Interesting outlook on transit planning. A dilemma that is clearly in the forefront in Jacksonville.
QuoteIn city after city, U.S. transit advocates face a similar problem: What to do with bad, or at least less-than-perfect, public transportation proposals? Big transit projects don't come around every day, and rejecting a proposal, perhaps one with support in high places, in the hopes that something better will come along can leave you with nothing.
full article: http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/should-cities-reject-bad-transit-a-lesson-from-zurich
How is the Mayor's transit program coming along? He's been in office a few years now, and we the public really do not hear much about a transit program or solution of solutions. Forget the need part, does Mayor Brown and his staff of transit consultants have a plan for Jacksonville? I've never seen one, which is why I ask.
Don't know if the Mayor is on board, but JTA is moving ahead with its BRT "very very lite" plan. Construction on the Downtown portion should start this summer, and they just got funding for the North (Boulevard to Lem Turner) and Southeast (Philips Hwy) lines.
Since the Mayor is against even extending the existing 6 cents/gallon gas tax that partially funds JTA, I would say he is "not" on board. Unless the magic unicorns are going to fart rainbows of money on the city, that is.
I lean towards yes especially in Jacksonville's case of BRT on the south side. If it were an east west line I could understand, I would prefer rail but at least it wouldn't mirror rail lines already in place.
I don't mind extending the tax, but I want to see a plan aligned with it.
Taxes that go into "general" funds always get exploited on political whims.
Taxes that go into directed plans are still at risk, but only within the boundaries of the plan.