A smaller vision for JTA better for Jacksonville?

[rjp2008]

I couldn't even tell you where in South Florida the authority that is responsible for the Palm Tran is. I didn't even know what their name was - SFRTA - until I looked it up. All we know is, they make the Palm Tran (busses) available to people. Do they market it also? If so, I don't see it much but that's fine. It works well. They don't handle building road infrastructure either. Ditto for the Miami Metromover and Metrorail.

JTA seems to market itself likes it's the answer to everything under the sun. Instead of "JTA" being on the bus - a self-promoting tactic - shouldn't it be JAX BUS or JAX MOVER or something? At least the trolley is just known as "the Trolley". It's very unlikely that a huge government agency is going to give up power to build roads AND transit anytime soon.

Is there any chance for PRIVATE COMMUTER RAIL to do their own thing independantly and show them how it's done?

[simms3]

Just to provide some context: MARTA in Atlanta is strictly a transit agency focused on rail and bus.  Gubernatorial candidate Karen Handel has proposed making MARTA focus only on rail (she is a proponent of light rail) and auctioning off bus routes to a private entity.  I think it could possibly be very progressive, possibly profitable, and good for the city in the long run, but it remains to be widely debated.  She also wants the state involved in MARTA funding.  Currently MARTA is the only transit agency not at least partially subsidized by the state...all of it comes from Fulton and Dekalb counties and the City of Atlanta.

[fsujax]

Sure a private company could own and run commuter rail system, as long as they made enough money to stay in business. I am sure the private host railroad owners (CSX, FEC) wouldn't mind a competing private entity operating on their tracks.

[CS Foltz]

fsujax............I would agree! Especially if they were paid a fee for use of the tracks! Why put a new system in when there is trackage available to start with? Get that going and then look at something dedicated for inner core expansion or plan for that from the onset!