The trolley returns this Friday and Saturday night.
There will be no volunteers on board selling passes as you board the trolley. In order to ride, you will either need exact change for a one way fare ($1.50) or you will need to buy a STAR card ahead of time in order to ride all night for $4. Drivers cannot make change, nor sell you a STAR card on board. If you do not have exact change and do not have a STAR card, then you cannot ride the trolley.
STAR cards can be purchased at Grassroots Natural Market, European Street Cafe, Let Them Eat Cake, Open Road Bicycles of Avondale, Bold City Brewery and Intuition Ale Works.
As always, you can track the trolley in real time by visiting trolley.jaxmob.com from your smartphone. This mobile optimized website gives you a map of the route, including stops.. and shows a trolley icon which moves along with each trolley.. so you won't have to worry about missing the bus.
Your support is CRITICAL. The overwhelming majority of people that have rode the trolley have complimented the ease and convenience of the service. Bring someone new on board this Friday and Saturday night. Ridership must grow in order to continue to offer this service on a permanent basis.
It's easy, convenient, fun and far cheaper than taxi services... and certainly smarter than drinking and driving.
I encourage every single person that reads this to ride the trolley Friday and Saturday night.
Find out more by following Riverside Avondale Night Trolley on Facebook, or visit the website www.riversideavondalenighttrolley.com (http://www.riversideavondalenighttrolley.com)
Wanted to bump this up.
Your ridership experience is important. Please let your friends know that they cannot purchase cards on board any longer, nor can change be made on board the trolley.
sweet...thanks for the reminder!
..
Why leave the DT core out of the route? I would open the bookstore cafe on Friday and Saturday night until 10:00 or 11:00 P.M. if the trolley would operate every Friday and Saturday evening throughout the year, and if the route would extend east out Bay Street to cover the bars, and up Laura to Hemming. Any DT businesses opening these two evenings would allow the hiring of new workers to cover the expanded hours.
And who else in the often forgotten DT would benefit by extending the route? Pho .... The Volstead ..... Burro Bar ... La Cena .....Burrito Gallery ....... all the bars and restaurants on and around Bay Street, Forsyth, and Adams.
This one extension of the Trolley could be an important and effective catalyst to encourage more interest in the DT core .... and perhaps provide a small motivation for people to move into the DT core as residents ......... for more investors to open a business in the core.
I can envision a "split" route; that is, if there are two trolleys available, and if the one route seems too large. One trolley would cover the west half of the route ... toward Avondale, and the other would cover east half ... toward the DT core. In the center would be a "transfer" location ... perhaps a new bar or shop called "The Transfer".
This could also be the beginning of a mentality encouraging the riding of something other than an auto ... and thus, to please Ock, encourage thinking about a "real" mass transit system.
The extended trolley might also reduce the occasions of drinking and driving in these areas.
I wonder who makes decisions about the trolley operation?
Ron
Riverside/Avondale MUST be consistent and sustainable first. If people don't ride in the next three months of this trial period (which took three years to get), then talk about extensions/permanency are irrelevant.
That's the bottom line.
The "testing" stage you refer to makes sense. But does it make complete and good sense?
In other words, those in power, those who never make mistakes, might entertain the possibility that, whereas the "limited" Avondale/Riverside circuit might not pass muster in support and ridership, the expanded run to the DT core might.
Oh ..... these experiments.......I hate them because they sometimes don't produce good results.
Limiting the run to just Avondale/Riverside now, might kill if forever. Expanding the run to DT, might allow the experiment to live..... and grow.
On the other hand, expanding to DT right off the bat, might kill it. In any case, I only offer options in thinking about these things.
I would speculate that of all the things that hold back potential ridership, the inability to purchase tickets at a stop or on the bus without exact change might be one of the biggest. Not the lack of routes to other surrounding urban core areas.
But Field is right, they've thrown us a bone here, and we have to show them we won't just bury it for later. I just hope that there is a solid metric that takes the limitations into account. That's going to take trust in some of those making the decisions. All we can do is show out in support of the Trolley and hope they use that information wisely.
Will be hopping on Friday.
Makes good sense Bridges .... about the tickets. We are fortunate to have people like fieldafm to work these things through.
Does anyone know if there are posters on the trolley, so I can post them in both my stores? If not, I will make some kind of poster to let people know of the trolley schedule.
I plan to ride the trolley this weekend, to "feel" it ..... and to gain a first hand opinion of it.
Quotethey've thrown us a bone here, and we have to show them we won't just bury it for later.
I can assure you, if the trolley isn't successful... it won't be because of the person writing this post... it will be because of the person reading this post.
Ridership this weekend is critical. Get out of your car this weekend and use it. It's super convenient due to the mobile app that shows you trolley locations in real time... super fun (you'll meet fun people)... and super cheap (FAR cheaper than those unreliable cabs, and far-far-far cheaper than a DUI)
Just had someone go by Let Them Eat Cake and they said they were sold out of the day passes.
Quote from: fieldafm on April 02, 2014, 04:40:27 PM
Quotethey've thrown us a bone here, and we have to show them we won't just bury it for later.
I can assure you, if the trolley isn't successful... it won't be because of the person writing this post... it will be because of the person reading this post.
Ridership this weekend is critical. Get out of your car this weekend and use it. It's super convenient due to the mobile app that shows you trolley locations in real time... super fun (you'll meet fun people)... and super cheap (FAR cheaper than those unreliable cabs, and far-far-far cheaper than a DUI)
And if the testing on JTA's NextBus program continues to be successful, then all routes, trolleys included, will be able to monitor the trolleys/buses location in real time. I like the DT idea, but I do think its a better approach to make the Avondale/Riverside portion work first better bringing that on. A phased approach seems wisest. If riding the trolleys becomes second nature to do each weekend, then the success will be there. Conquer R/A - then DT.
Getting the "how to pay" issue worked out though will be critical. But it doesn't seem insurmountable.
QuoteWhy leave the DT core out of the route?
Because Brooklyn and LaVilla are a ghost town at the moment. In-Fill here and then it makes the trolley experience more fun, no one wants to travel down Riverside and the stop lights passing acres of empty-ness on their way to DT.
Lobby your investors and businesses to grow Brooklyn and Lavilla.
Bumping up, really important to bring someone new with you this weekend to ride the trolley.
I don't go drinking or bar hopping, but I'd buy a pass to show support. I don't think that's a good option, though. Don't they use the actual counts to gauge ridership? Perhaps buying a pass isn't enough.
I hope it's successful, though. I'd love for this type of thing to make our area be a vacation destination for people from out of state. I would also love to see the trolleys get into action for Art Walk every month. I heard several complaints from people yesterday that they arrived at Art Walk only to find no parking and leave.
Let me know if buying the pass will help out with numbers, or only prevent someone who is really riding around from getting one.
Quote from: MissMinda on April 03, 2014, 09:28:40 AM
I don't go drinking or bar hopping, but I'd buy a pass to show support. I don't think that's a good option, though. Don't they use the actual counts to gauge ridership? Perhaps buying a pass isn't enough.
I hope it's successful, though. I'd love for this type of thing to make our area be a vacation destination for people from out of state. I would also love to see the trolleys get into action for Art Walk every month. I heard several complaints from people yesterday that they arrived at Art Walk only to find no parking and leave.
Let me know if buying the pass will help out with numbers, or only prevent someone who is really riding around from getting one.
Lots of great restaurants along the route. So you don't have to "bar hop" just go out for a nice evening. Walk through the Shoppes of Avondale. Have dinner at Black Sheep. Plenty of things to do other than drinking. Grab some friends and come on out.
Quote from: exnewsman on April 03, 2014, 10:09:42 AM
Quote from: MissMinda on April 03, 2014, 09:28:40 AM
I don't go drinking or bar hopping, but I'd buy a pass to show support. I don't think that's a good option, though. Don't they use the actual counts to gauge ridership? Perhaps buying a pass isn't enough.
I hope it's successful, though. I'd love for this type of thing to make our area be a vacation destination for people from out of state. I would also love to see the trolleys get into action for Art Walk every month. I heard several complaints from people yesterday that they arrived at Art Walk only to find no parking and leave.
Let me know if buying the pass will help out with numbers, or only prevent someone who is really riding around from getting one.
Lots of great restaurants along the route. So you don't have to "bar hop" just go out for a nice evening. Walk through the Shoppes of Avondale. Have dinner at Black Sheep. Plenty of things to do other than drinking. Grab some friends and come on out.
Completely agreed
In the early part of the night families hop on board to take their kids out to eat and then grab some frozen yogurt, teens have come out on the way to seeing a movie at Sun Ray, senior citizens have come on board in order to go to dinner, etc. The trolley is much more than a bar hopping device (although later at night it skews heavily towards the bar hopping crowd).
To answer your question, ridership is counted when people board the trolley (not by how many people buy a pass). So come on out and participate this weekend!
The trolley runs again this Friday and Saturday night.
Ridership has been down three straight months.
This really is a use it, or lose it type of weekend.
Rides cost $1.50 each way (exact change is required), or a $4 STAR card can be purchased before you board (you CANNOT purchase passes on board) at either: European Street Cafe, Let Them Eat Cake, Silver Cow, Intuition, Bold City Brewery, Open Road Bicycles of Avondale and Grassroots.
If you have not ridden the trolley yet, please message me for an opportunity to ride FOR FREE this weekend. Very limited availability.
For more info, please follow on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/riversideavondalenighttrolley (https://www.facebook.com/riversideavondalenighttrolley)
The website:
riversideavondalenighttrolley.com/ (http://riversideavondalenighttrolley.com/)
You can also tag #RANightTrolley on Instagram Friday and Saturday night.
You can also follow the trolley in real time along a route map right from your smartphone at trolley.jaxmob.com.
The trolley is easy, convenient and VERY FUN. Embrace this opportunity.
This was one of the best things they put forth in a while. I always have been a supporter of late night transit. I hope they put stuff like this in effect to more areas in the future. As for the pricing it is the same as most transit in Los Angeles except for the $4 pass, which would cost you $6 over there.
QuoteI hope they put stuff like this in effect to more areas in the future.
This service will get cancelled unless more people support it... so, please use it this weekend.
If you have not ridden the trolley yet, please message me for an opportunity to ride FOR FREE this weekend. Very limited availability.
Aw man. I hope people turn out big time and turn these numbers around!! Unfortunately I will be working all weekend... >:(
Also sucks that this falls during Lyft's free trial period. I mentioned it in another thread, but I've been getting free car service the last few days and so far it has been awesome! I don't think very many people have been taking advantage, but by this weekend word might have spread and that could make a dent in the Trolley numbers. :-\
Contact some of the facebook pages... Such as Downtown is on fire, Downtown vision, metrojax and such have them start posting that all weekend maybe the numbers can get turned around.
No takers on a free ride on the trolley this weekend?!?
Wow, maybe this thing really has no hope then.
If I wasn't in the middle of moving I really would take that offer, but saturday is my be gone date and Sunday is unpacking in the new place... Will there possibly be an offer in the coming weeks.
Quote from: fieldafm on April 28, 2014, 07:20:50 PM
No takers on a free ride on the trolley this weekend?!?
Wow, maybe this thing really has no hope then.
I'm asking people on Facebook...of course I have also been sharing about Lyft. I'll let you know if there's any interest, Mike! Boy I really hope we can get more action with the trolley but I would also hope JTA leadership understands that the need will only continue to grow in the future.
I certainly hope they see that as well. They honestly cannot expect it to be packed every time it runs...
Quote from: fieldafm on April 28, 2014, 07:20:50 PM
No takers on a free ride on the trolley this weekend?!?
Wow, maybe this thing really has no hope then.
Where do I message you? :) I'd love to get 2 and go to a movie at Sun Ray this Saturday evening with the hubby.
I'm about to make an unpopular argument as to why ridership may have dwindled in the past couple of months. It may be because the 3 trolleys drop down to only one after midnight. People, such as myself who work late (or do some other type of activity), can't get out till about 8 or 9. When the trolley service drops down to only one, the service becomes bogged down and riders are trapped at their locations. This becomes especially troublesome when riders are just needing a ride home. The last two times I went, I saw around 15 or so people at the bus stop at Park and Margarette, waiting for upwards of 30 minutes. Most of whom were simply needing a ride home. I called a cab once and the second time walked to the Papa Johns and caught a ride from a friend who does delivery there.
I would like to add that I really do appreciate the trouble people have gone through to make this service available. Also, I understand that there is limited funds and having all three trolleys run till 1am or so could be very costly. I'm just simply stating a different perspective as to why people may not be riding. Personally, my girlfriend and I (and perhaps other riverside natives) have decided to go back to traveling via their bikes.
Quote from: able on April 29, 2014, 01:47:39 PM
I'm about to make an unpopular argument as to why ridership may have dwindled in the past couple of months. It may be because the 3 trolleys drop down to only one after midnight. People, such as myself who work late (or do some other type of activity), can't get out till about 8 or 9. When the trolley service drops down to only one, the service becomes bogged down and riders are trapped at their locations. This becomes especially troublesome when riders are just needing a ride home. The last two times I went, I saw around 15 or so people at the bus stop at Park and Margarette, waiting for upwards of 30 minutes. Most of whom were simply needing a ride home. I called a cab once and the second time walked to the Papa Johns and caught a ride from a friend who does delivery there.
I would like to add that I really do appreciate the trouble people have gone through to make this service available. Also, I understand that there is limited funds and having all three trolleys run till 1am or so could be very costly. I'm just simply stating a different perspective as to why people may not be riding. Personally, my girlfriend and I (and perhaps other riverside natives) have decided to go back to traveling via their bikes.
In Friday during the April run, 4 people boarded between midnight and 2am (that was down from 16 in the same timeframe in March). On Saturday in April, 24 people boarded between the hours of midnght and 2am (that was down from 64 in the same timeframe in March). The trolleys will accomodate almost 60 people at any given time so there is capacity. I appreciate what you are saying, and would personally like to see another trolley added after midnight on Saturday nights to make headways between trolleys shorter.
In the four months of this trial period however, the bulk of the people riding the trolley are between the hours of 8-11pm. When we at Metrojacksonville.com did this privately (with our own limited funds), we ran from 7pm-midnight as well.
Ridership is down consistently across all time periods.
This weekend is 'use it, or lose it' time.
QuoteThe last two times I went, I saw around 15 or so people at the bus stop at Park and Margarette, waiting for upwards of 30 minutes
Would also encourage you to visit trolley.jaxmob.com on your smartphone, which allows you to track the trolley in real time... you'll know exactly where the trolley is along the route, so you do not have to wait outside for 30 minutes.
I relied heavily on the smartphone app. I watched the trolley's pace slow down considerably when it was brought down to one vehicle. That's why we decided to find other transportation.
I really don't want to sound like an opponent to the riverside trolley. I think its freaking great. It's a lot of fun, and good way to socialize and meet other people in the neighborhood. If my girlfriend has the day off on Saturday, I'll pick up tickets and give it another go. However, this time we will be wise and venture out early with the "happy hour" crowd.
So it sounds like part of the reason for the lower ridership after midnight is because people tired of the lo g waits and found alternative means.
In January, the app froze, showed the bus at Park and King after 1 am. That may have been fixed, but the issue of faulty technology and 1 bus after midnight is a problem. JTA should be running all 3 of them during the entirety, after all, how many buses do they run on a regular basis with few people inside as it is?
I guess I just fail to see the need to have 3 busses transport 4 people over a two hour period. But that's just me :shrugs:
And the smartphone enabled website has worked flawlessly ever since a 1 hour hiccup during the first Friday in January.
QuoteI guess I just fail to see the need to have 3 busses transport 4 people over a two hour period. But that's just me :shrugs:
Yup, must be just you, the numbers speak for themselves though. 1 bus is not enough after midnight. People want something they can depend on and waiting for 1 bus after midnight is not enough in this densely populated urban area. Sorry.
QuoteYup, must be just you, the numbers speak for themselves though
Ridership drops by 80% after 11pm.
Don't you love people who don't have the facts lecturing the people that do? Bottom line is, if you like this service and want it to continue, get out there this weekend and support it with your feet. It's a great resource, and it can be improved if we support if. If we don't support it, there'll be nothing to improve.
QuoteIt's a great resource, and it can be improved if we support if. If we don't support it, there'll be nothing to improve.
+1
Riding public transportation is an adventure...and being stuck at a bus stop with fellow adventurers late at night can often lead to even more fun. Later Gator and Night Nole are two of the best pick up spots in the entire state. Enjoy the experience and stay thirsty my friends...
QuoteRidership drops by 80% after 11pm.
Why not shut down all of JTA after 11 pm then? Why must they run at all hours of the day?
You are trying to build a steady ridership, but then you pull the rug out from the riders after midnight. Bad publicity spreads faster than good, so what if you use a 2nd trolley instead of leaving one. What is the harm in providing somewhere in the middle.
The promotion on the Trolley does not state, "Ride the Trolley Friday and Saturday nights, we have 3 running until midnight and then only 1 from 12-2", but it should. Otherwise, you are creating false advertising. Oh yeah, the trolley is running at 12:30, but its only 1 and even though you are in 5 points, you have to wait 30 minutes for it to get to you, when you live 5 minutes away in a cab.
Nice message. Split the difference, add a 2nd and don't people an excuse NOT to ride. Or do nothing and see the numbers continue to fall off.
Field, you of all people know that the ridership numbers might increase with expanded service. It's obviously not as black and white as "only four people rode it so people don't want it at that time." In this thread we've seen anecdotal evidence to the contrary, and if I'm not mistaken, even I chimed in with my own story from one of the early pages. If you don't remember, I will tell you that yes...I know people who took a cab after midnight because they didnt feel like waiting for the trolley to come all the way back around.
Anyway, thats not to say ultimately that you need to be providing more buses, or to assign any blame whatsoever. God knows this wouldn't even be under consideration without the work you've done. Just that four people riding it one night isn't an open and shut case that extending the hours for more than one bus is a bad idea.
seemed like the response was geared towards use the track the trolley feature so you aren't waiting... I am not sure that will help as a good majority of people won't cut their engagements short just to catch a trolley. I think maybe a timing issue is to blame as PM says.
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on April 30, 2014, 06:43:38 PM
Field, you of all people know that the ridership numbers might increase with expanded service. It's obviously not as black and white as "only four people rode it so people don't want it at that time." In this thread we've seen anecdotal evidence to the contrary, and if I'm not mistaken, even I chimed in with my own story from one of the early pages. If you don't remember, I will tell you that yes...I know people who took a cab after midnight because they didnt feel like waiting for the trolley to come all the way back around.
Anyway, thats not to say ultimately that you need to be providing more buses, or to assign any blame whatsoever. God knows this wouldn't even be under consideration without the work you've done. Just that four people riding it one night isn't an open and shut case that extending the hours for more than one bus is a bad idea.
The night trolley is a partnership between JTA and RAP. As Chair of RAP's transportation committee, I want to let you guys know that we appreciate the feedback and will seriously consider what you are saying regarding late night service. Our goal is to get the trolley to run every weekend and we are in discussions with JTA about what it will take to make that happen. So please bear with us as we try to work it out. Adding another trolley from midnight to 2 a.m. will increase the cost. We will have to see what is doable. Please keep the feedback coming.
fieldafm, I sincerely appreciate the attention you are bringing to the night trolley which I also think is a great addition to the neighborhood. Having said that, you stated earlier in this thread that ridership has been down for "3 straight months" when I believe 2 would be the correct number based on your earlier posts. In my opinion, it seems very short-sighted to say that a 2-month downward trend means the end of the trolley service. The numbers I've seen posted elsewhere on metrojacksonville from the 4 months went something like this:
963 riders
-January 15, 2014
1408 trips
-February 11, 2014
1171
-March 13, 2014
Ridership over the weekend dipped slightly from last month.
-April 8, 2014
So what were the actual totals for April? Seems like we are getting at least a thousand a month...so what number is needed to keep this going? Thanks
The ridership numbers don't look that bad to me, honestly. The trolley runs at off hours and a thousand people is nothing to sneeze at.
1k for a newer service really isn't that bad... I wouldn't doom it until you pull in half of opening month. Until then it technically is still up... If you bought stock at $1 a share and it soared to $100 would you sell just because it went to 90... probably not because you are still in the green... sorry I just see numbers from a different perspective :)
Nobody bought anything at any price though, auditore. The analogy doesn't make any sense. I'm pretty sure the goal was to reach a particular benchmark by the 5th and 6th month to convince JTA to continue/extend the service and the sad truth is that we probably need to overperform much much more than the average JTA service line for that to succeed. If it was all relative as you're suggesting then we should have limited January to just 100 riders so we could show JTA how much growth there has been ???
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on April 30, 2014, 11:05:20 PM
The ridership numbers don't look that bad to me, honestly. The trolley runs at off hours and a thousand people is nothing to sneeze at.
I agree it's definitely far higher than the average JTA service. But I'd imagine JTA is holding this nighttime service to a far higher threshold.
Quoteso what number is needed to keep this going?
That is the real mystery! Kind of like the ghost app when it sometimes stops working at 1 am in the morning!
i think you failed to see the comparison so i will break it down with numbers so its easier to understand...
month 1 - 963 riders = -0-
month 2 - 1408 riders = ^445 riders over month one
month 3 - 1171 riders = down 237 riders from previous month, but ^208 riders from month 1.
month 4- no number but slight dip... meaning about the same numbers...
So technically riding is still up over the opening month. Meaning it is still providing riders to more than opening. No where in the statement did they say there was a quota. that being said it is said solely because it is not increasing in numbers it is going to be closed.
Now on to my comparison.
if you bought a stock for $1
month 2.. stock closes at $100
month 3... stock closes at $90
do you sell a stock that is still in the profit ranger over the initial amount just because it dipped. No. that is all I was saying.
The comparison still makes no sense, my friend.
To your first point, it seems like the first month ridership was a disappointment. Maintaining that, or seeing only a slight improvement, would also be a disappointment. Especially since there was an expectation of ridership growth.
Since you like stock analogies...thats like getting a 3% annual return on your portfolio over two decades. Hey you're "up" overall, but you're not gonna be happy about it.
I rode the trolley tonight and had a blast!
I sincerely hope that it gets extended!
Quote from: johnnyliar on May 03, 2014, 02:18:00 AM
I rode the trolley tonight and had a blast!
I sincerely hope that it gets extended!
Thank you Johnny!
Hoping for a much better turnout tonight.
As usual, we had a fun time riding the trolley last night. We bounced from Carmines to Bold City to Five Points and back to the Garage. The trolley app makes it so easy and the drivers have been excellent. And just some icing on the cake, our ride from Five Points to King St featured a group sing along of "I've Got Friends In Low Places". The whole trolley sang it together.
For two of the people with me last night this was their first time riding iit and they loved. If you haven't take advantage of it yet, get out there and use it tonight.
If JTA wants this thing to succeed, the need to sell the passes on the bus. Or be greedy and not offer change at all on the fare boxes.
The 7 pm trolleys were ghost towns, but the ones at the end of the night were packed. Check out facebook, loaded with selfies from the trolley latenight!
It's saw a poster of the route in Chamblin's yesterday. It is a fairly decent sized route as well
Quote from: Lucasjj on May 03, 2014, 08:16:22 AM
And just some icing on the cake, our ride from Five Points to King St featured a group sing along of "I've Got Friends In Low Places". The whole trolley sang it together.
I was on that trolley with 5 of my friends who were first time trolley riders. They had SUCH a good time! So funny that "Low Places" was the song that everyone knew!
When will we know if the trolley becomes permanent?
Final weekend of the trolley trial is tonight and tomorrow.
Please consider inviting a friend and riding tonight and tomorrow. Leave your car at home, hop on board ($1.50 exact cash fare each way) and grab a bite to eat (or catch a movie, or go to the free wine tasting at Riverside Liquors, or play some Jenga at Bold City Brewery, or grab some frozen yogurt with your kids, etc).
I'm going after work to buy a couple passes and enjoy an evening out. :D
Unsurprisingly enough, another rainy weekend.
We were just talking about that this morning... We would've had about 10-12 people go out tonight, but now that it's a downpour out side no one wants to go.
Does this mean it's being extended?
http://jtafla.com/News/showPage.aspx?news=349
Yeah, bad weekend for rain. If you wanted to be a lightening rod, last night was a good one for it. Scary lightening all night long in the Riverside Avondale area.
The last two or three trolley runs have been in the middle of the historical rainy season, which is why I never could understand why JTA was busting Mike's balls about the ridership numbers being down compared to the first couple of runs that happened in the winter. Basic logic, if it's pouring rain out nobody's going to go club hopping, which is who rides it once the dinner crowd peters out. The ridership issue was a reflection of nothing but the weather, which disproportionately affects a choice vs. a need service like this one, where all the riders have cars in the garage and they're going to drive instead of waiting for 20 minutes in the rain if the weather is bad. They really need to understand the popularity of the service never dropped, rather we entered the rainy season, what do they expect?
Unfortunately rain is always going to be a reality for this service. The January weekend the trolley ran is the only weekend where there was no rain (or the serious threat of rain) on either Friday or Saturday. Hell, May is historically the driest month of the year for Jax, and we got a ton of rain during the May weekend, and are going to get a ton this weekend.
Fortunately, even at its worst, I think ridership levels have been higher than what JTA anticipated when agreeing to this pilot, which is why it looks like it's being extended according to the press release Max found.
No official decisions have been made by the board of JTA regarding the future of the Riverside Avondale Night Trolley.
What is known is the ridership breakdown (these are 'trips', not unique riders) during the 6 month trial period.
Jan: 963 trips
Feb: 1408 trips
March: 1171 trips
April: 1069 trips
May: 998 trips
June: 1141 trips
Thank you for supporting the service, encouraging friends/neighbors to use the service and giving feedback regarding your experiences these past 6 months.
That's got to compare favorably to several of their regular routes that run at regular times.
Quote from: Josh on June 07, 2014, 09:22:19 AM
Fortunately, even at its worst, I think ridership levels have been higher than what JTA anticipated when agreeing to this pilot, which is why it looks like it's being extended according to the press release Max found.
Josh, are you my friend? lol...I never put two and two together.
Quote from: fieldafm on June 09, 2014, 04:42:42 PM
No official decisions have been made by the board of JTA regarding the future of the Riverside Avondale Night Trolley.
So I guess that brief news blurb was just a reminder that the service was continuing in June? I was hoping that because there was no such reminder for any of the previous months that they were saying the service was being extended indefinitely. Ah well...thanks as always, Mike.
It would be crazy for them to ignore all of the development down on Riverside Ave etc, if anything they should create an urban core route that goes to riverside, downtown and to san marco.
Big news.
The trolley will be running next Friday and Saturday night. Special extended trial weekend.
Here's the kicker, on Friday night only... the trolley will also be extended to the Riverside Arts Market. RAM will be hosting an evening event for the fireworks. Parking will not be available at the Fidelity/Black Knight/(former)LPS lot... so, the trolley will be a critical component of the family fun on the 4th of July (and RAM will be serving beer that night as well).
QuoteBig news.
The trolley will be running next Friday and Saturday night. Special extended trial weekend.
That is nice. Hope to use it Saturday night.
Do they really have to call it a trolly..its not..they are trying to make us seem more advanced with a real trolly...these are just buses..great idea but its a lie.
As long as you ride it, you can call it whatever you like Rob... deal?
Quote from: fieldafm on June 26, 2014, 08:00:20 AM
As long as you ride it, you can call it whatever you like Rob... deal?
you are missing the point...its a lie.
Hop aboard next Friday or Saturday and we'll chat about your thoughts regarding an alternative name.
Quote from: Rob68 on June 26, 2014, 07:54:42 AM
Do they really have to call it a trolly..its not..they are trying to make us seem more advanced with a real trolly...these are just buses..great idea but its a lie.
they don't call it a trolly....they call it a trolley ;)
great idea running it on the 4th!
Who cares?
Quote from: Rob68 on June 26, 2014, 07:54:42 AM
Do they really have to call it a trolly..its not..they are trying to make us seem more advanced with a real trolly...these are just buses..great idea but its a lie.
The makers of the vehicles call it a trolley. Its an industry thing. Actually "heritage trolley"
Quote from: tufsu1 on June 26, 2014, 09:03:07 AM
Quote from: Rob68 on June 26, 2014, 07:54:42 AM
Do they really have to call it a trolly..its not..they are trying to make us seem more advanced with a real trolly...these are just buses..great idea but its a lie.
they don't call it a trolly....they call it a trolley ;)
Correct spelling is the
tool of the oppressor. Rob68 has freed himself of the tyranny of grammar.
Just wanted to bump this up so folks can mark it on ther calenders next weekend.
Friday night's trolley will be super important for the Riverside Arts Market 4th of July special event as there will be no parking available next door at Fidelity.
Great news, via NRW!!
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on June 28, 2014, 01:11:30 PM
Quotehttp://jacksonville.com/news/2014-06-27/story/riverside-night-trolley-service-permanent
Riverside night trolley service is permanent in Jacksonville
Trolleys will run first Friday, Saturday each month
Posted: June 27, 2014 - 3:50pm | Updated: June 27, 2014 - 5:28pm
By Nate Monroe
Traveling just got a little easier for Riverside and Avondale patrons on some weekend nights.
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority board this week approved a permanent Riverside-Avondale Night Trolley service that will run Friday and Saturday nights during the first weekend of each month.
The service, which had been a pilot program since January, was originally set to run through July 4.
In the first five months of service, the trolley carried 1,122 passenger trips per weekend, and about 28 passengers per hour, which was enough for JTA staff to recommend making it a permanent service. In a staff report to the board, JTA officials said the trolley demonstrated an ability to "attract strong ridership."
It will cost the authority about $30,000 per year to operate the trolleys.
The night trolley stops throughout the neighborhood residential and commercial districts in Five Points, Park and King streets, the Avondale shopping district, the area's "Brewery District, " Stockton and College streets and the St. Johns Village area.
A mobile-optimized website (trolley.jaxmob.com) will show current route locations of the trolleys on each night.
One ride pass can be purchased for $1.50 with exact change on the trolley. Seniors (60 and older) ride free. Unlimited-ride single-day passes are $4 each, and can only be purchased in advance, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, at the Riverside Arts Market, or at various businesses in the Riverside-Avondale neighborhood.
More information can be found at riversideavondalenighttrolley.com.
It is true that the JTA board did vote to extend the Riverside Avondale Night Trolley for the first weekend of the month througout the rest of this year.
In related news, there will be a dowtown trial run connecting Riverside and Downtown on August 1st and August 2nd :)
Sweet! What's the route?
R/A route will stay the same. The downtown route will go from Five Points to the Landing, then on to Bay Street and head back to Five Points by way of Adams Street. The route will have stops within one block of virtually everything downtown.
Will they added a trolley? Seems if not that it could significantly increase the wait times.
Riverside/Avondale route will stay exactly the same.
The downtown trial will consist of a seperate loop that runs from Five Points to Downtown.
Ok, got it. So if you want to go from say Peles to The Landing you would transfer onto the Downtown Loop bus at said Five Points location? Will you be allowed to transfer free of charge of pay a new fee? If new fee then it makes the day pass even more attractive.
Quote from: funwithteeth on June 26, 2014, 12:38:06 PM
Quote from: tufsu1 on June 26, 2014, 09:03:07 AM
Quote from: Rob68 on June 26, 2014, 07:54:42 AM
Do they really have to call it a trolly..its not..they are trying to make us seem more advanced with a real trolly...these are just buses..great idea but its a lie.
they don't call it a trolly....they call it a trolley ;)
Correct spelling is the tool of the oppressor. Rob68 has freed himself of the tyranny of grammar.
Here's an Oppressing Outlook:
Club Hop Bus 6-2PM ...excuse that- AM
We might need more. And less.
I must be an old timer,drivin' ye old private jalopy rain or shine,to select destination,some just relative steps from the residence,as in decades past,as if in some giant private rut through public space.Some excursions require a bit more time to park than in the past,for I will strive to not park in adjacent neighborhood streets,insisting on adhering to long established,familiar and extremely valuable park space,a certain Growth Management/"Scale" Denominator. I'd rather not experiment with other's assumptions.
Gosh,I look at the two bicylcles....why not those??
I recall the late night episode at Partners.....the Jag run in to the Fox window.
What happens to folks when they step off the Club Hop Train?....nobody gets in to a driver's seat,correct?
Great work, Field!! Seriously, very good.
Quote from: edjax on June 30, 2014, 06:57:56 PM
Ok, got it. So if you want to go from say Peles to The Landing you would transfer onto the Downtown Loop bus at said Five Points location? Will you be allowed to transfer free of charge of pay a new fee? If new fee then it makes the day pass even more attractive.
Yes, the $4 STAR card is by far the most attractive option. Without it, each time you board the trolley would cost $1.50.
Yes!!!! This is exactly what I wanted if I can go from Riverside to downtown and back im set!
http://members.jacksonville.com/news/2014-06-30/story/jta-test-downtown-night-trolley-service
The Riverside Trolley began service on May 5, 2008.
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority plans to run a night trolley in downtown on two weekend nights in August in hopes of replicating the early success of a similar service in Riverside.
If enough riders turn out Aug. 1-2 to use the service, JTA will consider making the route a pilot program and potentially a permanent fixture.
The tentative plan calls for trolleys to stop near the Jacksonville Landing and the downtown entertainment district called The Elbow, and then loop back toward Riverside and connect with the Riverside-Avondale Night Trolley on Margaret Street.
The trolleys would run from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Brad Thoburn, director of strategic planning and research for JTA, said several businesses in the Landing and The Elbow approached the authority about creating the route.
Those businesses have agreed to pay for the estimated $1,800 cost of running the service for the two August nights, he said.
Last week, the JTA board agreed to make the Riverside-Avondale service permanent after a pilot program showed an ability to "attract strong ridership."
In the first five months of service, the trolley carried 1,122 passenger trips per weekend, and about 28 passengers per hour, which was enough for JTA staff to recommend making it a permanent service.
Those results give JTA hope the downtown service has potential.
"There seems to be a good buzz about it," Thoburn said.
Unlimited-ride, single-day passes will cost $4, and a single ride will cost $1.50.
The route and stops should be final in coming weeks. Leigh Ann Rassler, JTA's public relations manager, said details about the service will be posted on JTA's website — jtafla.com — and social media pages once they are finalized.
Information on the Riverside-Avondale service can be found at riversideavondalenighttrolley.com.
Nate Monroe: (904) 359-4289
The Riverside Avondale Night Trolley rides this weekend... should have great weather. Beat those end of summer blues by leaving the car at home and visiting some local businesses in the neighborhood by way of the trolley!!
Should be a beautiful weekend for the trolley.
You can purchase a STAR card to ride all night for only $4 at:
Mellow Mushroom Avondale
Let The Eat Cake
Open Road Bicycles of Jacksonville
The Silver Cow
European Street Cafe
Intuition Ale Works
Bold City Brewery
Grassroots Natural Market.
Be sure to post the details in the residential hotspots downtown, i.e. 11E Forsyth, The Carling, Lofts, Churchwell, The Berkman, even City Place. IN the lobbies, in the elevators. This is a potential game changer.
I would also call it "The Riverside Connector".
The Riverside Avondale Night Trolley does not presently connect to downtown.
Ok thought that it did. So it only runs throughout R-A correct?
And a separate trolley running downtown?
Any chance of a connector in the future?
Wait they're not doing the transfer at five points anymore for downtown???
Downtown was a one time trial last month.
It has not yet been determined whether that will evolve into a more lengthy trial period at some point in the future.
Would encourage you all to enjoy the Riverside Avondale Night Trolley this weekend. Ridership must continue to grow in order to support any future expansions.