Skyway Could Be Torn Down.....In 2036!

[Jdog]

You won't see me taking rapid transit into the Prime Osborn to hop on a bus that fights traffic and waits at lights to get me to another part of downtown.

Use the already built and functional computerized system to get good timing for the Skyway's arrival at the Prime Osborn to shuttle me to the south or northbank (on the south or north rail, respectively), and I'll come in this way everyday.  In fact, make this last leg of an integrated system free.



 

 

[dougskiles]

Channel 4 reporter was at the Kings Ave station a short while ago.  She was surprised how many people were riding it.  I tried to get the point across that it needs to be expanded and not cut back.  It will be interesting to see how much, if any of the interview gets on the report.  They said it should be on tonight.

[lowlyplanner]

Is there a way to make the Skyway cheaper to expand?

I don't see RAP or San Marco letting those elevated tracks into the neighborhood (although personally I think they provide some great shade for pedestrians on the street below...)

It would be great to get on a streetcar in Avondale, ride downtown, and then climb up onto the elevated tracks to avoid traffic.   When I asked some JTA transit planners if it was possible they told me there was no way.  So that makes me think it might be the way to go.

[dougskiles]

Absolutely it can be done cheaper.  Bringing the system to ground level along side the FEC tracks in San Marco would cut the cost significantly.  And we would not have the concerns about impacting homes.  The stations would be nothing more than glorified bus shelters.  The developments that will occur along the route can be set up as Tax Increment Finance projects and pay for much of the expansion cost.

It CAN be done, we just need the political will and enough of an economic rebound to get the developers busy again.

[JeffreyS]

I imagine San Marco would not have a problem with the going as far as Atlantic Blvd.  Service to the square and the new Publix TOD.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I've emailed.  I've sent diagrams.  I've been to several open-house meetings.  I've talked to drivers.  I've talked to riders.  There are no plans to do anything to the skyway.

My main argument is Why don't you terminate the bus routes at Rosa Park, Jefferson St and the PO only - eliminate the DT Loop - use a dedicated trolley through the middle of town to pick up the people east of hogan or have the bay ST & Beaver St trolley do it for you.  All of southside busses - Jefferson St Station - you just eliminated 15-20 minutes, EACH WAY, on their headtimes.  All Westside busses -PO - you just eliminated 15-20 minutes, EACH WAY, on their headtimes.  All northside & Beaches - Rosa Park - you really don't save anytime because they don't loop downtown.  Oh yeah, they're already the most convenient bus lines of the system.

[I notice a pattern here, but JTA doesn't acknowledge it]  The responses that I get are that I'm creating an extra transfer (no shit, it's also called extra revenue), there are no restrooms (have you seen the facilities at Rosa Park?), we don't have a ticket station (30k will get you two ticket counters w/ AC if you go the contruction trailer model)

I am offering solutions to the problem that 1.)Don't cost anything, 2.)Enhance the service, 3.)Generate more $$, but ......  No buts....... What's the fucking problem? 

[TheProfessor]

MAKE IT AN ELEVATED BIKE LANE!!  PROBLEM SOLVED

[peestandingup]

Where's Brown on all this stuff? Pounding his pecker?? He's the one who needs to get the ball rolling & clean some house. Nothing will change if you've got the same old dinosaurs, using the same lame ass excuses, making decisions about urban & mass transit policies when they've never left the Jacksonville suburbs.

Their ignorance isn't as frustrating as is their willingness to remain ignorant, then pretend like they know WTF they're talking about. Then the dumb ass population (vast majority suburbanites who have never left either) agrees with them.

[tufsu1]

one idea worth exploring is getting streetcar started in our historic enighborhoods of San Marco, Riverside, and Springfield....then figuring out a way where the skyway could be retrofitted so streetcars could go up on it in the core of downtown....then bring them back down on Bay Street to extend out to the stadium

[tufsu1]

Where's Brown on all this stuff? Pounding his pecker?? He's the one who needs to get the ball rolling & clean some house.

2 things

1. Brown has little say in what happens at JTA (it is a state agency and the Mayor only appoints a few board members)
2. Brown has even less say in what Council members think or do

[dougskiles]

^technically yes, but his voice does carry far.  I have been told by those at JTA that what the mayor says does influence their direction.  The same way that he wants to influence education, he can influence transportation.  And should.

[Dashing Dan]

one idea worth exploring is getting streetcar started in our historic enighborhoods of San Marco, Riverside, and Springfield....then figuring out a way where the skyway could be retrofitted so streetcars could go up on it in the core of downtown....then bring them back down on Bay Street to extend out to the stadium

#1 The whole idea with the skyway is that it doesn't require an onboard operator.  Take that away and there's hardly anything left that would be worth keeping. 

#2 The skyway structure is not wide enough for a bus, so it's doubtful that it would be wide enough for a streetcar.

#3 The skyway grades are too steep for a vehicle that would run on a  steel rail.

And why is it that you would you want to put a streetcar up high downtown?

[iMarvin]

I've emailed.  I've sent diagrams.  I've been to several open-house meetings.  I've talked to drivers.  I've talked to riders.  There are no plans to do anything to the skyway.

My main argument is Why don't you terminate the bus routes at Rosa Park, Jefferson St and the PO only - eliminate the DT Loop - use a dedicated trolley through the middle of town to pick up the people east of hogan or have the bay ST & Beaver St trolley do it for you.  All of southside busses - Jefferson St Station - you just eliminated 15-20 minutes, EACH WAY, on their headtimes.  All Westside busses -PO - you just eliminated 15-20 minutes, EACH WAY, on their headtimes.  All northside & Beaches - Rosa Park - you really don't save anytime because they don't loop downtown.  Oh yeah, they're already the most convenient bus lines of the system.

[I notice a pattern here, but JTA doesn't acknowledge it]  The responses that I get are that I'm creating an extra transfer (no shit, it's also called extra revenue), there are no restrooms (have you seen the facilities at Rosa Park?), we don't have a ticket station (30k will get you two ticket counters w/ AC if you go the contruction trailer model)

I am offering solutions to the problem that 1.)Don't cost anything, 2.)Enhance the service, 3.)Generate more $$, but ......  No buts....... What's the fucking problem?

Those are seriously some great ideas! If JTA doesn't see that, then I don't see how anything else they do can be done right.

[urbaknight]

Well, we keep on reelecting those same do nothing, know nothing suburbanites into council. And until the whole city wakes up, it's always going to be this way. We've got the mayor, now we need the same type of people in council.

[iMarvin]

I know I've said it plenty of times, but I have to say it again. If streetcars go down Bay St. to the stadium, then the Skyway will be dead. An extension to San Marco is obvious but an extension to the stadium is just as obvious, if not more. Those two extensions would raise ridership by at least double. But if we get streetcar going down Bay St, where can the skyway go? This is what I think:

Streetcar - Park St, Water St, Ocean St (or Newnan), then to Main via side street, and down 8th to Shands,

Skyway - Bay St.

A connection between Newan and Ocean makes the most sense. I also still think the skyway should go to Five Points but that's already been debated.