Metro Jacksonville

Rail Transit Projects Currently Under Construction

(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/2172107632_ngPxg9B-M.jpg)

Urban rail-based mass transit projects are becoming reality in many cities as Jacksonville continues to remain on the sidelines.  Here is a list of projects currently under construction throughout the country as cities position themselves for 21st century economic development.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-dec-rail-transit-projects-currently-under-construction

Are we seriously in line behind Tucson. One day this city is going to force me to move to Chicago.

we are in line behind everyone when it comes to transit. No one here champions rail projects. With all the issues in R/A area you would think some of those council people would at least be asking for a streetcar.

They would be if they knew what it was and what it can do for our city, unfortunately it's a case of Jacksonville ignorance. I am being more convinced by the day that Jacksonville really is a diamond that wants to remain coal, there is just no excuse for not at least trying to move forward.

Quote from: fsujax on December 19, 2012, 08:24:38 AM
we are in line behind everyone when it comes to transit. No one here champions rail projects. With all the issues in R/A area you would think some of those council people would at least be asking for a streetcar.

Dont' we have a transit agency?  It would make sense to me that the championing of transit projects would start with them.

they tried. Streetcar study completed in 2008. went no where, because groups like the DVI, JEDC wouldnt support it.

Quote from: fsujax on December 19, 2012, 08:52:39 AM
they tried. Streetcar study completed in 2008. went no where, because groups like the DVI, JEDC wouldnt support it.

Well when the Feds were printing/giving away money via TIGER grants our "transit agency" put forth a application for an overpass when most other cities were putting together applications for transit projects.  Kinda leads one to believe that JTA prefers to champion road projects.

Has JTA ever done a 'dog and pony show' such as the hard sell efforts for the massive BRT idea?

It's funny that in the decade between 1900 and 1910, Jacksonville was the second fastest growing city in the USA and actually the fastest for several of those years. Our population jumped from 28,000 to   58,000 and the only city doing better then us was Los Angeles which climbed from 102,000 to 319,000 , we fully expected to top the 200,000 mark by 1920 with a shot at edging out Los Angeles by the 30's or 40's.

Both cities were built on extensive railroad networks, Los Angeles ultimately had both the Los angles Railway @ over 600 miles and the Pacific Electric Railway @ 1,150 miles. Jacksonville had the Jacksonville Traction System which had climbed to 65 miles when the city decided buses would be better in 1932, Los Angeles didn't make that same decision until 1963 and then just 27 years later reversed itself. Using that 'follow them' mentality we might start to see movement by 2020.    

well, maybe that will change now Cline! :-)

well, at least the selected corridors for streetcar made it into the Mobility Plan, so it wasn't all a failure. Hopefully, once the money starts to flow in a line will be constructed.

Perhaps it is time to plan a public meeting for the purpose of forming at 501c3 'Streetcar Jacksonville' group, where's Mr. Wickersham, Esquire, when we need him? Riverside Gator? Jax-by-Default? Anyone?

We'll need an attorney who will donate the work on incorporation and it is helpful (dealing with the IRS) to have a local CPA join the group. Planners, engineers and supporters line up on the right!

Quote from: Ocklawaha on December 19, 2012, 11:17:57 AM
Perhaps it is time to plan a public meeting for the purpose of forming at 501c3 'Streetcar Jacksonville' group, where's Mr. Wickersham, Esquire, when we need him? Riverside Gator? Jax-by-Default? Anyone?

We'll need an attorney who will donate the work on incorporation and it is helpful (dealing with the IRS) to have a local CPA join the group. Planners, engineers and supporters line up on the right!

http://simplenonprofit.com/ (http://simplenonprofit.com/)

Quote from: fsujax on December 19, 2012, 10:09:46 AM
Hopefully, once the money starts to flow in a line will be constructed.

Like I mentioned before, JTA had an opportunity to get some free dough from the Feds for Streetcar and failed.