JTA making progress on transportation center

[duvaldude08]

I really don't see too much wrong with the whole proposal.  I know everyone is saying that this is prime land for TOD developement or whatever, but this land has not been developed yet. I know the city has owned it for a while and no one has bmade any proposals for it for years and years.

I am familiar with these empty parcels as I usually park there for Jags games. It really isn't that long of a walk, 160 yards. Some people walk that to get into Walmart. I beleive the elevated walkway connecting everything will have covering. Maybe they could even make it a moving walkway like at Universal Studios or airports.

I agree Dan. But the overall design needs to be redone. I think they should go ahead and build the Greyhound station, however they need to redesign the other phases and make sure its more compact and intergrated with the greyhound station. Otherwise ist not a transportation center, It will be four transporation buildings next door to each other.

[thelakelander]

The largest problem I see (other than combining the local bus/BRT blocks into one) is in the form of underutilization of urban land (Dapperdan, infill TOD won't come until you have transit) and spending upwards of $180 million (go compact and that cost should drop) on something that is designed the way it is to work around something (the convention center) that will be moving in a few years.  From a fiscal conservative approach, there are a number of things that could be improved upon that would save JTA money, enhance DT's vibrancy and add to the city's tax base.  However, for whatever reason, proper coordination between different public entities in this city has been difficult to achieve, limiting holistic urban planning in the process. 

[jcjohnpaint]

Everyone is complaining about the Everbank deal, but the problems the site mismanagement here is going to cause down there road will be definite. 

[Ocklawaha]

Why is it just a Greyhound station? Why isn't it like the airport where all of the airlines use it.  Maybe we could attract that luxury bus company there if it was a Bus Terminal.

Because the senior planner at JTA just doesn't  !#$$##$T^%^!! get it.  The same guy that designed and rammed the Skyway down our throats is now killing any chance we have for a transportation center. Instead he will try and scare, misinform, speak to, undermine, and any other method to keep that plan exacty as he first drew it. 

It IS susposed to be like an airport with all carriers in the same house, but only in Jacksonville will we try and rename a collection of buildings "a" center...  IT ISN'T A TRANSPORTATION CENTER, its a collection of stations scattered across a neighborhood that will be disfunctional as soon as the Amtrak portion opens and transfer passengers realize they've got 7 blocks to walk (and two different flights of stairs) to traverse just to get to the "other station." 

Even if they moved it closer, it's still no cigar if it's not in house with Amtrak, like every other transportation center in the land.

It wouldn't set back the enviromental study to move it to the main station building and temporarily looping the buses around the west side parking lot. That way bus and rail passengers could use the same grand old waiting room. Without it, there will not be enough critical mass to support restaurants, gift shops, etc...

"Great magazine you've got there mate, may I ask where you got it?"

"Sure, 7 F--king blocks up the street at a Greyhound station..."


OCKLAWAHA

[brainstormer]

The JTA Transportation Center needs to be halted and redesigned because it was originally designed as if the Convention Center would stay put.  As I believe Lake said, with the convention center moving, there are more options that would use less land and cost less.  For example, the JTA offices that are proposed should be put inside the Prime Osborn along with the retail spaces.  We don't want the Prime Osborn to go to waste so it needs to be repurposed.  Now is the time for our new mayor to get committees and organizations talking with each other.  All of the great ideas need to be coordinated.

[Tacachale]

Well, we don't know that the new convention center will actually pan out. And it's years away at any rate. Conceivably they want to hold onto the Prime Osborne until the new center is in place, if that even happens.

[thelakelander]

To be honest, we'll probably see a convention center built before the JRTC is fully built.  Its cheaper and it appears like its going to be a higher priority for the incoming administration.

[duvaldude08]

The Convention Center is currently being budgeted at 150 million

That is pretty cheap compared to the courthouse (LOL). Is the rendering in the Daily Record definite, or has a final decision not been made yet? I read there were three.

[Ocklawaha]

Uh? How about someone scan in the photo or article  from the daily record or perhaps send us a link to it for those of us in the boondocks.


OCKLAWAHA

[thelakelander]

The Convention Center is currently being budgeted at 150 million

The transportation center is $180 million.

[brainstormer]

^ This really shows the lack of efficiency in planning and design.  I would just think that a convention center from the ground up should cost more than a possible transportation center that could be designed around an enormous space (Prime Osborn) that already exists and was originally constructed to be a rail station.  Couldn't we build a cheaper transportation center, purchase 100s of bus shelters for the city, and extend the skyway all for $180 million?

[cityimrov]

Ok, worst case scenario and JTA builds exactly what they want they way they want it and the convention center is moved. 

Which building will end up being the point of no return?  How difficult would it be to move the rail tracks north?

[thelakelander]

Pretty impossible.

[Jimmy]

The TU is reporting that Mayor Brown is opposed at this time to giving the additional 9 blocks to JTA for the transit center.

Says the TU: Brown spokesman Abel Harding said there were too many questions over how much it would cost to build and maintain the transportation center, as well as uncertainty over how the structure would fit in with Brown's plan to revitalize the downtown.

Harding said the mayor fears the transportation center could turn into a situation like the new Duval County courthouse, which was originally expected to cost $190 million and is now at $350 million.

If JTA can come up with a detailed plan for how the facility would work, Brown is willing to consider supporting it. But he needs a lot more information, Harding said.

More at the source: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400669/larry-hannan/2011-07-12/mayor-alvin-brown-opposes-transferring-more-land-jta

[Captain Zissou]

Says the TU: Brown spokesman Abel Harding said

That alone makes me more confident than anything that happened under the last administration.