Metro Jacksonville

Community => Transportation, Mass Transit & Infrastructure => Topic started by: thelakelander on November 01, 2009, 07:55:37 PM

Title: JTA has a new transit website, what do you think?
Post by: thelakelander on November 01, 2009, 07:55:37 PM
JTA is in the process of creating a new website to showcase their future transit plans.  Are they on the right track?

http://www.jtafla.com/futureplans/
Title: Re: JTA has a new transit website, what do you think?
Post by: buckethead on November 01, 2009, 08:05:15 PM
QuoteImagine a transportation system so bold, so visionary that it redefines the mobility experience for all of Northeast Florida. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is committed to bringing such a system to the region. A system that incorporates a multi-modal approach â€" bringing cutting edge technology, innovative thinking and a desire to provide only the best transportation options available to the First Coast community.

Although skeptical, I will remain hopeful.
Title: Re: JTA has a new transit website, what do you think?
Post by: stjr on November 01, 2009, 09:10:00 PM
Well, you never know what's for real with JTA.  Actions will speak louder than words.  This could just be to placate Ock, Lake, and their band of merry followers.

Interestingly, they show STREETCARS on BOTH sides of the river following many of the routes I have suggested including running into Riverside, going to the stadium, and travelling throughout San Marco including crossing the FEC tracks!  Only link missing is a river crossing which still appears to be  on the $ky-high-way.  They show one small extension of the $ky-high-way into Riverside and along I-95 in San Marco to US1.  Not sure what the point of those are.  Way things are going, I would hope JTA has a plan B for the $ky-high-way

This is a bad omen:

QuoteUpcoming Events
There are not any events scheduled in the near future.
Title: Re: JTA has a new transit website, what do you think?
Post by: buckethead on November 01, 2009, 09:11:58 PM
One thing I noticed was sleek looking hybrid busses and a boxy less appealing LRT system. BRT seems to be what they are peddling.
Title: Re: JTA has a new transit website, what do you think?
Post by: CS Foltz on November 02, 2009, 06:43:54 AM
buckethead............I agree! It would seem to me the Head Hockey Pucks at JTA already have a plan in mind and it does not include rail! Dummy's!
Title: Re: JTA has a new transit website, what do you think?
Post by: thelakelander on November 02, 2009, 07:06:35 AM
How do you all like the website's design?  Are there any improvements worth suggesting to JTA to make it better?
Title: Re: JTA has a new transit website, what do you think?
Post by: fsu813 on November 02, 2009, 07:07:45 AM
i like the colors....and the poll question.
Title: Re: JTA has a new transit website, what do you think?
Post by: thelakelander on November 02, 2009, 07:30:42 AM
Here are some things I notice:

1. The images on the site are too large, once clicked on.  The resolution size should also be dropped to something like 72dpi.  Overall, someone should scale the images down to a size that fits on people's computer screens and they should all be the same size (resolution, dimensions, etc.).

2. BRT is not revolutionary.  The name is poison in this community and nothing JTA can do is going to change that.  Plus the new BRT plan is closer to being a "rapid" or "express" bus service than true BRT with dedicated ROW. 

Eliminate the term "BRT" and promote it as bringing real reliable bus service to Jacksonville that....gulp....complements rail (commuter rail, streetcar, etc.).  After all, in transit friendly cities, buses normally go down major corridors every 10 minutes or so (less in several cases).
Title: Re: JTA has a new transit website, what do you think?
Post by: stjr on November 02, 2009, 10:18:08 AM
Quote from: fsu813 on November 02, 2009, 07:07:45 AM
i like the colors....and the poll question.

The poll question is a joke.  What's the point?  Who is going to vote "no" to this leading question:

QuoteDoes Northeast Florida need a well integrated transit system to help improve the quality of life and encourage economic development?

Here is a substitute if we are going to play that game:
Quote
Should JTA kill the $ky-high-way that loses $14 million a year (averaging $20,000 per year per rider) and that, after twenty years, gets about 5% of the originally projected ridership, so that its resources could go to far more useful mass transit projects and enhancements?

Replace the useless poll with real (not misleading) facts and figures on JTA operations and budgets.  I saw in the paper over the weekend that JTA ran public disclosure ads with extensive such info on buses and assisted transit vans but nothing on the $ky-high-way.  I wonder why?
Title: Re: JTA has a new transit website, what do you think?
Post by: Ocklawaha on November 02, 2009, 12:22:58 PM
Stjr, Answer to both questions, YES.  

OCKLAWAHA
Title: Re: JTA has a new transit website, what do you think?
Post by: Ocklawaha on November 02, 2009, 12:30:41 PM
Quote from: thelakelander on November 02, 2009, 07:30:42 AM
Here are some things I notice:

1. The images on the site are too large, once clicked on.  The resolution size should also be dropped to something like 72dpi.  Overall, someone should scale the images down to a size that fits on people's computer screens and they should all be the same size (resolution, dimensions, etc.).

2. BRT is not revolutionary.  The name is poison in this community and nothing JTA can do is going to change that.  Plus the new BRT plan is closer to being a "rapid" or "express" bus service than true BRT with dedicated ROW. 

Eliminate the term "BRT" and promote it as bringing real reliable bus service to Jacksonville that....gulp....complements rail (commuter rail, streetcar, etc.).  After all, in transit friendly cities, buses normally go down major corridors every 10 minutes or so (less in several cases).

My biggest complaints and perhaps a hole one could drive a bus through:

No way to comment, offer suggestions, perhaps even a forum page - keep Mike Miller busy.

No way to upload private, historical, fan, photos. These can be held for screening then posted to photo gallery's.
I don't remember where the hell it was, but just yesterday, somewhere between the Nariz del Diablo (Devil's Nose) in Ecuador, the new Metro Rail in Bogota and Rangely Lake Maine, there was a cool transit site that had what could only be called a sort of cheering section, comments, suggestions and tons of photos. If I run across it again I'll post a link.  


OCKLAWAHA
Title: Re: JTA has a new transit website, what do you think?
Post by: stjr on November 02, 2009, 12:31:46 PM
Quote from: Ocklawaha on November 02, 2009, 12:22:58 PM
Stjr, Answer to both questions, YES.  

OCKLAWAHA

Ock, pick me up off the floor!  You are now agreeing we should kill the $ky-high-way?  Just making sure.  Wouldn't want to misrepresent anything.  
Title: Re: JTA has a new transit website, what do you think?
Post by: Ocklawaha on November 02, 2009, 12:49:10 PM
Yeah, I want to spend all that money to REBUILT IT! God, it didn't take you long to jump on this one.

OCKLAWAHA :D
Title: Re: JTA has a new transit website, what do you think?
Post by: stjr on November 02, 2009, 12:57:29 PM
Quote from: Ocklawaha on November 02, 2009, 12:49:10 PM
Yeah, I want to spend all that money to REBUILT IT! God, it didn't take you long to jump on this one.

OCKLAWAHA :D

"REBUILT IT"?  How about REINCARNATE it as a STREETCAR system?  Can we agree?
Title: Re: JTA has a new transit website, what do you think?
Post by: Ocklawaha on November 02, 2009, 02:07:34 PM
Yeah, I might agree with that, and frankly have given it some thought, including getting the chief engineer to confirm it COULD handle the weight. Even so, we'd still be looking at elevated to Atlantic, Somewhere around Maxwell House/Stadium, and a block north of FSCJ, where we could ramp down. However I would NOT see it as a replacement of a HERITAGE LINE, (Riverside) - Park - Forest - Myrtle - Bay - Lee - Water - Newnan - Beaver -(Springfield).  

OCKLAWAHA
Title: Re: JTA has a new transit website, what do you think?
Post by: Ocklawaha on November 02, 2009, 02:11:15 PM
Isn't the new site kind of like JTA VERSION 7.2?

OCKLAWAHA

Title: Re: JTA has a new transit website, what do you think?
Post by: A-Finnius on November 02, 2009, 10:37:55 PM
Estimated Completion dates for these projects would be nice... 
Title: Re: JTA has a new transit website, what do you think?
Post by: CS Foltz on November 03, 2009, 07:36:15 AM
I agree with the comments about pixel count, colors and all that but question the lack of "Commentary"! If they are asking for comments and input......WTF? This seems more of JTA Propaganda then it is a request for public input...........I am not interested in BRT, that is the purpose of LRT at a cheaper cost and more total passangers per mile, no matter how they are counted! JTA has seen a chance to bend public will with a slanted question and I don't care for how the question was slanted, worded and biased!