FTU Staff Editorial: Jax Can't Afford Mobility Plan's Streetcar

[fieldafm]

A case in point is that nothing has time to develop - they are trimming the trolley service through avondale/riverside at 5 points and reconfiguring it dt for the new courthouse - this change goes into effect next month.

Whoa, wait just a minute.  They have not held the public hearings about this route change yet.  Although inevitability I feel they will change the route and screw it up again... it's not 'official' yet.

[BridgeTroll]

Wow, I didn't see this one coming in response:

By malseedj | 08/17/11 - 11:17 am new Although Ennis and I disagree on some issues, I believe it is time for a change in leadership at the JTA. Ennis has done the research in where our Transit Funding is best spent.

I am not a great fan of Mass Transit for the the core, but believe Ennis has a better understanding of issues than anyone I have seen in Jacksonville.

Mr. Blaylock and his Sidekick Mr. Arrington have both been using the same broken Chrystal Ball for the last 20 years. It is time to retire this Dynamic Duo before they sink us further in debt. If you use the SKYWAY and the Kings Street Garage as your examples of good planning. You could understand the resistance to their latest RTC Boondoggle with a 1700 foot planned walk between the proposed new bus station and the relocated AMTRAK Station.

I believe that we should move the bus station to the existing AMTRAK Station. The AMTRAK Station only serves about 97 people a day coming or going to Jacksonville for a total of 193 riders. Ennis would like to create a hub downtown and reduce the footprint of the proposed RTC. I believe that Downtown's days are over and that it has been overshadowed by outside the Core Development. That is our disagreement.

Given the right platform Ennis could better use what has been sloppily put together and make proper changes to clean up the mess.

John Malseed

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/406107/phil-fretz/2011-08-17/equal-time-streetcars

You are making an impact Ennis!  Congrats!

[urbanlibertarian]

fieldafm wrote:"Whoa, wait just a minute.  They have not held the public hearings about this route change yet.  Although inevitability I feel they will change the route and screw it up again... it's not 'official' yet."

From the JTA website:

No Service Changes in September

There will not be any service changes in September. All routes will remain as they are until further notice. Thank you for riding.

[Dashing Dan]

So what are you bullish on for improving mobility in the Riverside area?

Stay tuned!  RAP is working on something right now that would be pretty cool.

Is RAP going to engage the residents (and members) about what they are "working on" during the process.  I'm still waiting to hear about any involvement opportunities for the parking and transportation master plan RAP is currently undertaking.

The short answer is yes by all means.  It 's just that it's not my role to make announcements on behalf of RAP, at least not as Dashing Dan (or RR Bartender or whatever).

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I may have spoken out of turn, but even though the workshops are still ongoing,  the studies have been done. 

Both reps, Liz & Kent, said that it was a done deal based on the public response (or lack thereof).

So although it's possibly mis-information, coming second/thirdhand, the fact remains that you can't base any type of business around such a flexible product.  But most here already know that.

[Dashing Dan]

it will take more than one group to advocate for streetcars.

Definitely!

[jcjohnpaint]

Great thank you!!

[Tacachale]

Looks good Lake. Top work.

[Dog Walker]

Springfield and Riverside were originally "streetcar suburbs".  Just makes common sense that they should be the first to be reconnected by streetcars.

[Ocklawaha]

Been sitting in the cheap seats watching this all day trying to get my BP down to something under 190. It is true that Springfield, New Springfield, Eastside, Durkeeville, Murray Hill, Moncrief, Gateway, Talleyrand, Phoenix, Panama Park, Fairfield, Brooklyn, Riverside, Fairfax, Ortega, Lackawanna, South Jacksonville, San Marco were ALL streetcar developments - some of the history dating to 1875. Had Jacksonville not jumped off the cliff (among the first cities to do so) and into bed with General Motors, with glowing promises of "dealerships" and "distribution centers," we'd still have the states largest streetcar network.

The only 100% American mass transit invention didn't die a natural death, streetcars were murdered. Since that time, dating to the early 1920's, the highway lobby and the transit lobby have often been a odds. People behind the wheel of automobiles have been spoon fed with ever newer, sexier cars, acres of parking and super highways all provided by the taxpayers in the name of  "investment and freedom" rather then "expense and bondage."

This battle isn't new, we've just recruited new heralds of truth.

OCKLAWAHA

[John P]

  Do you know why people don't go downtown much? It's a long drive and, frankly, the dining and shopping options are rather limited.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/406107/phil-fretz/2011-08-15/can-we-afford-fascinating-concept

This is idiotic. Whom is it a long drive for? Granted shopping isnt much but dining offers more than almost any other area of town maybe the BEST. Someone needs to introduce him to all the Eat Up Downtown restuarants that are having the event for the next 2 weeks. http://www.eatupdowntown.com/index.php/participating-restaurants/ That list doesnt include places like burrito gallery, chicago pizza, la cena, magnificant cafe, chamblins uptown, olio, hooters, american cafe, village bread company. Find me an area that has those plus all the eat up downtown restuarants and you win a prize because theres not one. St. johns towncenter is the only comparable place and most of theirs are just chain restuarants. I consider that a long drive for me. This guy needs to get a clue.

[Ocklawaha]

He asked a question and made a comment about "who goes downtown to ride the Skyway" or "Nobody goes downtown much..."

I'd be willing to bet ANYONE HERE a buck that he wouldn't like the real answer to this. Just today I met with one of my doctors, a transplant from California that just met and entertained a friend from Chicago. I understand she lives out near the beaches and the FIRST STOP on the "hello tour" was a short Skyway ride to the fountain, an evening meal at Charthouse (which was packed as the mayor was there) and an evening at the beach. Her friend loved it.

Who hasn't at least once gone downtown just to admire the fantastic scene of the skyline at night along the river?

OCKLAWAHA

[peestandingup]

Been sitting in the cheap seats watching this all day trying to get my BP down to something under 190. It is true that Springfield, New Springfield, Eastside, Durkeeville, Murray Hill, Moncrief, Gateway, Talleyrand, Phoenix, Panama Park, Fairfield, Brooklyn, Riverside, Fairfax, Ortega, Lackawanna, South Jacksonville, San Marco were ALL streetcar developments - some of the history dating to 1875. Had Jacksonville not jumped off the cliff (among the first cities to do so) and into bed with General Motors, with glowing promises of "dealerships" and "distribution centers," we'd still have the states largest streetcar network.

The only 100% American mass transit invention didn't die a natural death, streetcars were murdered. Since that time, dating to the early 1920's, the highway lobby and the transit lobby have often been a odds. People behind the wheel of automobiles have been spoon fed with ever newer, sexier cars, acres of parking and super highways all provided by the taxpayers in the name of  "investment and freedom" rather then "expense and bondage."

This battle isn't new, we've just recruited new heralds of truth.

OCKLAWAHA

You & I like to talk about this a lot, and for good reason. Its amazing to me that these people can't open their eyes & study a little bit of history to see how we got to this point. I guess they think the car just won out fair & square or something?? Too ignorant to realize that we've all been duped into a lifetime of servitude to big auto, big oil, the insurance racket & the highway system.

"Freedom!" they cried. Yeah, freedom my ass. How exactly is it freeing to have no choice but to drive every time I step outside my door? Tell them to answer me that. Also tell them to visit the single mother who can't even afford health care or food for their kid because their budget gets blown to keep up with car payments & feeding it gas so they can go work at some crummy job that pays jack squat. Fucking assholes. I hate these people so much.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Fucking assholes.

and another reason that this is one of the best blogsites on the interweb.

[Ocklawaha]

  Do you know why people don't go downtown much? It's a long drive and, frankly, the dining and shopping options are rather limited.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/406107/phil-fretz/2011-08-15/can-we-afford-fascinating-concept

This is idiotic. Whom is it a long drive for?.... St. johns towncenter is the only comparable place and most of theirs are just chain restuarants. I consider that a long drive for me. This guy needs to get a clue.

There is something about being in the geographic center of Duval County that seems 'distant' to certain geometrically challenged people around here. Hell, I don't think it's too distant to enjoy and I live down the St. Johns below the freaking Shand's Bridge, as more of a resident of Tocoi as I am Jacksonville. Funny, from my door, Town Center is every bit as far as downtown.

OCKLAWAHA