Tampa Versus Charlotte and Jacksonville

[CS Foltz]

Well Charlotte as well as Tampa either have or will have a transit system to move people around where as Jacksonville is still trying to get one off the ground! Places to see, go to or visit require being able to get there! Using auto just increases congestion downtown and until we get something to move people around we are spinning our wheels! $ky way does not count and for $14 Million a year to operate.....it is a pit we throw money into with no return!

[hillary supporter]

Please read the below article from TAMPABAY.COM. Since Tampa has had great success since the early 80's, they quickly forget where they come from, where they've been, and what they were before the Buccaneers came to town; not that the Bucaneers are the sole reason for Tampa's success, but they played a large part in exposing the world as to who and what the Tampa Bay Metro, in particular the City of Tampa, Florida was and is.

The article eludes to the success of Jacksonville over both Tampa and Charlotte, conceding only Jacksonvilles blighted downtown development (in pointing out leadership incompetency) as its drawback. The article itself points out to me that Jacksonville is the best place to be in the south.

Well Charlotte as well as Tampa either have or will have a transit system to move people around where as Jacksonville is still trying to get one off the ground! Places to see, go to or visit require being able to get there! Using auto just increases congestion downtown and until we get something to move people around we are spinning our wheels! $ky way does not count and for $14 Million a year to operate.....it is a pit we throw money into with no return!
Posted on: Yesterday at 09:56:39 PM

To move people around downtown is the Skyway. We cant force people to use this state of the art mass transit
if they dont want to.  CS Foltz"s point about the city's lack of mass transit can be addressed by Jaxs small population, at less than 1 million ( in the largest geograghical municipality) it cant be justified for such a large
transit system as Foltz himself points out (at the skyway). But his point is correct that, today, now is the time to develop policy towards mass transit and cutting back the auto from jax mainstream life. Thats really hard when we are bombarded by auto dealershop ads and a very competent highway system.

[thelakelander]

The argument about the city having a too small of a population for decent mass transit is nothing more than an excuse.  There are too many examples (ex. Salt Lake City, Charlotte, etc.) out there suggesting otherwise.  Jacksonville will be better when we get to the point of where we stop making excuses for why we don't or can't make quality of life improvements that will make this city a better place to live.  With this in mind, I love the can do attitude that Oklahoma City is bringing to the table on issues we continue to struggle with.  Its time for Jax to grow a pair.

[tufsu1]

Well Charlotte as well as Tampa either have or will have a transit system to move people around where as Jacksonville is still trying to get one off the ground!

I'm not so sure CS....I think the Tampa streetcar line is comparable with our skyway....and I think it is entirely possible that we will have commuter rail before Tampa does!

[thelakelander]

The major difference between the skyway and Tampa's streetcar is that the streetcar actually goes into a couple of urban neighborhoods (Ybor, Channel District, etc.).  On the flip side, the streetcar does not really serve the heart or north end of DT Tampa.  Btw, I also think its possible that we will see commuter rail before Tampa does.

[hillary supporter]

The argument about the city having a too small of a population for decent mass transit is nothing more than an excuse. 

After a discussion with my wife this morning, i stand corrected with lakelanders point.
She states its important to look at jacksonville metro situation from a non drivers neighborhood aspect. The destruction of Downtown Jax, indeed all of the us met areas is Walmart. She would be happy if she could step outside to get her conveniences. Not possible in DT Jax. With Walmart, et al, all conveniences can be handled
at the one stop. Walmart killed the small business,mom and pop store, essential to downtown areas ( i realize
i'm not saying anything we here dont all know!). So getting those services dt are essential. And today, such looks
like a long time away.
I guess getting such a store downtown would accelerate urban development, and then we need to tackle ongoing issues posted here concerning parking meters, one way streets ect. Actually we should probably deal with such issues now, which would be a requirement for a big store downtown.

[vicupstate]

There are a whole slew of successful Downtowns, non eof which have a Walmart.  DT retail died before Walmart was a major player.

[urbanlibertarian]

Wamart downtown sounds sweet.  I now drive to the one on Phillips Hwy (could take a bus if I wanted to).  Lots of surface parking lots available to sacrifice for one.