http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-05-02/story/jta-might-end-skyway-fares-permanently
It would be a good move IMO.
As good a move as it is, how would it be paid for?
Quote from: Anti redneck on May 03, 2012, 02:06:35 AM
As good a move as it is, how would it be paid for?
If you are losing that much money and you are in the red every year, you might as well make it free. There are several other cities whose people movers are free as well. Public transportation in general does not make profit.
Quote from: Anti redneck on May 03, 2012, 02:06:35 AM
As good a move as it is, how would it be paid for?
It might not cover all the operating cost, but leasing space out under the stations would contribute some. A portion of the tax revenue from the property surrounding the stations could also be directed to the operations budget.
Federal funding formulas also will allow JTA to get more money from FTA due to higher ridership. A little unknown fact. Leasing out space at stations for retail kiosks is a great idea!
Quote from: fsujax on May 03, 2012, 08:00:56 AM
Federal funding formulas also will allow JTA to get more money from FTA due to higher ridership. A little unknown fact.
That needs to become a better known fact. How much more does JTA get per rider?
not sure Doug. FTA bases their discretionary funding formulas on several factors including population, pop density, ridership.
This would be a good idea. Leasing space would also be a good idea. So would the Courthouse using the Kings Ave garage for juror parking connected by the Skyway. And also expansion to areas where people actually live. So many good ideas...
In addition to leasing out station space, wrap the trains with advertising. JTA already does it with the busses....
Would be cool to see an EverBank tram or one sponsored by the Jags, etc. Maybe limit the advertising to buisnesses with a downtown presence?
Jason, you just may see an Everbank train or station!
Ohhh the hints! Roll out the vinyl and start cutting! ;D
I just hate those wraps. As I've said elsewhere they may be nice income for the city but so often they're bought by abominable entities like for-profit "colleges" and personal injury lawyers. Eddie and Chuck's mugs and the Virginia "College" logo plastered on buses and now flying through the sky on the people mover, talk about visual blight.
Everbank would be cool though.
And just imagine if you could ride the Everbank Skyway to Everbank Field?
or to San Marco!
^ You're teaing us again.....
I took the skyway last night from San Marco. The car was filled and everyone on the train was saying that they would ride it much more if it went into the surrounding communities. Although it was pretty crappy trying to catch the train back to San Marco at 10 and finding out it was closed.
Quote from: jcjohnpaint on May 03, 2012, 10:58:48 AM
I took the skyway last night from San Marco. The car was filled and everyone on the train was saying that they would ride it much more if it went into the surrounding communities. Although it was pretty crappy trying to catch the train back to San Marco at 10 and finding out it was closed.
If ridership continues to be strong and downtown continues to rebound - then conversations like expanding the Skyway to other neighborhood then start to make sense again. Question is - will the community as a whole support any expansion?
Quote from: exnewsman on May 03, 2012, 12:55:32 PM
Quote from: jcjohnpaint on May 03, 2012, 10:58:48 AM
I took the skyway last night from San Marco. The car was filled and everyone on the train was saying that they would ride it much more if it went into the surrounding communities. Although it was pretty crappy trying to catch the train back to San Marco at 10 and finding out it was closed.
If ridership continues to be strong and downtown continues to rebound - then conversations like expanding the Skyway to other neighborhood then start to make sense again. Question is - will the community as a whole support any expansion?
Funny you should say that. A lot of us still don't understand the reason for the lack of a leg to the Stadium district. As you say, IF, ridership continues to be solid, I don't know of a reason why there should be a push to extend the SW down Bay Street using Brown's favorite term, Public/Private. With Shad Khan looking to 'invest' in Jacksonville, Everbank's tie-in with the city, the Bragan's with the Suns, plus I'm sure there has to be some more Federal money to get.... It seems to be the next step to me based on the amount of private financing that could generated.
Any extension would require capital investment from the City as well. At the rate Mayor Brown is going we will not be investing anything. We will continue to cut. He doesn't even support the extension of the gas tax.
Personally everyone I talk to seems to be more informed of the situation and in support of the skyway or streetcar going into surrounding areas. A lot of people even ask why extensions have not been done originally. Personally if I did not frequent MJ I would not know as well.
Quote from: fsujax on May 03, 2012, 01:14:40 PM
Any extension would require capital investment from the City as well. At the rate Mayor Brown is going we will not be investing anything. We will continue to cut. He doesn't even support the extension of the gas tax.
This is why we must have a strong person to take the Executive Director's job. One who can point to personal successes and tell the mayor/council what JTA needs to best serve the city.
After rereading the article - shouldn't the ridership numbers be daily averages and not monthly totals?
Quote
In 2011, 2,061 people went through the turnstiles in February and 2,679 in March.
This year, when the Skyway was free, those numbers increased to 3,132 in February and 3,208 in March.