This Daily Record article is a review of recent meetings between JTA and Downtown stakeholders, regarding BRT on Adams, Bay and Forsyth Streets. Needless to say, most have legitamite concerns that are being blowed off by JTA. Here's a response from JTA spokesman Mike Miller, in regards to everyone's concerns on BRT's affect on the downtown environment.
QuoteMiller said Friday he wanted to make it clear that
QuoteMiller said having enhanced BRT stops on those streets could be an advantage.
"Oh, but NOT TOO MANY have ever seen BRT?" "NO? Well Mr. Miller, the people of Pittsburgh sure as hell have. This is what THEY think of your great idea":
(http://www.lightrailnow.org/images/PitDaily.gif)
Oh, but THAT is an OLD system, we are talking about tearing out streets and building something brand new! Something right out of the remote future...
"Sorry Mike, it's more remote then you can accept, check out what the people of EUGENE/SALEM Oregon think about their "Space Rapid Transit" system." The incredible Emx bus-thinks-it's-a-LRT-line hasn't impressed them one bit. It's still a bus, even though these "almost LRT" buses cost "almost" as much as a modern streetcar. That's 950,000 dollars per bus against 1.2 million for the new Albuquerque Streetcars. The Streetcars are quiet and hold far more people too! Just tune in Emx, and take a listen for yourselves...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Jhz-bg6vrYE
You JTA boys have a run over us long enough! Time for some truth.
Ocklawaha
Great link Ocklawaha. This is something we'll definately have to use in our next BRT article.
I am posting these links to each of the Jacksonville Forum Sites. This pretty much tells the story, and it's important enough that we shouldn't leave out anyone. If y'all know of somemore places to post this, please do so.
This is the "FAMOUS" BRT in Bogota, real rapid stuff here guys. Air quality is nice too, considering this is way the heck out in the burbs... You decide, is this what you want in Jacksonville?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tPEK5Og6wW8&mode=related&search=
RAPID TRANSIT???? Bogota NOT!
Santiago de Chile, came and studied Bogota, (Real smart move) but don't worry, JTA is looking too! Wow they carry several Million passengers a day! JUST LIKE JACKSONVILLE! NOT! Eugene, Oregon, BEFORE BRT, carried 9 million a year in a metro of less then 200,000 persons. JTA "might" hit the 10 million mark this year in a metro of over 1.2 Million... Do you REALLY trust these road hogs to run your "rapid transit." The people of Chile are rather pissed about the whole BRT thing. Honest fellas, I had NOTHING TO DO with these two cartoons... " Yo No hablo espanol..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtYh-bUocz0
Opinion of BRT in Santiago de Chile
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M527ZUCf1jI&mode=related&search=
NOTICE: I didn't make this! If you are offended by "Gay" jokes, please don't watch this. I placed it here just to make the point of what (obviously straight) people in Latin America think about BRT. This is another opinion from Chile
Why was I in Medellin, let's see, overhead wires, steel rails, clean, cool friendly and TRANSIT, how about 30 seconds in MY WORLD?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=k4eC6n4JfNY&mode=related&search=
Metro de Medellin
Did you know that Kenosha, Wisconsin, built a complete Heritage Trolley on private right of way? It is several miles long and including cars, power system and museum, it cost a whopping 6.5 million dollars. Portland, Oregon, has go beyond Light Rail to something called Modern-Streetcar. The cost is just a little higher then those Hybrid vehicles JTA doesn't have. Here's what it looks like in action...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xL7QEQuRqq0&mode=related&search=
Portland Streetcar
Los Angeles has two systems, the "NEW BRT" Metro-Rapid, that is said to be "Just like rail, only it's a bus..." Uhhh Huh? A couple of local gals had some fun with the new Metro.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcPEYsU44Qk&mode=related&search=
Los Angeles Story??
Once the smog cleared, it wasn't because LA had more buses or hybrid buses, it is because they now have almost 750 miles of REAL RAPID TRANSIT which is then complimented by a fine network of perhaps 100 interconnected bus systems. Here is the Famous Gold Line LRT. Compaire the sound you here in this and the Portland piece with those sounds of the "Advanced LRT like BRT bus" in Eugene,Oregon's Emx video.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2yjE_MQbSxk
Los Angeles Gold Line LRT
Ocklawaha