QuoteWater taxi stop expected for Riverside
The mayor proposes adding a floating dock to ferry people to and from the North Riverbank.
The water taxis that ferry customers across the St. Johns River soon may add a new stop to their route: the Riverside Arts Market.
Mayor John Peyton wants to spend $395,000 on a 210-foot-long floating dock and 60-foot gangway near the popular Saturday destination under the Fuller Warren Bridge. Eleven of 19 Jacksonville City Council members have signed on to co-sponsor Peyton's bill, which will be introduced at Tuesday's council meeting.
Once built, water taxi passengers and boaters will have direct access from the St. Johns River to the market on the Northbank Riverwalk.
The proposal is the latest in a series of downtown improvements the mayor's office has launched. The council recently approved $23 million for renovations to Friendship Fountain, the Southbank Riverwalk and Metropolitan Park. Construction to make Laura Street more pedestrian-friendly, costing $2.7 million, is already under way.
The money for the floating dock will come from the Northbank Tax Increment District Fund - property tax dollars that are set aside specifically for improvements to the area.
Sherry Hall, the mayor's liaison to the council, said the project will help support the relatively new market that gained popularity in 2009, its inaugural year. According to its Web site, the market averaged about 15,000 visitors per week.
"We are looking at ways to continue to improve and expand upon the successes of the Arts Market," Hall said.
Council President Richard Clark, who is listed as one of the bill's co-sponsors, said he believes the floating dock will help connect the river, which he considers the city's greatest natural asset, with the 2-acre property.
"Riverside Arts Market has been more successful than any of us hoped," Clark said.
The market will be open every Saturday starting on March 6, ending its season in December. Director Tony Allegretti said providing direct access to the river would be a natural progression.
"I think it's going to be huge for us in terms of opening us up and giving us an even deeper and better sense of place," he said.
The decision to bring river access to the Arts Market is not due to parking problems that initially plagued the event, Allegretti said.
He said businesses along Riverside Avenue have opened their lots to alleviate most of these problems, but he does like the idea of having a public transportation link to the space via the water taxis, with one-way fares at usually $3 to $5.
The floating docks will provide a direct link with other downtown destinations, especially during busy special events weekends, Allegretti said. He is working with the St. Johns Riverkeeper to providing programming during the Arts Market dates that bring more people to the river.
Hall said the city is working with the owners of S.S. Marine Taxi to ensure the Arts Market is added to its list of stops, which currently include Friendship Fountain, The Jacksonville Landing and Metro Park.
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-02-22/story/water_taxi_stop_expected_for_riverside
I like this idea but seems we are missing a perfect opportunity to actually generate some revenue for the city. The arts market is so popular that a concessionaire should be willing to pay for the right to shuttle passengers from the southbank to the market. Hopefully the city council will set this up so that it eventually pays for itself....
some might argue that this would be a public handout for a private operator (S.S. Marine Taxi) so that they can serve more people....basicaly, its the same as the people who were opposed to SunRail because it benefited CSX
Isn't S.S. Marine Taxi already subsidized by the city?
Its about time. I think this should go over well and actually become a benefit to those living downtown.
Quote from: Lunican on February 22, 2010, 09:31:41 AM
Isn't S.S. Marine Taxi already subsidized by the city?
Pretty much. They have a sweetheart deal where no other water taxie company is allowed to operate. I don't know how this came about or whose lame brain idea it was, but it effectively shut down all competition, so now, one taxi company has access to all the floating docks.
Great idea. 9 times out 10 that I see the taxi it has few people on it but it is a service that enhances riverfront. So if we need to subsidize it I do not see that as a problem.
How insane is it that the city feels it needs to spend half a million dollars for a dock?
The amount of bureacracy in Jax mind-boggles me.
Quote from: rjp2008 on February 22, 2010, 11:49:52 AM
How insane is it that the city feels it needs to spend half a million dollars for a dock?
The amount of bureacracy in Jax mind-boggles me.
that could be cheap...I think they may still need to get permits for this from State and/or Federal agencies.
QuoteCity names water taxi choice
SS Marine Ventures, Inc. has been chosen as the City’s sole provider of water taxi service for the downtown area.
Owned and operated by Greg and Donna Samuels, SS Marine topped three other water services â€" Safe Harbor Haven, Inc., River Cruises, Inc. and Bass Marine Taxi, Inc. â€" to get the contract, which goes into effect June 1 and runs through Dec. 31, 2004 with a three-year extension option.
After several years of having a free enterprise system for a service that wasn’t working (customers and Landing store owners often complained of inconsistent service, among other things), the City abolished the ordinance that pertained to the service. In March, the City issued requests for proposals. After being graded in 10 categories worth a total of 100 points, SS Marine came out on top with 76 points. River Cruises was second with 68 while Bass Marine (59) and Safe Harbor (57) trailed.
To Samuels, the decision to go with his company made sense.
“I think it’s justified,†said Samuels. “We’ve earned the right. We have been out there since 1993 religiously. I feel like we provided the best service as far as reliability and keeping our equipment up. We have good people on board and we survived some crazy pricing and crazy times.â€
Full Article:
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=1436
I read this as being a public dock - not just for River Taxi xfers - correct?
Quote from: tufsu1 on February 22, 2010, 11:59:32 AM
Quote from: rjp2008 on February 22, 2010, 11:49:52 AM
How insane is it that the city feels it needs to spend half a million dollars for a dock?
The amount of bureacracy in Jax mind-boggles me.
that could be cheap...I think they may still need to get permits for this from State and/or Federal agencies.
And don't forget that the dock will have to be handicapped accessible and built to much higher standards or safety and durability than a private dock.
I think that it will be a fantastic benefit for the RAM. Anyone should be able to drop off and pick up passengers to access the Arts Market. This should be the catalyst for more access points to the river.
I don't see much use for the dock the other 6 days of the weelk. Also, from December to March it won't be used at all. I like the idea, but it seems like it would be wasted the other days of the week.
They should just install zip line across river.Saves major $$$$.
(http://i45.tinypic.com/15nnbdc.jpg)
Right now there are hundreds of workers each day from Fidelity National, Lender Services and Blue Cross who are using the Riverside trolley to go to Five Points or the landing at lunch time. There might be enough people who would like to go to one of the restaurants on the Southbank to make a lunchtime water taxi schedule worth while.
Well we subsidize just about every other form of mass transit....why not this also..........makes me wonder just how this breaks down on a per-rider basis..........tufsu/Ock? I have a hard time getting with the program when everything else must be a break even proposition, so I have to ask why not this also? Monthly pass or something similar might make sense but still wonder as to the actual cost to the public!
the water taxi operations are not subsidized, which is why it costs $3-$5 to ride...what the City has done is give them exclusive rights, which squashed any potential competition.
OK much thanks for the info........."exclusive rights" huh? Are they Coast Guard certified for operations? A total of 76 points out of 100 is kinda shabby but not my call!
CS, the water taxis and the operators are Coast Guard certified.
Quote from: tufsu1 on February 22, 2010, 09:03:58 PM
the water taxi operations are not subsidized, which is why it costs $3-$5 to ride...what the City has done is give them exclusive rights, which squashed any potential competition.
Exclusive rights + dock funded by city = subsidy
Who cares if it's subsidized. It's a good thing for the Market and Downtown. It also allows many an opportunity to enjoy the river, especially our suburban friends who drive to the Market on Saturdays and those of us who do not own boats!
Quote from: fsujax on February 23, 2010, 09:00:36 AM
Who cares if it's subsidized. It's a good thing for the Market and Downtown. It also allows many an opportunity to enjoy the river, especially our suburban friends who drive to the Market on Saturdays and those of us who do not own boats!
I use the water taxis from time to time and agree that they facilitate enjoyment of the river by visitors to Jax. However, we should question whether increase city support of the water taxi system is appropriate given other needs: education, jobs related transportation, basic infrastructure problems, homeless issues, etc.
If I understand this correctly, there will also be room for private boats to dock and offload passengers as well. I think that's a great boost to the market.
How much more will it take to extend it to Margaret Street or Memorial Park?
i think if they could expand this to also include a stop in memorial park that this is a much more viable solution than running the skyway all the way into riverside. that way bcbs/fidelity/st joe etc has an option for getting to lunch at the landing or five points. but i agree that these docks should be setup for anyone to use not just the water taxis.
Quote from: hightowerlover on February 23, 2010, 10:05:17 AM
i think if they could expand this to also include a stop in memorial park that this is a much more viable solution than running the skyway all the way into riverside. that way bcbs/fidelity/st joe etc has an option for getting to lunch at the landing or five points. but i agree that these docks should be setup for anyone to use not just the water taxis.
Currently the PCT 'trolly' system serves the lunchtime community in Brooklyn, DT, and 5 pts.
The trolleys have ten minute intervals and only cost fifty cents. It is my understanding that the docks will be available for other uses as long as it does not interfere with the water taxis.
I'm in favor of a dock built at RAM.
That being said, the trolley system is far more efficient and cheaper to use at lunch time. It's $3($4 on special event days) to go one way on the river taxi.
While riding on the trolly earlier this year, a real nice young woman was conducting a survey for JTA regarding expansion of the trolley service(extending service on Saturday for RAM, and extending the route to include the Shoppes of Avondale). Does anyone know the outcome of this rider survey? I actually enjoy the Riverside route service and use the beach trolley during the summer quite a bit as well.