Former Passenger Rail Station to Reopen

[Metro Jacksonville]

Former Passenger Rail Station to Reopen



After much consideration, the City of St. Augustine has selected the former FEC rail station, north of downtown, as its official preferred station site for passenger rail's return to the city.


Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-jul-former-passenger-rail-station-to-reopen

[acme54321]

It will be interesting to see how they lay the new siding there, since there appears to be a pond and a shopping center that wasn't there in 1960 that now lies where the bulk of the station used to be.

[Pottsburg]

How far is the old station to downtown/the fort?  Is it walkable?  God I hope so.  I wish the new site got approved but you could def see it would have cost a lot more.  Also with it being out of the way let's go for high speed rail between jax-stA

[thelakelander]

Unfortunately, it's a mile or two north of the fort so there will need to be an additional transit service created to make the connection between the two.

[tufsu1]

Unfortunately, it's a mile or two north of the fort so there will need to be an additional transit service created to make the connection between the two.

St. Johns County does operate a small transit service...and the portion of US 1 where the station will be is served by 4 routes....that said, there is an understanding that some of the routes may be restructured to better serve rail passengers, as the station will likely become a "transit center".  

[jbroadglide]

To the fort would be about a 2 mile walk through a mostly retail district. Downtown would be another 1/4 to 1/2 mile. Not unreasonable but not right across the street either.

[acme54321]

How far is the old station to downtown/the fort?  Is it walkable?  God I hope so.  I wish the new site got approved but you could def see it would have cost a lot more.  Also with it being out of the way let's go for high speed rail between jax-stA

I think the plan is to use this station for the time being until the new one can be built.  That location is much better for a tourist type stop.  It would be much more walkable.  Do you think anyone would actually ride to St A for the day and walk 2 miles to town in the summer? 

[fsujax]

a little landscaping and removing that paneling from the inside and they will be ready to go! This site may also be able to accomodate a commuter rail stop.

[Fallen Buckeye]

Many of the guidelines for TOD seem like generally good guidelines for creating a pedestrian friendly neighbor assuming that effective transit options are in place. I would like to see some of these guidelines implemented in areas of DT. Although in the near term, I would make free or cheap parking available because the transit options in our area are piecemeal, so most people are commuting in cars more by necessity than choice.

Is It Really TOD? (Patrick Siegman, in Tumlin and Millard-Ball, 2003)

What’s the difference between a true transit-oriented development, which will deliver promised social and economic benefits, and a transit-adjacent development? A true TOD will include most of the following:

• The transit-oriented development lies within a five-minute walk of the transit stop, or about a quarter-mile from stop to edge. For major stations offering access to frequent high-speed service this catchment area may be extended to the measure of a 10-minute walk.

• A balanced mix of uses generates 24-hour ridership. There are places to work, to live, to learn, to relax and to shop for daily needs.

• A place-based zoning code generates buildings that shape and define memorable streets, squares, and plazas, while allowing uses to change easily over time.

• The average block perimeter is limited to no more than 1,350 feet. This generates a fine-grained network of streets, dispersing traffic and allowing for the creation of quiet and intimate thoroughfares.

• Minimum parking requirements are abolished.

• Maximum parking requirements are instituted: For every 1,000 workers, no more than 500 spaces and as few as 10 spaces are provided.

• Parking costs are “unbundled,” and full market rates are charged for all parking spaces. The exception may be validated parking for shoppers.

• Major stops provide BikeStations, offering free attended bicycle parking, repairs, and rentals. At minor stops, secure and fully enclosed bicycle parking is provided.

• Transit service is fast, frequent, reliable, and comfortable, with a headway of 15 minutes or less.

• Roadway space is allocated and traffic signals timed primarily for the convenience of walkers and cyclists.

• Automobile level-of-service standards are met through congestion pricing measures, or disregarded entirely.

• Traffic is calmed, with roads designed to limit speed to 30 mph on major streets and 20 mph on lesser streets

[St. Auggie]

So streetcars from the station down to the Fort and create a turnabout/depot there.  Make stops along the way and that retail corridor is spruced right back up.  Placement would also be pretty good for the airport if/when it becomes a bit more viable.

[Pottsburg]

So streetcars from the station down to the Fort and create a turnabout/depot there.  Make stops along the way and that retail corridor is spruced right back up.  Placement would also be pretty good for the airport if/when it becomes a bit more viable.

Well put St Auggie!  Sounds like a good plan now if they could only deliver.
+1

[Pottsburg]

Also I just remembered you can check ur bike as luggage on Amtrak.  Last Thursday I took the 5 something train to DC (arrived 7:35am Friday). The person infront of me was checking their bike.  I think they have racks for them in the luggage car.  I could def see people ridding their bike to the old terminal downtown catching the Amtrak to St. Augy then ridding ur bike into town.  You could def pull that off in summer or winter.  Now let's get this project started.

[finehoe]

The station has a cool mid-century modern look.  I hope they don't mess it up with "renovations".

[TheProfessor]

I am surprised it is not in worse condition.  It must have been kept up or out of operation for a short period.?

[acme54321]

FEC still uses it for maintenence staging and stuff I believe, which is why its still in good shape.