Salvaging The Skyway

[avonjax]

And everyone must remember that MOST of Jacksonville's residents live outside of downtown. In fact the VAST majority.
And guess what?
THEY DON'T GIVE A CRAP ABOUT DOWNTOWN!!!
If the skyway is ever shut down or demolished it will be the end of any kind of mass transit other than bus, at least in most of our life times.
The citizens of Jax on the NS, WS, SS etc do not really care. Most of them do not work downtown and most of them don't go downtown.
I literally know hundreds of people who have not gone downtown in years, or in some cases ever.
When the city government finds a way to stop business from abandoning downtown office buildings to migrate to Southside, and finding a way to return to the idea of getting 10,000 or more people living downtown, then we will possibly see the skyway being used. But as long as it doesn't conveniently serve the residents and office workers, it's going to be an uphill battle.
As adamant as STJR is of getting rid of the skyway altogether, I am just as adamant that the city should find sensible solutions to make it work.
If a streetcar system was under construction right now, then I could be persuaded, but if the skyway ever comes down before, we will never see anything but buses downtown.
I am really tired of one side of the fence screaming about waste, yet never finding a sensible solution to making what already exists work. Just getting rid of it, or starting on a new concept flies in the face of waste.
Lake is right about the Skyway. And I believe it could be corrected and become a useful system.

[avonjax]

And another thing. Most people I know from EVERY part of town, have never even ridden the Skyway.
Maybe incorporating it into the Art Walk more often would be nice.

[Shwaz]

And everyone must remember that MOST of Jacksonville's residents live outside of downtown. In fact the VAST majority.
And guess what?
THEY DON'T GIVE A CRAP ABOUT DOWNTOWN!!!
If the skyway is ever shut down or demolished it will be the end of any kind of mass transit other than bus, at least in most of our life times.
The citizens of Jax on the NS, WS, SS etc do not really care. Most of them do not work downtown and most of them don't go downtown.
I literally know hundreds of people who have not gone downtown in years, or in some cases ever.
When the city government finds a way to stop business from abandoning downtown office buildings to migrate to Southside, and finding a way to return to the idea of getting 10,000 or more people living downtown, then we will possibly see the skyway being used. But as long as it doesn't conveniently serve the residents and office workers, it's going to be an uphill battle.
As adamant as STJR is of getting rid of the skyway altogether, I am just as adamant that the city should find sensible solutions to make it work.
If a streetcar system was under construction right now, then I could be persuaded, but if the skyway ever comes down before, we will never see anything but buses downtown.
I am really tired of one side of the fence screaming about waste, yet never finding a sensible solution to making what already exists work. Just getting rid of it, or starting on a new concept flies in the face of waste.
Lake is right about the Skyway. And I believe it could be corrected and become a useful system.

Jacksonville is strange place with a strange mentality regarding it's downtown. I've heard people say they don't come DT because they have trouble with directional streets 

People not coming downtown to work / live / play is exactly the reason why the skyway needs to be improved and utilized. Every city needs a thriving urban core and ours is obviously a ways behind.

[Coolyfett]

Its been elevn years since the system was extended. I really dont see why they refuse to go up Bay Street to the Sports Complex.  Dont know why they wont connect Springfield with Riverside. They dont have to do it all at once, but man even 1 new station every 5 years is progress. They started in 87 with 3 stations not sure when Rosa Parks & Hemming came. Kings Ave & River came in 2000. Its like they gave up on it.

[Coolyfett]

And everyone must remember that MOST of Jacksonville's residents live outside of downtown. In fact the VAST majority.
And guess what?
THEY DON'T GIVE A CRAP ABOUT DOWNTOWN!!!
If the skyway is ever shut down or demolished it will be the end of any kind of mass transit other than bus, at least in most of our life times.
The citizens of Jax on the NS, WS, SS etc do not really care. Most of them do not work downtown and most of them don't go downtown.
I literally know hundreds of people who have not gone downtown in years, or in some cases ever.
When the city government finds a way to stop business from abandoning downtown office buildings to migrate to Southside, and finding a way to return to the idea of getting 10,000 or more people living downtown, then we will possibly see the skyway being used. But as long as it doesn't conveniently serve the residents and office workers, it's going to be an uphill battle.
As adamant as STJR is of getting rid of the skyway altogether, I am just as adamant that the city should find sensible solutions to make it work.
If a streetcar system was under construction right now, then I could be persuaded, but if the skyway ever comes down before, we will never see anything but buses downtown.
I am really tired of one side of the fence screaming about waste, yet never finding a sensible solution to making what already exists work. Just getting rid of it, or starting on a new concept flies in the face of waste.
Lake is right about the Skyway. And I believe it could be corrected and become a useful system.

That pretty solid! If they get rid of it. NO system Will ever replace it. Jax will be a slow moving parking lot in years to come. Its still a young system, but people are just not communicating. People either want to save a lil money or make a quick buck. Why not save alot of money & make tons of money over time?

[urbaknight]

At least expan it to the sports complex, then watch the ridership increase 10 fold.

[urbanlibertarian]

At least expan it to the sports complex, then watch the ridership increase 10 fold.

I don't think so.  Most of the time there's nothing going on east of Liberty St.  Are there really enough events at the sports complex to justify the cost?

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

There's arena football, baseball's about to start up, of course the Jags, shows at the arena, stuff at the campground and depending on the route that it takes, clubs on bay st, the florida theatre, the jail, maxwell house, berkman, burrito gallery, the old folks home (cathedral apts?), the episcopal church?, bail bondsmen/attorneys galore (yeah, I lump them together for a reason ).....

I can keep going, but I guess that you don't venture that far east very often.

[Dashing Dan]

At least expan it to the sports complex, then watch the ridership increase 10 fold.

I don't think so.  Most of the time there's nothing going on east of Liberty St.  Are there really enough events at the sports complex to justify the cost?

My vote would be for a skyway extension across the FEC RR tracks to Atlantic Blvd in San Marco. 

I am less enthusiastic about the other extensions that have been discussed.  Personally, I would benefit the most from a skyway extension that would go part of the way towards the sports complex, i.e. to Market or Liberty. 

I don't think that there will be any skyway extensions unless or until a private sector funding source could be found.

[iMarvin]

I think the skyway should be extended to Riverside, San Marco, Springfield, and the Sports Complex. By also eliminating buses downtown or feeding them into the skyway, this will ensure the most ridership possible.

[buckethead]

I'm going to try to communicate some of what I think I've learned here at MJ.

Expanding the Skyway to points A, B, and C will have minimal effect unless it is part of a more comprehensive transit system.

Connectivity isn't a cliche without good reason.

Solution: Get the whole ball of wax rolling.

For less than the cost of a couple major interchanges.

This is where my conservative brethren are misinformed. (No comment from Faye is necessary... it sounds better coming from me   )

Roads are more expensive to the taxpayer, and less cost effective. No segment of a transit system will replace roads. Only a usable, moderately (at a minimum) comprehensive system can be successful.

How'd I do?

[dougskiles]

My vote would be for a skyway extension across the FEC RR tracks to Atlantic Blvd in San Marco. 

I am less enthusiastic about the other extensions that have been discussed.  Personally, I would benefit the most from a skyway extension that would go part of the way towards the sports complex, i.e. to Market or Liberty. 

I don't think that there will be any skyway extensions unless or until a private sector funding source could be found.

I agree, a San Marco extension will get the most bang for the buck.  Three potential TODs have been identified along the route (Kings Avenue - at the stormwater ponds; Lasalle Street; and Atlantic).  I have spent the last three months talking to property owners and developers in each area and all are optimistic about the idea and appear willing to contribute to the cost.  Would they pay for the entire extension?  Doubtful - but with tax increment financing a portion of it could be privately funded.

As far as the idea of building out the 'San Marco' station - here is a photo demonstrating just how much volume is available for a better use:

[mfc]

This is issue is all about leadership or the lack thereof.

[dougskiles]

One more thing...

The Skyway should be free.  It will be an amenity to those choosing to support downtown by living and working there.  Then we can also end the conversation about the system paying for itself.  The reimbursement to the taxpayers is the more dense, efficient urban environment that does not cost as much to support as the suburburbs.

[DeadGirlsDontDance]

It's a small thing, and I've mentioned it before, but something that may help Skyway ridership is making it easier to tell which way the cars are going. Riding the Skyway is confusing, which is a towering accomplishment in pointless WTF-ery, considering how few destinations there are to begin with.