From the T-U:
QuoteJacksonville police are warning of a monster jam downtown Saturday afternoon, and they aren't just talking about GraveDigger and Maximum Destruction.
Along with about 72,000 fans expected for the annual Monster Jam truck show at EverBank Field, every other downtown venue will be in use for 11 concerts, plays, sporting events, even a beauty pageant.
That should mean one thing to anyone planning on being there: Don't be a laggard.
"The key word is to arrive early," Sgt. Leonard Propper said. "Add some time to your commute. It is going to be very slow getting into the sports complex and downtown because of all the venues."
...
"Every city venue has something going on," Propper said. "Traffic is going to be very heavy that day."
Fans will have three of four lanes of East Bay Street flowing toward the stadium as of 3 p.m. with signs pointing to parking lots. The Hart Bridge will be open, as will all other downtown bridges.
Fans coming from out of town will have 13 electronic signs to guide them into downtown from Interstates 10 and 95.
Beaver and Monroe streets aren't used as much, and are recommended, as is Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway to Talleyrand Avenue to Eighth Street to get to the stadium's east side parking, Propper said.
"Don't go by your GPS. Follow the signboards," he said.
Police will be out controlling traffic with more officers in and around the stadium to watch for underage drinkers, Propper said.
Attendees also are reminded that parking in city lots around the stadium and the private lots nearby are cash only...
Here's the original article. http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-02-23/story/downtown-jacksonville-traffic-will-be-monster-jam-saturday (http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-02-23/story/downtown-jacksonville-traffic-will-be-monster-jam-saturday)
First of all, why does Jacksonville continue to act like having people downtown is akin to an impending natural disaster? I was in Charleston last weekend. Traffic was terrible. People were everywhere. IT WAS FANTASTIC.
Second, if Jacksonville is going to charge for parking, why doesn't the city at least invest in some technology that will enable them to accept non-cash forms of payment? I and many of my peers don't make it a habit to carry cash. Installing credit card machines won't cost that much and will create a "less hassle" impression by anyone considering going downtown.
But the parking thing aside, the city's weird handling of Downtown anytime more than a dozen people are there continues to baffle me. Charleston was full of tourists, there were no cops, and yet everyone seemed to figure it out okay.
I just don't understand it.
This is hilarious.
Cop 1: "Sorry to inconvenience you ma'am. We're trying to get all these people out of here as soon as possible, but some idiot up there said he was hungry and tried to park in one of them parallel parking spaces up ahead. Parking! In DOWNTOWN! Can you believe that?? I told him there was a Whattaburger at the next exit once he got on I-10, but he wouldn't listen. Idiot. Anyway, we'll get you back to Mandarin as soon as we can."
--------Change Scene---------
Cop 2: "Hey Earl, why you think all these people comin' downtown tonight? Don't they know we got crime and stuff down here?"
Earl: "Officer, ain't you heard?? They got them Monster Trucks downtown tonight!!!"
Cop 2: "Daaagggummm!!!! Wish I'da known!! Why don't they do that out at the e-quest-rian center they built"
Earl: " I don't know. It'd be a helluva lot easier to get to. They don't have all these stupid buildings and traffic lights out there. And who the heck are these fancy folks trying to go to see a... what do they call it?? A play??
Cop 2: "I dunno. Those artsy fartsy folks. Who do they think they are??? They must be from Avondale or sumthin."
Earl: "Hahaha, they probably watch CNN or somethin stupid like that. Liberals"
Cop 2: "Yeah, those Rachel Maddow lovin folks. They're tryin to take away our guns!! THEY TOOK OUR GUNS!!"
Earl: : "FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS!! (spits out dip) Hey. You think Glenn Beck will be there tonight??"
Cop 2: "Shoot. If so, I'm leaving my post and comin in"
Earl: "GETTTIR DONE!!!"
-------End Scene---------
I am going to ride my bike to the Monster Truck Jam! thats right and urban dweller, fairly educated going to the truck jam! haha
Speaking of traffic and police, does anyone know if the First Baptist Church pays for all the police directing traffic on Sunday mornings? If so, fine; if not, why not?
Quote from: Bativac on February 24, 2011, 09:25:08 AM.........But the parking thing aside, the city's weird handling of Downtown anytime more than a dozen people are there continues to baffle me. Charleston was full of tourists, there were no cops, and yet everyone seemed to figure it out okay.
I just don't understand it...........
You don't understand the maintenance of traffic or the traffic generated by the difference between 12 people and 72,000 people?
Quote from: Captain Zissou on February 24, 2011, 09:46:01 AM
Cop 2: "Yeah, those Rachel Maddow lovin folks. They're tryin to take away our guns!! THEY TOOK OUR GUNS!!"
DOOK KER DOO!
Quote from: Overstreet on February 24, 2011, 11:37:34 AM
You don't understand the maintenance of traffic or the traffic generated by the difference between 12 people and 72,000 people?
I believe the point that was being made is this: you don't need any traffic control when there are 12 people downtown. However, there is infrastructure in place to deal with gameday crowds (a four lane road where each lane can switch directions, for example). But when there is a gameday, instead of just using the infrastructure they have in place, they bring out a bunch of cops and cones and just completely disregard the whole thing.
If only downtown looked like that every day!
Quote from: Overstreet on February 24, 2011, 11:37:34 AM
Quote from: Bativac on February 24, 2011, 09:25:08 AM.........But the parking thing aside, the city's weird handling of Downtown anytime more than a dozen people are there continues to baffle me. Charleston was full of tourists, there were no cops, and yet everyone seemed to figure it out okay.
I just don't understand it...........
You don't understand the maintenance of traffic or the traffic generated by the difference between 12 people and 72,000 people?
Okay, I understand the logistics aspect of it - what I don't get is the city continues to act like Downtown must be avoided at all costs, and they turn it into a police state if a healthy crowd turns out.
It just seems stupid to me. Not the police presence necessarily but the issuance of warnings beforehand. What other major city warns people that downtown traffic might be heavy on a weekend? They make downtown out to be Thunderdome, with police present to hold your hand and protect you from all the traffic.
Maybe it's just me.
Too bad the transit options aren't more connected to stadium. Taking 2 kids to Monster Jam and live a half block from a Riverside Trolley stop. I can get to the Landing, but then what? Walking with a 6 yr old is rough. A nice skyway extension to stadium would be nice.
Also I second the idea of making it easier to pay with credit/debit card.
What is everyone's aversion to cash?
It's accepted everywhere. If you lose it, that's all you lose. If it's stolen, it's all they're going to get from you. You may not collect points and miles, but you don't pay interest charges on it either.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on February 24, 2011, 12:24:19 PM
What is everyone's aversion to cash?
It's accepted everywhere. If you lose it, that's all you lose. If it's stolen, it's all they're going to get from you. You may not collect points and miles, but you don't pay interest charges on it either.
i see both sides ov it. i never use credit because i don't like any ov what's attached to it--but now that i have a check card, i'm always doïng debit because i find it more convenient than sorting through cash--and regarding loss or theft, as long as you keep on top ov these things, you should be able to get a card cut off before thieves can make any use ov it at all.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on February 24, 2011, 12:24:19 PM
What is everyone's aversion to cash?
It's accepted everywhere. If you lose it, that's all you lose. If it's stolen, it's all they're going to get from you. You may not collect points and miles, but you don't pay interest charges on it either.
With my Visa branded debit card, which I have been using for over 10 years, I pay no interest and if it is stolen, I lose no money - a quick call to my bank and everything is taken care of. Plus, I collect points. With cash, if you lose cash, or if it's stolen, that money is gone. My dad and sister have been robbed a couple times and my dad lost a sizeable chunk of money.
So perhaps I should have said "credit cards and Visa-branded debit cards," because that's what I meant. "Bank cards" maybe.
OK.
Maybe it's just me, but when I go out, I hit up an ATM and go. I've never had a card stolen or someone running up fraudulent charges, so it's not a 'I won't get bitten again' sort of thing, I just prefer to use cash. I keep a debit card and a credit card on me, I just prefer using the paper over the plastic.
I have friends that use nothing but their cards and ask them the same questions when they bitch about having to pay cash for things -such as parking and bars @ events. Their answer, because cards are more convenient, my response is usually - I guess not so much right now.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on February 24, 2011, 03:09:15 PM
Their answer, because cards are more convenient, my response is usually - I guess not so much right now.
hahaha! Well played. I think the argument is for downtown parking to be more convenient by allowing the option to use cash OR credit. Not that its such a hassle to have cash, but options are more convenient than a lack of same. And actually, swiping the card is quicker/easier than getting change back, etc.
Quote from: Overstreet on February 24, 2011, 11:37:34 AM
You don't understand the maintenance of traffic or the traffic generated by the difference between 12 people and 72,000 people?
I think YOU don't understand that having thousands of people downtown is something that should be embraced and the city should strive to get as many of them as possible to linger, eat, shop, drink, sightsee. Instead, it's treated as a potential disaster and people are warned away and those that do go are funnelled out of the city as quickly as possible.
Quote from: JHAT76 on February 24, 2011, 12:10:19 PM
Too bad the transit options aren't more connected to stadium. Taking 2 kids to Monster Jam and live a half block from a Riverside Trolley stop. I can get to the Landing, but then what? Walking with a 6 yr old is rough. A nice skyway extension to stadium would be nice.
Also I second the idea of making it easier to pay with credit/debit card.
Mike Blaylock said on his Making Moves TV show this week that JTA is in the process of getting a new farebox system for the buses, trolleys and Skyway. It will have smart card technology so you can pay with credit/debit cards or cash.
The city rejected the extension that JTA had planned years ago to the stadium district, shands, riverside, san marco. Got too political. Once all the businesses starting moving out of downtown in the late 80s, nobody left in downtown to ride the darned thing. So funding extensions weren't going to happen. It will take a city leader with real vision to make that happen now. Hell Rick Mullaney wants to tear the Skyway down. That's not vision.
MJ had a real good post on this awhile back.
Traffic control for this many events may be necessary. Every city, even New York does traffic control for sudden, large crowds.
That being said, the way the article was phrased did strike me as very "Jacksonville." 'OMG, we're going to have 72,000 people downtown!! Avoid at all costs, OMG.' Some cities have 72,000 people living downtown, LoL.
Not to keep mentioning other cities, but it must be done: If this were an anomaly event in Atlanta or Nashville or Austin or Richmond (which this kind of crowd is almost an everyday occurrence in some of these cities), then the article would have headlined something like this:
And Now the Opportunity to Make a Lasting Impression
"As 72,000 people crowd downtown for multiple events, now is the chance we have been waiting for to showcase the center of our town to people who don't normally make the drive in. Restaurants, bars, and retailers are hoping to cash in on the crowds and prove to them that there is reason to come downtown afterall. In preparation for all of the events, stores and dining/drinking establishments have set up specials for event goers who can present their tickets. A massive marketing campaign is underway.
The goal is to prove to suburbanites that downtown is actually the place to be. This is hopefully one of many future opportunities to create a larger fan base and a draw. Etc etc"
Geez, talk about armchair quarterbacking.
If the city didn't provide any instructions, would you be the first to post with a public rip on how the visitors weren't served?
It's more than just traffic, it's also public safety. People unfamiliar with Jax might actually cause an accident and if no one was around to help from JSO, things would just get worse as people take things into their own hands.
All cities provide notices when their downtown has concurrent events. It's not a Jax thing, its the right thing to do in the name of public services.
Think of all the positive things events like this bring to Jax, like, tax dollars, visibility, relevance, and perhaps, just perhaps, some of them might stick around long enough to go have a drink on Bay Street or god forbid....a bar in sacrosanct Springfield.
I too wish there were better transit options, but knocking our public fathers for getting the word out is a nit pick at the highest of levels.
I don't think that you can comment intelligently without having driven home from a Jags game.
Yes. There is a major police force in town to direct traffic. Yes. I believe that just the presence actually prevents people (of which a good percentage is intoxicated) from driving like complete assholes. Yes. They have no problem letting you turn onto side streets. Many times leaving the game, I've turned from Bay to Ocean and made a quick left onto Adams and parked and walked to NSS. I've had no problems getting to Shanty Town after a Jags game. The people who want to stay, do. Most don't, and JSO does provide them an expeditious exit to their suburbs.
Would you consider NOT having JSO downtown during the Jags games and other large events at the stadium?
Quote from: stephendare on February 24, 2011, 05:43:24 PM
Quote from: finehoe on February 24, 2011, 05:41:21 PM
Quote from: Overstreet on February 24, 2011, 11:37:34 AM
You don't understand the maintenance of traffic or the traffic generated by the difference between 12 people and 72,000 people?
I think YOU don't understand that having thousands of people downtown is something that should be embraced and the city should strive to get as many of them as possible to linger, eat, shop, drink, sightsee. Instead, it's treated as a potential disaster and people are warned away and those that do go are funnelled out of the city as quickly as possible.
Exactly.
Keeping people downtown that want to be somewhere else won't get them into shopping, resturants or bars.
Quote from: stephendare on February 24, 2011, 11:29:56 PM
Did you bother to read the post or did you just see the word Jaguars, and begin to speak randomly.
The problem is that these idiots are actually warning people not to come downtown.
GO DAWGS!
Nope, I just didn't put my incorrect 2-cents into a conversation. My comments are based on actual happenings, not some, "I heard about this happening" bullshit.
There were two negatives in the article:
1. Don't be a laggard.
2. Don't go by your GPS.
How you can mis-interpret that to "Don't go downtown" is uncomprehendable.
The title of this thread is completely wrong... Here is the article... again. It really seems to talk about how popular downtown will be this weekend and you will be an uncool loser if you are not part of the crowd... :)
QuoteJacksonville police are warning of a monster jam downtown Saturday afternoon, and they aren't just talking about GraveDigger and Maximum Destruction.
Along with about 72,000 fans expected for the annual Monster Jam truck show at EverBank Field, every other downtown venue will be in use for 11 concerts, plays, sporting events, even a beauty pageant.
That should mean one thing to anyone planning on being there: Don't be a laggard.
"The key word is to arrive early," Sgt. Leonard Propper said. "Add some time to your commute. It is going to be very slow getting into the sports complex and downtown because of all the venues."
...
"Every city venue has something going on," Propper said. "Traffic is going to be very heavy that day."
Fans will have three of four lanes of East Bay Street flowing toward the stadium as of 3 p.m. with signs pointing to parking lots. The Hart Bridge will be open, as will all other downtown bridges.
Fans coming from out of town will have 13 electronic signs to guide them into downtown from Interstates 10 and 95.
Beaver and Monroe streets aren't used as much, and are recommended, as is Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway to Talleyrand Avenue to Eighth Street to get to the stadium's east side parking, Propper said.
"Don't go by your GPS. Follow the signboards," he said.
Police will be out controlling traffic with more officers in and around the stadium to watch for underage drinkers, Propper said.
Attendees also are reminded that parking in city lots around the stadium and the private lots nearby are cash only...
Complete with maps...
(http://jacksonville.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/story_slideshow_thumb/MonsterTrafficJam022411.jpg)
Ok yea not a terrible article, but it could have been better probably (I guess one can always find a fault)...Well I hope downtown is a success with all of these visitors!
I would have loved to have seen the paragragh you suggested earlier added to the article... :)
I'd love to see the people of this city freak out for something other than a football game or a big truck...what about art...what about music....and we all wonder why the test scores are so low in jacksonville.
Quote from: stephendare on February 24, 2011, 10:24:47 PM
Quote from: spuwho on February 24, 2011, 09:23:51 PM
Geez, talk about armchair quarterbacking.
If the city didn't provide any instructions, would you be the first to post with a public rip on how the visitors weren't served?
It's more than just traffic, it's also public safety. People unfamiliar with Jax might actually cause an accident and if no one was around to help from JSO, things would just get worse as people take things into their own hands.
All cities provide notices when their downtown has concurrent events. It's not a Jax thing, its the right thing to do in the name of public services.
Think of all the positive things events like this bring to Jax, like, tax dollars, visibility, relevance, and perhaps, just perhaps, some of them might stick around long enough to go have a drink on Bay Street or god forbid....a bar in sacrosanct Springfield.
I too wish there were better transit options, but knocking our public fathers for getting the word out is a nit pick at the highest of levels.
are you serious spuwho? Ive lived in a LOT of cities, and this is the least accurate thing I can imagine being said.
What makes you so out of touch is that the cops don't allow people to linger in either downtown or springfield. They litererally corral them back to the suburbs as quickly as possible, and are on record bragging about their awards for evacuating the city in record time.
By 'city' you must mean 'palatka'. ::)
I am assuming then that you are referring to Palatka and Waldo or perhaps Starke as the cities you have lived in previously. Perhaps Citra? ;D
In all of the events downtown I have attended, I have never been corraled, pushed nor even a suggestion made for me to depart asap. I have lingered through downtown as long as I have wanted.
I have lived in cities as small as 8000 and as large as 3 million, Jacksonville to me does not stand out any worse or better than those.
You are reading way too much in this request from the city.
Quote from: Garden guy on February 25, 2011, 07:10:05 AM
I'd love to see the people of this city freak out for something other than a football game or a big truck...what about art...what about music....and we all wonder why the test scores are so low in jacksonville.
Come on Garden Guy, did you notice the 11 concerts, plays, and beauty pagents mentioned in the article? Ever been to Art Walk? RAM?
There are plenty of other things people get excited about in this town even if we are all football and monster truck loving simpletons with low test scores.
Quote from: Garden guy on February 25, 2011, 07:10:05 AM
I'd love to see the people of this city freak out for something other than a football game or a big truck...what about art...what about music....and we all wonder why the test scores are so low in jacksonville.
I'm with you on the music thing. The only thing that seems to draw decent crowds in Jax are the arena shows. I go to Jack Rabbits and Freebird often, but I regularly make the 2 hour trip to Orlando for a true concert experience. There's always a better turn out down there, at least for the bands I want to see.
as far as concerts go, we suffer from a lack ov good mid-sized venues. we have any number ov tiny and small clubs, and if someöne dreadfully serious and/or famous comes through, there's the T-U center and the stadium (has the stadium been used for shows? i honestly don't know--if it hasn't, it seems like it should be)--but since we lost club five, the only good mid-sized venue we have is freebird--and aside from beïng out at the beach, they're kind ov on the small end ov mid-sized.
Quote from: KuroiKetsunoHana on February 25, 2011, 10:47:20 AM
as far as concerts go, we suffer from a lack ov good mid-sized venues. we have any number ov tiny and small clubs, and if someöne dreadfully serious and/or famous comes through, there's the T-U center and the stadium (has the stadium been used for shows? i honestly don't know--if it hasn't, it seems like it should be)--but since we lost club five, the only good mid-sized venue we have is freebird--and aside from beïng out at the beach, they're kind ov on the small end ov mid-sized.
They have used the stadium for some shows but not a lot. I believe that Faith Hill and Tim McGraw played there. U2 played many years ago I think. The Beatles played in '64 :)
I think some of you guys are right and I overreacted to the original article. I'm just reminded of being downtown after Jags games, where side streets are closed off and all cars are immediately evacuated over the bridges.
I'm frustrated with Jacksonville but I think that's more on me and what I want out of a city than on Jacksonville. Most people in town probably are frightened and confused by the idea of driving around downtown and prefer the gentle reassurance of the police guiding them out of the area, post-entertainment.
Probably shouldn't have spent the weekend in Charleston. As my dad said while we were there, it's everything Jacksonville could have been.
Lots of stuff: ;D
Monster Truck Jam at EverBank Field
§ Pit Party 1 p.m. â€" 5 p.m.
§ Gates Open at: 5 p.m.
§ Show starts at: 7 p.m.
Starting at 9 a.m. Saturday no parking will be allowed on Bay Street. The roadway will be in a two eastbound lanes/two westbound lanes traffic pattern.
Stadium Parking Map
Inbound Traffic: (Map)
§ Inbound Traffic patterns pre-event do not restrict access to any Downtown/Sports complex venue.
§ Starting at 3 p.m. Saturday, Bay Street will have 3 lanes east bound and 1 lane west bound.
§ Signage will be posted in the downtown area to direct event traffic to parking lot locations for parking.
§ Follow us on Twitter (@JSOPIO) all afternoon for traffic and parking updates. (#MTJ)
Outbound Traffic: (Map)
§ Starting at appx.10 p.m., Gator Bowl Blvd. at Festival Way (WJCT) will be one-way north bound.
§ Starting at appx.10 p.m., Bay Street/Gator Bowl Blvd starting at Lot "J" exit will be one-way west bound.
§ There will be one way traffic patterns away from the complex post event for 45 minutes to one hour.
§ If you are planning to pick up passengers post event, you will have to wait until after the traffic pattern returns to normal, approximately 60 min after the event ends.
§ Taxi drop off and pick up is located at the North End of the stadium, near Gate 3.
Additional Event Day Tips:
§ Arrive early, traffic is expected to be slow.
§ Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and Florida Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco enforcement agents will be working this event with a focus on underage drinking.
§ Beaver St. and Monroe St. are underutilized; if you are parking on the west side of the stadium, these streets will get you to the parking garages and all the lots on the west side of the stadium.
§ There is very little PRE-PAID parking as to today. Fans should be familiar with where they hope to park before the day of the event. A map of parking lots near the stadium is available at www.jaxsheriff.org.
§ No streets will be closed in the sports complex before the start of the Monster Truck Jam. Sign boards will direct drivers into the appropriate lanes for designated lots.
For more information on the event, please go to: http://www.monsterjam.com/Tickets/2011/02/26/Jacksonville,_FL/
_____________________________________________________________
Junior League of Jacksonville's Whale of a Sale
Time: 8:30 a.m. â€" 2 p.m.
Location: Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fairgrounds and Expo Center, 510 Fairgrounds Pl.
See www.jljacksonville.org for details on this event.
_____________________________________________________________
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra presents Tchaikovsky's Fourth
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Times-Union Center of Performing Arts, Jacoby Symphony Hall,
300 W. Water St.
See www.jaxevents.com for details on this event.
_____________________________________________________________
Johnny Mathis Concert
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Times-Union Center of Performing Arts - Moran Theater,
300 W. Water St.
See www.jaxevents.com for details on this event.
_____________________________________________________________
Miss Teen Jacksonville
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Times-Union Center for Performing Arts, Terry Theater,
300 W. Water St.
Call (904) 633-6110 for details on this event.
_____________________________________________________________
ABA All-Star Basketball Game
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Jacksonville Veteran's Memorial Arena, 300 A. Philip Randolph Blvd.
See http://jacksonvillegiants.com/page1129202.aspx for details on this event.
_____________________________________________________________
David E. Talbert Presents "What My Husband Doesn't Know"
Time: 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Location: Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth St.
See www.floridatheatre.com for details on this event.
_____________________________________________________________
Jacksonville Juniors Volleyball Association's (JJVA) Jax Jam Tournament
Time: TBA
Locations:
- Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, 1000 Water St.;
- JJVA Center, 11661 Philips Highway
- Jacksonville Ice & Sportsplex, 3605 Philips Highway
- Florida State College of Jacksonville, 11901 Beach Blvd.
See www.jjva.com for details on this event.
_____________________________________________________________
JEA Home Energy Audit Workshop
Time: 10 a.m. â€" 12 p.m.
Location: Jacksonville Public Library, Main Library, 300 N. Laura St.
Call (904) 630-2665 for more information.
_____________________________________________________________
African American History Book Club
Time: 2 p.m. â€" 5 p.m.
Location: Jacksonville Public Library, Main Library, 300 N. Laura St.
Call (904) 630-2665 for more information.
_____________________________________________________________
Ain't Misbehavin'
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: Ritz Theater and LaVilla Museum, 829 N. Davis St.
Call (904) 632-5555 for more information.
_____________________________________________________________
Live Music in the Courtyard
Time: 8 p.m. â€" 1 a.m.
Location: Jacksonville Landing, 2 W. Independent Dr.
Call (904) 353-1188 for more information or go to www.jacksonvillelanding.com.
_____________________________________________________________ Daily's Ortega River Run
Time: 7:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office will be using a hold and release traffic pattern along the race route.
More Information on the Race and a Course Map
_________________________________________________________
Bike & Boil - JSO Escorted Ride & Law Country Boil
Time: 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office will be using a hold and release traffic pattern along the bike route.
Start at Adamec Harley Davidson, 8909 Baymeadows Rd.
I-95 N. to Park St.
Park St. to Water St.
Water St. to Newnan St.
Newnan St. to Coastline Dr.
Coastline Dr. to Liberty St.
Liberty St. to Bay St.
Bay St. to Gator Bowl Blvd.
Gator Bowl Blvd. to the Arlington Expressway
Arlington Expressway to the Southside Connector
Southside Connector to SR 9A
SR 9A up and over the Dames Point Bridge
South on SR 9A to J. Turner Butler Blvd.
West on J. Turner Butler Blvd. to I-95 S.
South on I-95 to Baymeadows Rd.
End at Adamec Harley Davidson, 8909 Baymeadows Rd.
Quote from: cline on February 25, 2011, 10:57:27 AM
Quote from: KuroiKetsunoHana on February 25, 2011, 10:47:20 AM
as far as concerts go, we suffer from a lack ov good mid-sized venues. we have any number ov tiny and small clubs, and if someöne dreadfully serious and/or famous comes through, there's the T-U center and the stadium (has the stadium been used for shows? i honestly don't know--if it hasn't, it seems like it should be)--but since we lost club five, the only good mid-sized venue we have is freebird--and aside from beïng out at the beach, they're kind ov on the small end ov mid-sized.
They have used the stadium for some shows but not a lot. I believe that Faith Hill and Tim McGraw played there. U2 played many years ago I think. The Beatles played in '64 :)
the Rolling Stones in the 90's
Quote from: Bativac on February 24, 2011, 09:25:08 AM
From the T-U:
QuoteJacksonville police are warning of a monster jam downtown Saturday afternoon, and they aren't just talking about GraveDigger and Maximum Destruction.
Along with about 72,000 fans expected for the annual Monster Jam truck show at EverBank Field, every other downtown venue will be in use for 11 concerts, plays, sporting events, even a beauty pageant.
That should mean one thing to anyone planning on being there: Don't be a laggard.
"The key word is to arrive early," Sgt. Leonard Propper said. "Add some time to your commute. It is going to be very slow getting into the sports complex and downtown because of all the venues."
...
"Every city venue has something going on," Propper said. "Traffic is going to be very heavy that day."
Fans will have three of four lanes of East Bay Street flowing toward the stadium as of 3 p.m. with signs pointing to parking lots. The Hart Bridge will be open, as will all other downtown bridges.
Fans coming from out of town will have 13 electronic signs to guide them into downtown from Interstates 10 and 95.
Beaver and Monroe streets aren't used as much, and are recommended, as is Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway to Talleyrand Avenue to Eighth Street to get to the stadium's east side parking, Propper said.
"Don't go by your GPS. Follow the signboards," he said.
Police will be out controlling traffic with more officers in and around the stadium to watch for underage drinkers, Propper said.
Attendees also are reminded that parking in city lots around the stadium and the private lots nearby are cash only...
Here's the original article. http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-02-23/story/downtown-jacksonville-traffic-will-be-monster-jam-saturday (http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-02-23/story/downtown-jacksonville-traffic-will-be-monster-jam-saturday)
First of all, why does Jacksonville continue to act like having people downtown is akin to an impending natural disaster? I was in Charleston last weekend. Traffic was terrible. People were everywhere. IT WAS FANTASTIC.
Second, if Jacksonville is going to charge for parking, why doesn't the city at least invest in some technology that will enable them to accept non-cash forms of payment? I and many of my peers don't make it a habit to carry cash. Installing credit card machines won't cost that much and will create a "less hassle" impression by anyone considering going downtown.
But the parking thing aside, the city's weird handling of Downtown anytime more than a dozen people are there continues to baffle me. Charleston was full of tourists, there were no cops, and yet everyone seemed to figure it out okay.
I just don't understand it.
Yea I read that article to when it came out. I agree with what you are saying. "Stay Away from Downtown" lol Makes you wonder where the writer of the story lives.
Let's just shut up and be happy there is activity in the downtown area. Us Duvalian's try to find the negative in every damn thing (ugh)
Quote from: Jason on February 24, 2011, 11:49:46 AM
If only downtown looked like that every day!
Right On, at least every other weekend lol.
Quote from: simms3 on February 24, 2011, 06:30:55 PM
Traffic control for this many events may be necessary. Every city, even New York does traffic control for sudden, large crowds.
That being said, the way the article was phrased did strike me as very "Jacksonville." 'OMG, we're going to have 72,000 people downtown!! Avoid at all costs, OMG.' Some cities have 72,000 people living downtown, LoL.
Not to keep mentioning other cities, but it must be done: If this were an anomaly event in Atlanta or Nashville or Austin or Richmond (which this kind of crowd is almost an everyday occurrence in some of these cities), then the article would have headlined something like this:
And Now the Opportunity to Make a Lasting Impression
"As 72,000 people crowd downtown for multiple events, now is the chance we have been waiting for to showcase the center of our town to people who don't normally make the drive in. Restaurants, bars, and retailers are hoping to cash in on the crowds and prove to them that there is reason to come downtown afterall. In preparation for all of the events, stores and dining/drinking establishments have set up specials for event goers who can present their tickets. A massive marketing campaign is underway.
The goal is to prove to suburbanites that downtown is actually the place to be. This is hopefully one of many future opportunities to create a larger fan base and a draw. Etc etc"
Smartcard system for JTA?? that will hopefully fix the transfer issues. It about damn time JTA went complete smartcard. Get ride of those change machines & get with the times already. Smartcards have been the way to go. Taken lose changed is the same as those old tokens they sold on the Subway.
Quote from: Garden guy on February 25, 2011, 07:10:05 AM
I'd love to see the people of this city freak out for something other than a football game or a big truck...what about art...what about music....and we all wonder why the test scores are so low in jacksonville.
wow...GG gets credit for his first non-political post!
As a resident of Springfield I hate the way they funnel traffic. Multiple times we have attempted to get downtown and have gotten stuck on Union and State streets. It is almost impossible to get across the street. I want as many people as possible coming downtown, but turning four lanes of traffic into super highways and not allowing crossing of those streets to GET downtown is BS. (just my 2 cents!)
Quote from: uptowngirl on February 26, 2011, 07:45:19 AM
As a resident of Springfield I hate the way they funnel traffic. Multiple times we have attempted to get downtown and have gotten stuck on Union and State streets. It is almost impossible to get across the street. I want as many people as possible coming downtown, but turning four lanes of traffic into super highways and not allowing crossing of those streets to GET downtown is BS. (just my 2 cents!)
Might I suggest 8th St to Myrtle AV to Beaver St to get DT from Springfield during these traffic jams.
Today's wonderful activity should be splashed on the front page of The Florida Times Union tommorrow.....
it sure looks like people stayed away from downtown tonight....just don't tell that to all the people at the stadium, TU Center, and Landing!
i was more or less okay with all this monster jam nonsense until i realized i could hear the announcer quite plainly from my apartment. on the corner ov eighth and walnut. does it really have to be so loud?
Quote from: cline on February 25, 2011, 10:57:27 AM
Quote from: KuroiKetsunoHana on February 25, 2011, 10:47:20 AM
as far as concerts go, we suffer from a lack ov good mid-sized venues. we have any number ov tiny and small clubs, and if someöne dreadfully serious and/or famous comes through, there's the T-U center and the stadium (has the stadium been used for shows? i honestly don't know--if it hasn't, it seems like it should be)--but since we lost club five, the only good mid-sized venue we have is freebird--and aside from beïng out at the beach, they're kind ov on the small end ov mid-sized.
They have used the stadium for some shows but not a lot. I believe that Faith Hill and Tim McGraw played there. U2 played many years ago I think. The Beatles played in '64 :)
Rolling stones back in early 90s.
Quote from: KuroiKetsunoHana on February 26, 2011, 08:34:51 PM
i was more or less okay with all this monster jam nonsense until i realized i could hear the announcer quite plainly from my apartment. on the corner ov eighth and walnut. does it really have to be so loud?
sadly yes...I have heard it for 4 years straight...the PA volume gets turned up so it can be heard over the trucks.
Eh, you can usually hear just about everything that goes on from the stadium here. Hearing the trucks roar from a mile away is awesome. U2 had to have been incredibly loud when they were here as well because we could very plainly hear the lyrics to every song from 8th.
Has anyone ever tried to pick up a handicap person from an event in the stadium district? I came close to getting arrested. I explained to robo cop what I needed to do, he looked at me like I was crazy. After a heated exchange of words, he just told me to sit there. This cop never gave me an OK to proceed and pick up my handicap passenger. I waited until he turned his head and shot around the barricade.
We need to allow the traffic lights to handle the crowd for at least one event and see how it's handled. The cops screw up things in my opinion.
Quote from: uptowngirl on February 26, 2011, 07:45:19 AM
As a resident of Springfield I hate the way they funnel traffic. Multiple times we have attempted to get downtown and have gotten stuck on Union and State streets. It is almost impossible to get across the street. I want as many people as possible coming downtown, but turning four lanes of traffic into super highways and not allowing crossing of those streets to GET downtown is BS. (just my 2 cents!)
Sunday morning I was trying to get to church at about 0930. They still had all the lights set up for post event traffic, so it took forever just to get down Main from Springfield to the bridge.
It was the same on Ocean on the way back at about 1200 or so.
I had the same experience! i mean really??? come on Traffic Engineering!
Quote from: danno on February 28, 2011, 06:48:11 AM
Quote from: uptowngirl on February 26, 2011, 07:45:19 AM
As a resident of Springfield I hate the way they funnel traffic. Multiple times we have attempted to get downtown and have gotten stuck on Union and State streets. It is almost impossible to get across the street. I want as many people as possible coming downtown, but turning four lanes of traffic into super highways and not allowing crossing of those streets to GET downtown is BS. (just my 2 cents!)
Sunday morning I was trying to get to church at about 0930. They still had all the lights set up for post event traffic, so it took forever just to get down Main from Springfield to the bridge.
It was the same on Ocean on the way back at about 1200 or so.
just do what I did....go through the red lights!
Thats exactly what I did, if not it would have taken me 20 minutes to get through with no traffic.
Quote from: Seraphs on February 27, 2011, 08:25:00 PM
Has anyone ever tried to pick up a handicap person from an event in the stadium district? I came close to getting arrested. I explained to robo cop what I needed to do, he looked at me like I was crazy. After a heated exchange of words, he just told me to sit there. This cop never gave me an OK to proceed and pick up my handicap passenger. I waited until he turned his head and shot around the barricade.
We need to allow the traffic lights to handle the crowd for at least one event and see how it's handled. The cops screw up things in my opinion.
What do you expect from these Floridiots, Cops, just like all the powers that be here in podunk city, hate the disabled. I've seen such things happen a number of times. Just mention you need a special accommodations for a disabled person, you'd think you committed a server crime.
Not to offend all people of Florida, But telling people to avoid DT instead of saying, DT is hopping come on down and be part of the party of the year! It takes a Floridiot to discourage DT patronizing.
Quote from: Seraphs on February 27, 2011, 08:25:00 PM
We need to allow the traffic lights to handle the crowd for at least one event and see how it's handled. The cops screw up things in my opinion.
Amen. Events are the only reason the lights and special lane assignment system is there. Let's give it a try!
Quote from: Garden guy on February 25, 2011, 07:10:05 AM
I'd love to see the people of this city freak out for something other than a football game or a big truck...what about art...what about music....and we all wonder why the test scores are so low in jacksonville.
Floridiots!