Are YOU willing to take JTA?

[Singejoufflue]

You want JTA to improve its routes?  Improve timeliness? Better respond to inquiries and complaints?  It really can't be a "build it and they will come" situation.  I know you don't want a two-hour commute.  Neither do I; however, JTA is my only option, but I sure get a lot of reading and knitting done. 

All you folks riled up about a light rail system or jawing about the state of the current system need to get on the buses, the Skyway, the Trolleys, and the Shuttles in order to get anything done.  Let's see what happens when ridership increases 5%, then 10%. 

Stop talking and start doing.

[KenFSU]

The horrific untimeliness of JTA's buses has nothing to do with a lack of funding. The JTA and many of its drivers operate the bus system with an attitude that suggests that they know perfectly well that the only people riding the buses are the ones who have no choice in the matter. Instead of treating the bus system as a viable alternative for those who don't want to drive, they run it almost like they are doing the city a favor. You'll get what we give you, and you'll like it. I feel sorry for those like yourself who are forced to play captive audience for such a shoddy system, but I don't think it would do an ounce of good to add an hour to my 5 mile morning commute. I don't see the logic in rewarding a broken system. If the buses saw a 5% increase in ridership, it would falsely suggest rider satisfaction and success. Plus, I doubt JTA would be putting those extra $12 toward new lines or snappy new quartz watches their drivers could use to keep track of time. A boycott would be much more effective.

[Singejoufflue]

98% of the population is already boycotting JTA.  So, you want the remaining 1.8% to boycott the only system that gets them to work?  (I'm generously allowing .2% for those who JTA isn't the default.)

You are right, though. JTA appreciates that they are the last resort. They know current riders aren't going to community meetings or getting all hot and bothered on message boards; there is no impetus for honest improvement. Sadly, filling a committee room with educated, middle-class folks who are willing to suffer the bad and be vocal demanding improvement will go a lot further than having the poorest of the poor give up work for a week to make a stand.

I recently moved back to Jax, so I am just getting started. 

[tufsu1]

JTA has much to improve on...but unestan this, over 95% of the U.S. public boycotts transit systems....the only metro area that gets over 20% of its trips on transit is New York

[CS Foltz]

I wonder if we could arrange to exchange some transportation planners....maybe a two for one deal?

[mrmet]

it took me 2 hours to get to the beach from downtown on the bus today.

[CS Foltz]

mrmet...........you must have gotten lucky and caught the express!

[Singejoufflue]

Stephen, I read your 30-days on JTA essays.  While I have yet to encounter an Equestrian Center-style debacle, I think the lack of sidewalks you brought up is a real detractor to public transportation here.  In my neighborhood, there are only sidewalks on one side of Cesery and even then, they end before the intersection with Merrill Road AND there are only crosswalks across Merrill, not across Cesery! I don't live in this neighborhood by choice, however, I will say the AR6 has a fairly decent route and only takes me 15 minutes to get to the Rosa Parks station.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I'm also one of the few that doesn't have a problem with JTA, but I only use it to commute to and from work and I both work and live on main routes.  I've mentioned this in other threads, but the WS52 or the WS2 to Rosa Park is a 25-20 min ride, and then Rosa Park to Soutel is 20-25 min. and the busses are always running within 5 minutes of the scheduled time and if I drive I don't save much time because I leave later and catch more of the morning traffic.