Skyway Merits Debated

fhrathore · January 20, 2008, 11:37:10 AM

I was wondering, does anybody know if JTA has any plans on expanding the Skyway. I know that they are planning to open another station near the planned development in Riverside, Brooklyn Park I think, but what about expanding it to include Berkman/Shipyards, even to the stadium? Do they have plans or have they just given up on the skyway completely...

thelakelander · January 20, 2008, 11:39:44 AM

They gave up, as far as any expansion plans in the next 20 years or so. BRT is the plan in place as of now.

fhrathore · January 20, 2008, 11:43:41 AM

Quote from: thelakelander on January 20, 2008, 11:39:44 AM
They gave up, as far as any expansion plans in the next 20 years or so. BRT is the plan in place as of now.

oh god...

Ocklawaha · January 20, 2008, 12:09:03 PM

Steve Arrington, Skyway defender, is also a Skyway enemy. He is the one which gripes that it costs $100 million dollars a mile to expand. When we talked about the new system that has cost about 10-20 Million a mile, he scoffed and said "IMPOSSIBLE" they can't do that. Well sorry Steve, they already have! Check out the Monorail Society website for costs, or look at Hitachi. I'm sure Bombardier could do the same if prompted.

Right now, it's a big red face for JTA and the politicians, so we are screwed unless we can bring pressure on the right people to make a move.

Keep in mind the size of the Skyway, would NEVER allow it to be regional mass or rapid transit, but it sure will work as a core distribution system to all of the other modes.

Ocklawaha

Jason · January 21, 2008, 11:38:02 AM

Also the $100 million per mile he is assuming was the original cost of the system that included an enormously expensive river crossing, maintenance building, and all of the other "start-up" items necessary to get it working. The only cost now would be trackage, stations, and maybe a few more cars because the core system is already built.

fhrathore · January 21, 2008, 07:23:31 PM

But if it is so expensive, then why is JTA going to build an extra station at Brooklyn Park? It doesnt make sense to me.

JeffreyS · January 21, 2008, 07:58:24 PM

That is probably a lie told to a developer.

Charles Hunter · January 21, 2008, 09:42:33 PM

If you drive by on Riverside Avenue, or even go thru Brooklyn, you will see that the extension to Brooklyn will literally be only a few feet. They already have stub tracks for storing Skyway cars that end very close to the fence. It shouldn't take much to extend one of those beyond the fence, and build a simple station. This would be one of Ocklawaha's ground-level stations. Maybe it could be named for him?

gatorback · January 21, 2008, 09:49:00 PM

Gosh, a few feet what's the cost of that $10 Million?

Ocklawaha · January 22, 2008, 12:11:09 AM

"Old Hippie Terminal"

I can just see it now!

Ocklawaha

Coolyfett · January 24, 2008, 01:28:40 AM

Quote from: fhrathore on January 20, 2008, 11:37:10 AM
I was wondering, does anybody know if JTA has any plans on expanding the Skyway. I know that they are planning to open another station near the planned development in Riverside, Brooklyn Park I think, but what about expanding it to include Berkman/Shipyards, even to the stadium? Do they have plans or have they just given up on the skyway completely...

Finally I found the JTA Skyway topic.

My take is they better not give up on the Skyway!!! That would be dumb. I do agree with you there needs to be a Sports Complex Station. It would make tons of cash!! I don't understand why they won't just build the thing. All the events that go on in that area from sports to concerts to the fair....just plain dumb not having a Sports Complex Station. Too many points of interest.

Coolyfett · January 24, 2008, 01:47:04 AM

Places the Skyway needs to be/go:

Sports Complex extended from Central Station
5 Point/Riverside extended from Convention Center Station
Springfield extended from Rosa Parks Station
La Villa/The Ritz extended from Rosa Parks Station

reasonable station IMO.

...................I'm tired I need to go to sleep. I should have been to bed 4 hours ago. I love the site. Thanks to whoever is responsible. I'll do my best to take part in discussions. ttyl

Coolyfett · January 24, 2008, 09:37:58 AM

Also on the Skyway trains themselves there are comment cards. Have you filled one out???

Steve · January 24, 2008, 10:03:21 AM

Quote from: Coolyfett on January 24, 2008, 01:47:04 AM
Places the Skyway needs to be/go:

Sports Complex extended from Central Station
5 Point/Riverside extended from Convention Center Station
Springfield extended from Rosa Parks Station
La Villa/The Ritz extended from Rosa Parks Station

reasonable station IMO.

...................I'm tired I need to go to sleep. I should have been to bed 4 hours ago. I love the site. Thanks to whoever is responsible. I'll do my best to take part in discussions. ttyl

Totally agree about the Sports Complex line - in time. I think at this point we need to concentrate on more of a citywide system, instead of focusing on just downtown. It's great that people have 19 ways to move AROUND downtown, now let's get them TO downtown.

The Riverside line would be from Central, not Convention Center. If you look at the skyway track now, there is a little spur that extends off of the line back to the maintenance center. It is mentioned briefly in this article: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/478/116/

With that said, I could see the skyway going down Riverside Avenue, but I don't see it going past I-95 by Fidelity. The RAP folks don't really feel like the modern Skyway fits into the historic fabric of the neighborhood.

Springfield - See above (substitute SPAR instead of RAP)

LaVilla - don't see that happening. What would people ride it to - don't say the Ritz. Not that I have anything against the Ritz, but having events there once a week is not going to get ridership on something that is extremely expensive to build.

Ocklawaha · January 24, 2008, 10:59:11 AM

Steve, I like the way Coolyfett thinks. Truth be told, Lake and I discussed this Ritz extension at one of the meetings. I agree with Coolyfett that from Rosa Parks I would take the Skyway two directions... In some distant phase 4 or 5 of the system (We already did phase 2). I wouldn't stop at the Ritz, but carry it on and OVER the commuter Rail near Myrtle, and beyond to Edward Waters College. I haven't driven this section in years, but I'm sure there are other interfaces with possible BRT routes out on Kings. Having the Skyway "break in" to the Northwest would set our heaviest transit ridership in a position to get on the trains. If the Skyway became free, Imagine riding from out near Grand Crossing/Paxon, to Commuter Rail at Kings, hence to Gateway or to the Airport by Commuter Rail. The Skyway could be/should be KEY to downtown core distribution and connection. It should be complimented by an extensive downtown LRT or Heritage Trolley system, and a network of shuttle buses.

Oh the second line, would continue north of Rosa Parks about 2 blocks, curve around FCCJ (ON THE CAMPUS) for a student station at the NW corner of the fence. Days that the school is closed, we simply lock the FCCJ access gates and open the gates to the City Street and Park area. Interface with buses bound for Shands or Streetcars on Pearl (advanced phase) of the streetcar system.

This also opens the door to FCCJ - Ed Waters joint studies, library and other traffic... Hell I'd like to see the someday Stadium line cross the new Matthews along with RAIL, and turn north to get into JU for the same purposes.

Ocklawaha