hear the old Yukon Station, near the Orange Park Mall is now also threatened after being saved and moved so long ago.

(History buffs note the CITY OF MIAMI was an Illinois Central Train with a constant paint scheme even though each railroad that forwarded it to Miami added cars to the pool.  It ran Chicago/St.Louis-Birmingham-Columbus-Albany-JAX-Miami/Tampa.)

OCKLAWAHA

[Timkin]

No there was not.. In fact the City Management of Green Cove Springs saw to it that quite a few Historic Structures met their demise in the name of Progress.... to name a couple

The Cove Theatre , right next door to the Clay Theatre ( now a vacant lot/ parking /for sale

The Lee Field Navy Base ( Current site of Reynolds Industrial Park )

The Qui-Sis-ana Hotel (now the site of the current city Hall)

The Origonal Bank of Green Cove Springs , adjacent to Cove Theatre (Vacant lot now)
 
 I am actually surprised that the Origonal Clay County Courthouse and the Clay County Jail were not bulldozed...   These are a few I can think of right off the top of my head...but actually there were blocks of the buildings in the City that came down , that were really not in that bad of shape.



 They learned from their northern neighbors in Jacksonville..

[north miami]

No there was not.. In fact the City Management of Green Cove Springs saw to it that quite a few Historic Structures met their demise in the name of Progress.... to name a couple

The Cove Theatre , right next door to the Clay Theatre ( now a vacant lot/ parking /for sale

The Lee Field Navy Base ( Current site of Reynolds Industrial Park )

The Qui-Sis-ana Hotel (now the site of the current city Hall)

The Origonal Bank of Green Cove Springs , adjacent to Cove Theatre (Vacant lot now)
 
 I am actually surprised that the Origonal Clay County Courthouse and the Clay County Jail were not bulldozed...   These are a few I can think of right off the top of my head...but actually there were blocks of the buildings in the City that came down , that were really not in that bad of shape.



 They learned from their northern neighbors in Jacksonville..

Recall too the late 70's/early 80's Clay County push for a Green Cove area location for the then proposed JEA coal fire plants.Had it not been for the bad political blood between Clay & Duval and JEA (the bumper stickers : "No JEA In Clay!) it is likely Green Cove could have become the site.I vividly recall the battle and players.

Also at about the time of the 'No JEA!" rant we were witnessing the demise of Blanding Blvd. and noted significant "growth" and traffic light placement impending for US 17.The lands along US 17 between OP and GC were largely held by "Timber" companies-typical of most lands developed recently.

When one looks to Clay county restb assured,and forewarned that you are merging in to "traffic" and not some especially suited idyllic community of the future.

[Shwaz]

I would agree there is a definite need. My girlfriends brother is starting his life over again after a traumatic brain injury last year. While working on his education plans he found multiple programs and college options but unfortunately he couldn't find a public transportation option to get him from Flemming Island to his classes. I couldn't help but be disappointed knowing their are already adequate rail lines running from his neighborhood all the way to FSCJ. 

[fsujax]

GayLA, I wouldn't worry too much. My sources tell me JTA has begun design of a park and ride lot at the future commuter rail stop at CR 220 and Sleepy Hollow. The site will offer commuter express bus service to Jacksonville in the short term and from what I hear the JTA is going to purchase new commuter buses equipped with WiFi. Plans will continue to move forward with commuter rail as well. Rail service might not be available right away, but it will come. Clay County is actually being very proactive with planning for the future and accomodating transit. I would say they are ahead of the other regional counties in our area.

[Timkin]

Of course, by the time that is reality, you may likely be living in LA