JTA to make skyway transit free

[duvaldude08]

JTA to make Skyway transit free
Move comes after problems with riders not paying fares

Published On: Jan 19 2012 05:06:03 PM EST  Updated On: Jan 19 2012 09:03:30 PM EST
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JTA to make Skyway transit free
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -
For months, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority has said it's working hard to fix broken gates and other malfunctioning equipment at Skyway terminals.

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But as Channel 4 investigators have recently learned, rather than fixing the problems that would force riders to pay up, JTA will offer free rides.

Time and time again, Channel 4 has shown passengers taking advantage of the faulty equipment as a way to avoid fees. But even some of those who tried to pay couldn't.

At the end of this month, the turnstiles and gates will no longer be needed. That's when the Skyway will be going fare free for 90 days as a test to see how many people will ride it for free. It's also a result of Channel 4 showing people who just squeezed by the turnstiles, avoiding fares all together.

Channel 4's Jim Piggott asked JTA if that's why it made the decision to not charge riders in the future.

"That is one factor that we will be considering," spokeswoman Shannon Eller said. "Any decision of the Skyway and a fare free Skyway will be driven by the data."

JTA will be counting the number of free riders and will then decide whether to keep the Skyway free. One factor in all of this is change in the bus system, which will be going to new bus passes, and the Skyway won't be able to read the new cards for a while.

As Channel 4's investigation has shown, there have been problems with maintaining the Skyway gates. They are costly to fix, parts are not available and they break down often.

Most riders were not surprised to hear about future free rides, like one man who said he always thought they were free.

"Might as well. It's been free for as long as I know it," he said.

But others say it's not fair. They say bus fares have increased, so why not make them free.

"You want to make this free, then why they got to be sky high for the people who ride the bus, because this is only downtown," rider Charika Pugh said of the Skyway.

There is also concern that making the Skyway free will lead to transients using it as a way to get out of the weather. JTA says it is making plans for that.

"You will see an increase in security on the Skyway as we move into these 90 days," Eller said.

[jerry cornwell]

 The 90 day trial is a good idea. The transient use will be the biggest issue.

[dougskiles]

The 90 day trial is a good idea. The transient use will be the biggest issue.

They already do that.  But not so frequently that it takes up space from other passengers.

I am glad that it will be free, but don't expect it will lead to a significant increase in riders.  Because, as everyone knows, it doesn't connect to a neighborhood of potential riders on either end.

Right now the people who regularly use it are those transferring from a bus (and that won't change just because it is free) and people like me who simply want to ride it because they like it and want to support it (which I believe may be a handful of people in Jacksonville).

If JTA is reading, I know this may sound preposterous, but it needs to be expanded south into San Marco across the railroad tracks.  Then you will start to pick up more riders.

[ricker]

The 90 day trial is a good idea. The transient use will be the biggest issue.

i sure wish everbank were here online ready to take advantage of the free 90days!

soon.

the skyway almost goes somewhere ...
if the maintenance yard in Brooklyn had even a temporary park-n-ride lot,
and if the skyway reached the SanMarco King's Ave garage via inexpensive covered walkway,
the two easy low cost fixes would do WONDERS! !

[urbanlibertarian]

Because, as everyone knows, it doesn't connect to a neighborhood of potential riders on either end.

It connects my neighborhood (DT) to San Marco.

[ben says]

Because, as everyone knows, it doesn't connect to a neighborhood of potential riders on either end.

It connects my neighborhood (DT) to San Marco.

You really consider that area San Marco? I guess....once you walk over the train tracks, pass a hospital, pass all that traffic, Sherwoods, AA, until you're even at Aix...and then you have another mile til you even get to 'San Marco' shops..

[Dapperdan]

The 90 day trial is a good idea. The transient use will be the biggest issue.

and if the skyway reached the SanMarco King's Ave garage via inexpensive covered walkway,
the two easy low cost fixes would do WONDERS! !

There is a walkway that connects the Kings Ave garage to a skyway Station. I believe it is covered too.

[JeffreyS]

This is a really good move. I wonder what JTA's metrics are for judging if the trial is a success?

[Tacachale]

Because, as everyone knows, it doesn't connect to a neighborhood of potential riders on either end.

It connects my neighborhood (DT) to San Marco.

You really consider that area San Marco? I guess....once you walk over the train tracks, pass a hospital, pass all that traffic, Sherwoods, AA, until you're even at Aix...and then you have another mile til you even get to 'San Marco' shops..

The current San Marco/Southbank stops aren't very near big population areas. In contrast, extending it to San Marco Square would put it within blocks of thousands of people.

[thelakelander]

A skywalk from San Marco Station, over the Acosta, to Baptist and Aetna would also help.  As for attracting more riders by being free, I'd expect a small increase.  However, I believe a free skyway could easily be fed thousands of extra riders by eliminating the duplicate bus routes in downtown.  In other words, treat the skyway, Kings Avenue Station, Convention Center Station and Rosa Parks as one large transfer center.

Northside/Arlington buses go to Rosa Parks and then head back to serve their sections of town.  Westside buses do the same at the convention center and Southside buses do the same at Kings Avenue Station.  Those seeking transfers to other local routes then use the skyway to access each specific terminal.  As BRT (enhanced bus service routes) come online, those and express buses should be the only ones making full cross town bus trips.  I think a system retrofit similar to this will add tons of riders to the skyway and reduce annual O&M costs of JTA's entire transit system.

[Doctor_K]

Because, as everyone knows, it doesn't connect to a neighborhood of potential riders on either end.

It connects my neighborhood (DT) to San Marco.

You really consider that area San Marco? I guess....once you walk over the train tracks, pass a hospital, pass all that traffic, Sherwoods, AA, until you're even at Aix...and then you have another mile til you even get to 'San Marco' shops..

The current San Marco/Southbank stops aren't very near big population areas. In contrast, extending it to San Marco Square would put it within blocks of thousands of people.

I'm sure the San Marco preservation group will *love* that.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Northside/Arlington buses go to Rosa Parks and then head back to serve their sections of town.  Westside buses do the same at the convention center and Southside buses do the same at Kings Avenue Station.  Those seeking transfers to other local routes then use the skyway to access each specific terminal.  As BRT (enhanced bus service routes) come online, those and express buses should be the only ones making full cross town bus trips.  I think a system retrofit similar to this will add tons of riders to the skyway and reduce annual O&M costs of JTA's entire transit system.

This is only the millionth time that you've copied and pasted this same statement.  It's one you and I agree wholeheartedly on, but...... JTA, SMFH

[thelakelander]

I think they would seriously consider such an extension as long as it paralleled the FEC tracks, terminating at-grade at Atlantic Boulevard.  Such a corridor would place it within walking distance of San Marco Square and Hendricks Avenue.

[cline]

If JTA is reading, I know this may sound preposterous, but it needs to be expanded south into San Marco across the railroad tracks.  Then you will start to pick up more riders.

Agreed.  Problem is JTA doesn't care about transit- they're in the road-building business.

[fsujax]

it's about darn time.