THE SKYWAY SHOULD BE...?? POLL

[hillary supporter]

Cut fares. With such a strong turnout for abandonment of the Skyway, wouldnt it cost millions just to demolish it? I feel expansion cant be justified to the citizens whom see it as an albatross. I feel aggressive residental growth downtown is the best approach for saving Skyway.

[mtraininjax]

The skyway could be free and JTA would not see an increase in riders, it goes nowhere people need to go.

[kells904]

The thing needs just about every option you guys have on the list to happen.  But, I'd start with expanding into just one direction: to the Sports Complex first for Jags/Sharks/Suns games.  Other than that, I'd cut the hours of operation down to whatever is determined to be "peak hours".  I think it was said before: if the thing went to and from the Stadium, there'd be no need to funnel people out down Bay St.  We always park under the Jefferson St station and hop on one of those buses for Jags games.  There'd be no need for that either. 

I believe that it may as well be "saved", since, yes, it probably costs quite a bit to knock it down, and it's still serviceable.

[Lilysmom5]

It definately needs to be expanded to the sports complex. I would much rather that than the bus from Prime to the stadium! It needs a stop right out side of the Landing as well.

[Keith-N-Jax]

I would definitely ride the skyway to the stadium. I don't understand when we got the Jags they just didn't go ahead extended then,make no sense.

[exnewsman]

You currently have the NFL's top-rated (according to Sports Illustrated) stadium shuttle service. So why spend millions of dolalrs to duplicate that. Parking is not an issue for arena events or for baseball games like it is for the stadium. If you have hotels/condos and other development in that area to drive ridership daily then perhaps then it makes sense. Until then - I don't think it makes sense to build it for the few days a year that it would be used.

As for the Landing comment - it stops 1/2 block away right now. How much closer does it need to be? Downtown workers could use it now to go to lunch or to the courthouse of city hall - but few do. They would rather drive around the block until a parking space opens up. I read a couple years back where over 10k people work within a block of the Skyway. There is ridership potential there if people want to take advantage.

Does it go everywhere people want to go - of course not. But much more people could be using than are.

[Keith-N-Jax]

I guess they have the same attituded you have. The stadium is also near metro park it can service that area and shipyards when ever built out. Buses add congestion and pollute the air. Skyway shouldnt have been extended decades ago.

[kells904]

If it was extended toward the stadium for the Super Bowl, then there wouldn't be a need for that armada of buses, and all the cops playing crossing guard.  Having a line to the stadium would, in my opinion, have the most immediate impact UNTIL there is some area infill.   

[hillary supporter]

You currently have the NFL's top-rated (according to Sports Illustrated) stadium shuttle service. So why spend millions of dolalrs to duplicate that. Parking is not an issue for arena events or for baseball games like it is for the stadium. If you have hotels/condos and other development in that area to drive ridership daily then perhaps then it makes sense. Until then - I don't think it makes sense to build it for the few days a year that it would be used.

Truth

[JeffreyS]

take it to San Marco where the mixed use publix is going to be. Five points would use it more but RAM probably will insist on streetcars to fit into the "historic District".  Springfield would also be an excelant choice and it would help set the stage for commuter rail on the S line in the future.

[duvaldude08]

Its sad to say, until JTA realizes its potential, we can talk and debate about it all day and nothing will change. I have concluded that JTA, along with the mayors office is very backwards in every way imaginable and has no sense in what they are doing.

The thing about the skyway is when the plans were first brought to the table (mid- late 70's I think) the skyways actually would have served a purpose. The skyways route was based on the retail and businesses taht were downtown at the time. By the time the system came to frutation (early 80's I believe), downtown was dead as a door knob and abandoned. This should also be a lessoned learned about dragging our feet, which is something Jacksonville is known for. This is why its seems to go " nowhere to nowhere" because "everywhere" no longer exists.

[Sharpiks]

I'd love to see the Skyway stretch to all lengths of the city and have center cars. One major station on each side of town and miniature stations in the biggest housing areas.

[Timkin]

The thing needs just about every option you guys have on the list to happen.  But, I'd start with expanding into just one direction: to the Sports Complex first for Jags/Sharks/Suns games.  Other than that, I'd cut the hours of operation down to whatever is determined to be "peak hours".  I think it was said before: if the thing went to and from the Stadium, there'd be no need to funnel people out down Bay St.  We always park under the Jefferson St station and hop on one of those buses for Jags games.  There'd be no need for that either. 

I believe that it may as well be "saved", since, yes, it probably costs quite a bit to knock it down, and it's still serviceable.

God forbid that this be your opinion. M-train would have a heart attack.  He would have this and every vacant building in Jacksonville knocked down and made into a reef

[Timkin]

Its sad to say, until JTA realizes its potential, we can talk and debate about it all day and nothing will change. I have concluded that JTA, along with the mayors office is very backwards in every way imaginable and has no sense in what they are doing.

The thing about the skyway is when the plans were first brought to the table (mid- late 70's I think) the skyways actually would have served a purpose. The skyways route was based on the retail and businesses taht were downtown at the time. By the time the system came to frutation (early 80's I believe), downtown was dead as a door knob and abandoned. This should also be a lessoned learned about dragging our feet, which is something Jacksonville is known for. This is why its seems to go " nowhere to nowhere" because "everywhere" no longer exists.

This is absolutely dead on D D .  This is the sad revelation of the Skyway. It happened amidst Everything in downtown and some close by outlying areas being razed to the point that that (compared to the 70s) no one goes downtown.   JTA did not think this thing through and I will concur with M-train on this point, I think they would struggle finding their way out of a burlap sack, and they probably could care less about the SW. that said...Since it exists and is still in pretty good shape rather than spending good money to scrap it now and tear it down, finally utilize the thing by expanding it.  would agree the stadium would be a viable destination.. Love Springfield but im not sure of its development status being enoiugh to support an extension there yet.. Think Riverside is... As much as I love the idea of School #4 becoming a transit station (probably the best idea I have ever heard for it, and one that could certainly help immensely to make it viable)  I think time will run out for School #4 well before this becomes a reality, unless of course the economy takes a major turn and someone with deep pockets and appreciation for buildings such as this one comes forth.  M-train made me sort of chuckle about the School being a pigeon rest, I have to admit.  I think otherwise, and I hope I can prove him and all of the other adverse minds of historic structures otherwise, which is why I will continue forward cleaning up the School.  I may be alot of things but lazy is not one of them

[JaxNative68]

expand it to the sports complex over the mathews bridge down the expressway and atlantic blvd to the beach and tie it into beaches trolly for year round use.