- Welcome to Metro Jacksonville.
Metro Jacksonville
Covering Jacksonville, Florida since 2007
Recent posts
#21
News / Re: Increasing the Homestead E...
Last post by jaxlongtimer - July 23, 2026, 11:56:09 PMQuote from: fsu813 on July 23, 2026, 11:47:36 PMPalm Beach County is putting out hundreds of yard signs in public sites/buildings stating they are maintained by property taxes.
https://cbs12.com/news/local/palm-beach-county-reveals-cost-of-park-signs-thanking-property-taxpayers-parks-tax-revenue-services-public-safety-libraries-influence-voters-public-money-awareness-campaign-ballot-measure-vote-eliminate-property-tax
Great idea! And, love these quotes:
QuoteIf Amendment 3 is approved, the administration would be forced to bring proposals to the Board of County Commissioners that could include paid beach parking, park user fees, red-light camera ticketing enforcement at many intersections, an increase in taxes that would primarily impact businesses and renters, and other revenue-generating measures.
Amendment 3 is not an overall tax reduction; it is simply a potential shift in how taxes are collected. We have a responsibility to ensure our local government is properly funded and able to operate effectively. I encourage any resident to meet with us, review our budget, and see firsthand how their tax dollars are being used to serve Palm Beach County.
#22
Transportation, Mass Transit & Infrastructure / Re: Let’s Get Back to the Basi...
Last post by jaxlongtimer - July 23, 2026, 11:53:05 PMExcellent overview of JTA today and going forward.
Charles, good points.
At the end of the article, the last heading mentioned "regional transit." So, what monies does JTA get from the surrounding counties to extend bus or rail transit to them? If not now, what could be going forward? Especially, since the surrounding counties now have representation on JTA's board.
Just like master planning needed for Downtown, where is a master plan for the multi-county region? Does the North Florida TPO have one? Is it current?
I will say, if JTA can't even run an adequate bus system in Duval County, I don't know how they could go beyond that. Running a decent bus system should be pretty basic after about a 100 years or so of them being around. As noted elsewhere, it comes down to a diversion of resources for U2C, the Skyway and, in prior decades, road building. Buses have been relegated to the bottom of JTA's mission... only getting lip service. Truly abominable for a MASS transit agency.
I would suggest the new JTA CEO fix the bus system out of the starting gate to build some credibility and get back on mission. Abandon U2C immediately and deal with the Skyway options after buses are fixed given buses are needed much more than the Skyway. Then, move on to various rail solutions which clearly will require regional partnerships and new funding sources.
One more point: The JTA CEO needs to be tied at the hip with Downtown master planning. MASS transit is key to a successful urban district but you would never know that in Jacksonville today.
Charles, good points.
At the end of the article, the last heading mentioned "regional transit." So, what monies does JTA get from the surrounding counties to extend bus or rail transit to them? If not now, what could be going forward? Especially, since the surrounding counties now have representation on JTA's board.
Just like master planning needed for Downtown, where is a master plan for the multi-county region? Does the North Florida TPO have one? Is it current?
I will say, if JTA can't even run an adequate bus system in Duval County, I don't know how they could go beyond that. Running a decent bus system should be pretty basic after about a 100 years or so of them being around. As noted elsewhere, it comes down to a diversion of resources for U2C, the Skyway and, in prior decades, road building. Buses have been relegated to the bottom of JTA's mission... only getting lip service. Truly abominable for a MASS transit agency.
I would suggest the new JTA CEO fix the bus system out of the starting gate to build some credibility and get back on mission. Abandon U2C immediately and deal with the Skyway options after buses are fixed given buses are needed much more than the Skyway. Then, move on to various rail solutions which clearly will require regional partnerships and new funding sources.
One more point: The JTA CEO needs to be tied at the hip with Downtown master planning. MASS transit is key to a successful urban district but you would never know that in Jacksonville today.
#23
News / Re: Increasing the Homestead E...
Last post by fsu813 - July 23, 2026, 11:47:36 PMPalm Beach County is putting out hundreds of yard signs in public sites/buildings stating they are maintained by property taxes.
https://cbs12.com/news/local/palm-beach-county-reveals-cost-of-park-signs-thanking-property-taxpayers-parks-tax-revenue-services-public-safety-libraries-influence-voters-public-money-awareness-campaign-ballot-measure-vote-eliminate-property-tax
https://cbs12.com/news/local/palm-beach-county-reveals-cost-of-park-signs-thanking-property-taxpayers-parks-tax-revenue-services-public-safety-libraries-influence-voters-public-money-awareness-campaign-ballot-measure-vote-eliminate-property-tax
#24
Science and Technology / Re: Wordle?
Last post by jaxlongtimer - July 23, 2026, 11:34:44 PMWordle 1,860 3/6
🟨⬜⬜⬜🟨
🟩⬜⬜⬜🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Connections - Purple #2!
Puzzle #1138
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟨🟪🟪
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
Strands #872
"Hail to the chief petty officer"
🟡🔵🔵🔵
🔵🔵
Pips #340 Easy 🟢 - tiles kept "slipping" when I turned them
0:33
Pips #340 Medium 🟡 - weird, but slippery tiles again.
1:45
Pips #340 Hard 🔴 - Seems there is a glitch today on turning tiles inside the puzzle. Had to homerun them to turn them.
8:21
🙂 Daily Quordle 1641 - Total = 27
7️⃣6️⃣
5️⃣9️⃣
m-w.com/games/quordle/
🟨⬜⬜⬜🟨
🟩⬜⬜⬜🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Connections - Purple #2!
Puzzle #1138
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟨🟪🟪
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟨🟨🟨
Strands #872
"Hail to the chief petty officer"
🟡🔵🔵🔵
🔵🔵
Pips #340 Easy 🟢 - tiles kept "slipping" when I turned them
0:33
Pips #340 Medium 🟡 - weird, but slippery tiles again.
1:45
Pips #340 Hard 🔴 - Seems there is a glitch today on turning tiles inside the puzzle. Had to homerun them to turn them.
8:21
🙂 Daily Quordle 1641 - Total = 27
7️⃣6️⃣
5️⃣9️⃣
m-w.com/games/quordle/
#25
Transportation, Mass Transit & Infrastructure / Re: Let’s Get Back to the Basi...
Last post by Charles Hunter - July 23, 2026, 10:20:49 PMExcellent analysis of what JTA needs to do.
Providing frequent and reliable service is the key to maintaining, and increasing, ridership. Keeping the fare reasonable is also important, but if the buses are an hour apart (like they will be on the majority of routes after the service cuts), and arrive to the bus stops later than the published schedule - or worse earlier than scheduled - it doesn't matter how low the fare is. There is a share of the community that has no other choice than transit, but you won't get "choice" riders, those who will leave their car at home, or a convenient parking lot, to ride the bus.
Having routes that go where people want to go is also important. Something that gets more difficult as the region (city) becomes more and more dispersed.
Oh, and JTA needs to stop lying to the people that the Flyer service is "Bus Rapid Transit." It is not. JTA had several "Express Flyer" routes as far back as the late 1970s/early 80s, that served park-and-ride lots (mostly in shopping centers), and provided limited stop service to downtown. The modern iteration seems to have better amenities at bus stops, and service isn't limited to the morning and evening peak hours. Otherwise, it runs in mixed traffic just like all the other bus routes.
Providing frequent and reliable service is the key to maintaining, and increasing, ridership. Keeping the fare reasonable is also important, but if the buses are an hour apart (like they will be on the majority of routes after the service cuts), and arrive to the bus stops later than the published schedule - or worse earlier than scheduled - it doesn't matter how low the fare is. There is a share of the community that has no other choice than transit, but you won't get "choice" riders, those who will leave their car at home, or a convenient parking lot, to ride the bus.
Having routes that go where people want to go is also important. Something that gets more difficult as the region (city) becomes more and more dispersed.
Oh, and JTA needs to stop lying to the people that the Flyer service is "Bus Rapid Transit." It is not. JTA had several "Express Flyer" routes as far back as the late 1970s/early 80s, that served park-and-ride lots (mostly in shopping centers), and provided limited stop service to downtown. The modern iteration seems to have better amenities at bus stops, and service isn't limited to the morning and evening peak hours. Otherwise, it runs in mixed traffic just like all the other bus routes.
#26
Urban Neighborhoods / Re: Is Jacksonvile ready for a...
Last post by jaxlongtimer - July 23, 2026, 09:27:06 PMQuoteFor Monroe Street, the proposal is to eliminate one traffic lane of the three-lane street and add bicycle lanes to each side between Interstate 95 and Jefferson Street.
LOL. This looks great but Monroe has to be the most expensive local street per mile of pavement over the last 40 years. First, it was going to be THE gateway street to Downtown from I-95. Big $$$ were spent to dress it up, accordingly. Soon after, the City decided to plop the courthouse in the middle of Monroe. Great example of no City master plan for Downtown. Just blowing with the wind. Now, we are changing Monroe again. That's 3 rebuilds, averaging about every 10 to 15 years.
Boy, do we need a Downtown master plan badly!
#27
Urban Neighborhoods / Re: Is Jacksonvile ready for a...
Last post by Charles Hunter - July 23, 2026, 04:48:48 PMQuoteFor Monroe Street, the proposal is to eliminate one traffic lane of the three-lane street and add bicycle lanes to each side between Interstate 95 and Jefferson Street.
I assume new westbound traffic on Monroe would be routed north on Johnson Street to either Duval or Church. Johnson is the last street before the I-95 exit ramp.
Has the City talked to FDOT about how to handle the transition from the two-lane Monroe Exit ramp to only one lane eastbound on Monroe?
Unrelated, but looking at Google Street View, I saw that the Police Mounted Unit stable is on Johnson, north of Monroe. What happens to that city property if the Sheriff's proposed relocation to the Cecil Equestrian Center is approved in the budget?
#28
Urban Neighborhoods / Re: Is Jacksonvile ready for a...
Last post by MakeDTjaxGre@tAgain - July 23, 2026, 03:53:48 PMMany diets proposed out in flight. Not sure if any of you drive through St Aug Rd. But that got dieted. 4 to 2 with a suicide lane down the middle and huge bike lanes.
Very commercial and industrial heavy road that needed repairs 10 years ago. Mayport is probably gonna get diet too.
Very commercial and industrial heavy road that needed repairs 10 years ago. Mayport is probably gonna get diet too.
#29
Urban Neighborhoods / Re: Is Jacksonvile ready for a...
Last post by Jagsdrew - July 23, 2026, 03:43:06 PMQuote from: acme54321 on July 23, 2026, 02:41:28 PMI can't wait to hear Ron Armstong complain about this
He's got it all figured out with the People's Plan of Jacksonville. Apparently, it's a utopian world where every problem gets solved overnight.
#30
Downtown / Re: Downtown Development Updat...
Last post by Ken_FSU - July 23, 2026, 03:37:57 PMQuote from: Josh on July 23, 2026, 10:03:44 AMQuote from: jaxlongtimer on July 22, 2026, 01:32:42 PM^ Ken, glad to assist. I should also had that some TV, commercial, movie, recording and other media projects done in Jax have used WJCT's sound stage and other facilities for their productions. Like many things, more there than meets the eye.
Pippi Longstocking!
Today I learned that Tony Khan uses WJCT's studios to film television shows for Ring of Honor wrestling (AEW's minor league).