The revenue source would require amending the city's sign ordinance.QuoteBy BETH KORMANIK, The Times-Union
A two-year effort to bring bus advertising to shelters stalled once again last week, with City Council committees deciding they need more time to study the issue.
While frustrating the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, the delay was welcome to opponents of the shelters, who claim the ads would be a "visual blight" on the city.
Councilman Art Shad proposed the advertising as a way to build more shelters and encourage more people to ride the bus.
JTA spokesman Mike Miller said there are about 400 shelters for the more than 6,600 bus stops it has in Northeast Florida. He estimated it costs an average of $5,000 to erect each shelter and an additional $950 a shelter to maintain each year.
He said the plan is for a private company to pay to build and maintain bus shelters in exchange for the right to sell advertising. The city would receive up to 15 percent of the ad proceeds.
But the company would decide where the shelters are built - presumably in high-traffic areas where other motorists would view the ads.
Miller estimated the contract would call for 30 to 50 new shelters a year.
Standing in the JTA's way is the city's sign ordinance, which would have to be amended to allow bus shelter advertising.
Bill Brinton, a Jacksonville attorney who led a successful citizen initiative against billboards, said the council needs more information before voting. He pointed out the JTA has not presented a list of where shelters are needed and does not have proposals for where the shelters would go.
Also speaking against the ordinance were attorney Bill Scheu and former councilman John Crescembeni.
The bill already has one opponent: Councilwoman Denise Lee said she would not support the advertising because JTA rules do not allow political ads on buses.
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/081207/met_190712020.shtml
Asking for more time to look at this issue is not a negative thing. It gives everyone the opportunity to see what exists out there and find solutions that will get bus shelters up, without them looking like Pinellas County's. We've gotten used to accepting whatever companies give us, but here's our chance to demand quality upfront.
I don't understand Denise Lees issue? She is mad that there CANT be political ads?
The political issue is weird indeed. I wonder if they'd let me put up a bunch that said something simple like:
"please STEAL this Bus!"
"The BRT plan sucks!"
"BRT and JTA paving over Jacksonville"
or my favorite
"Build LRT and NOT BRT!"
"Trains NOT lanes"
"Light Rail Jacksonville!"
Oh well, guess it is sort of political!
Ocklawaha