SKYWAY RIDERSHIP DOUBLES...WE TOLD YOU SO JTA!

[Jdog]

The key to a system like the Skyway is connecting it with the rest of the transit system....if it is left free, but encourages more riders on the rest of JTA, it may actually bring in more money....which is precisely what happened in Miami

YES!  YES!  YES!  YES!  YES! YES!  YES! YES! 

[cgaskins]

Yeah, Lake, I definitely agree that the bus system should be bringing people to the skyway, kind of like mini-hubs.  Get rid of buses crossing from South to North Bank, they just drop people off at the skyway.  They can make other connections by way of the skyway to another bus or, hopefully in the future, a streetcar.  Or walk to their destination.

Jurors definitely need to park at the Kings or Terminal stations and ride the skyway to get to the courthouse.  The city should not have to shuttle people over from the stadium.  That's just ridiculous.  If people really don't want to take public transit or walk a few blocks then they should pay for their own parking at one of the garages near the courthouse.  They have free options.  The city doesn't need to give back rubs to lazy citizens.  I live in Brooklyn, NY and had to do jury duty last year.  If you drove there then you had to find a free place to park(good luck!) or pay for parking.  Or take public transit, which is not free.

I moved away from Jacksonville six years ago, and haven't been on the skyway in six to seven years so I'm not sure how much they've changed it, if at all, but the skyway stations definitely need kiosks and vendors.  The city/JTA, whoever, should rent out space to businesses on the platforms.  Even something just as simple as a guy in a wooden box selling magazines, candy, and bottled drinks.  Hot dog vendors, coffee carts, ice cream in the summer...  Rent out plots at the stations for these dudes.  Now that there is an increase in riders they really need to sell ad space in all of the skyway cars, put ads in all of the elevators, on the walls and pillars on the platform...  Having vendors on the platforms during the day will make it seem like less of a ghost town and make people feel invited and more comfortable, which can create more regular riders.  Instead of driving from your house in Mandarin to your job in North Bank, trying to find parking, then rushing to your office with no time to grab a coffee and a snack you could just park at the giant Kings garage, grab a coffee and a bagel, and eat and drink while you cruise to your stop by your office.  Sounds nice, yeah?

And I really hope that they don't end up using three whole blocks for the Greyhound, city bus, and skyway.  There are so many smarter choices to create a main transit station.

[jcjohnpaint]

Ok so I am ashamed to admit it, but today was my first ride on the skyway express.  I parked at the King St. Station and had some business at the new Everbank Building.  First I stopped at the King St. garage and attempted to get my ticket from the machine.  Nothing came out.  The man working at the booth came over.  I asked him if this is a public garage.  He said he didn't know, but most people have their own cards (probably parking pass).  He told me to park under the bridge.  There were no signs telling anyone how to pay for your spot.  I found a metal box that had numbers on it.  The number of my spot had gum stuck in the hole.  This is a joke right?  Well anyways.. I didn't pay to park, nor do I know if I was supposed to pay to park.  I took the train across the river.  The cars looked like s#it.  Nothing add wrapping wouldn't fix.  Oh and it could help pay the bills too.  Both cars were totally full.  Given the amount of people that were asking how this skyway worked led me to believe they were first timers or virgins as well.  I really enjoyed the train.  I found the stations to be clean and met a few people on my ride (I guess some would consider this a burden, but I truly enjoyed the HUMAN experience).  I also talked to a guy who stated that he has been riding the train since it was free and he found out how much easier it was then to walk where he as going.  The trains were full again on the way back.  Actually it seemed like every train that stopped was pretty full.  There was no one class of people.  Some looked like business men.  Some looked like Blue Collar etc.  Everyone was trying the train out.  Overall my experience as great.  Any shortcomings on the train had to do with a mismanaged system- which could deter people from using the trains.  After seeing how many people were in each car, I would assume JTA would need bigger cars if the skyway was to go into existing populated neighborhoods.  I think it is time our politicians started to listen to the people and not to what their political party tell them what to believe.  Use your Goddamn good sense for once.

[Timkin]

Ok so I am ashamed to admit it, but today was my first ride on the skyway express.  I parked at the King St. Station and had some business at the new Everbank Building.  First I stopped at the King St. garage and attempted to get my ticket from the machine.  Nothing came out.  The man working at the booth came over.  I asked him if this is a public garage.  He said he didn't know, but most people have their own cards (probably parking pass).  He told me to park under the bridge.  There were no signs telling anyone how to pay for your spot.  I found a metal box that had numbers on it.  The number of my spot had gum stuck in the hole.  This is a joke right?  Well anyways.. I didn't pay to park, nor do I know if I was supposed to pay to park.  I took the train across the river.  The cars looked like s#it.  Nothing add wrapping wouldn't fix.  Oh and it could help pay the bills too.  Both cars were totally full.  Given the amount of people that were asking how this skyway worked led me to believe they were first timers or virgins as well.  I really enjoyed the train.  I found the stations to be clean and met a few people on my ride (I guess some would consider this a burden, but I truly enjoyed the HUMAN experience).  I also talked to a guy who stated that he has been riding the train since it was free and he found out how much easier it was then to walk where he as going.  The trains were full again on the way back.  Actually it seemed like every train that stopped was pretty full.  There was no one class of people.  Some looked like business men.  Some looked like Blue Collar etc.  Everyone was trying the train out.  Overall my experience as great.  Any shortcomings on the train had to do with a mismanaged system- which could deter people from using the trains.  After seeing how many people were in each car, I would assume JTA would need bigger cars if the skyway was to go into existing populated neighborhoods.  I think it is time our politicians started to listen to the people and not to what their political party tell them what to believe.  Use your Goddamn good sense for once.

^^^ Especially agree with the last sentence  . +1

[jcjohnpaint]

If I used the skyway when charged/ put my money in and could not use the train.. I would not come back.  I don't think anyone is up for being ripped off.  Make the trains more user friendly.  Although I did really like the signs that told the riders what stops were next for the trains, although that seems pretty common on most commuter trains or light rail at the time.  I mean you would think all the (make everything private sector politicians) would be all over wrapping the trains. 

[Keith-N-Jax]

Miami metromover is more extensive though and also connects with there heavy rail line and its connects to more destinations than the skyway. Also, if the skyway stays free how will JTA get money to extend it other parts of DT?

[tufsu1]

Also, if the skyway stays free how will JTA get money to extend it other parts of DT?

capital and operating are separate pots of money.

[Timkin]

Hey JTA? Why don't we finish the damn thing?

Raise the bus fare and see a 19% drop in ridership, that was my prediction... Cut the Skyway fare and double the ridership, that was both Lake and My prediction. Well guess what Wilbur?

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -
It's been a week since the Jacksonville Transportation Authority stopped charging riders to use the Skyway. Since then, ridership has nearly doubled on the downtown system.

Alan Boree is one of those new riders and said the free fare is enticing.

"I enjoyed it," he said. "Maybe people will ride it more often."

Boree said he will probably ride it again sometime in the next three months. That's how long JTA plans to run the test of not charging to ride the Skyway.

JTA said the first week is very promising. Ridership is up 100 percent.

Before it was free, 1,700 people rode the Skyway a day, on average. Last Monday was the first free day and JTA saw a big increase, with 3,813 people riding the Skyway. There were slightly less on Tuesday, with 3,751 riding.
COMPLETE ARTICLE: NEWS 4: http://www.news4jax.com/news/Skyway-ridership-doubles-with-free-fare/-/475880/8602286/-/bcdury/-/index.html

FOR MY NEXT PREDICTION: "IF JTA BUILDS THE GREYHOUND TERMINAL THEY ARE NOW PLANNING, THEY WILL DESTROY JACKSONVILLE'S CHANCE FOR A TRUE MULTIMODAL TERMINAL FOR DECADES..." STOP THIS PROJECT!

OCKLAWAHA

I wish they would terminate this idea and expand on the skyway to Brooklyn/5points .  You know where im going with that , Ock

[cline]

For the first phase of an expansion, the better idea would be to San Marco.

[fsujax]

^^agreed.

[Ocklawaha]

San Marco at FEC RY and Atlantic is a no brainer. Commuters coming up from the south bank could transfer to the Skyway to access hospitals, offices and residential towers. The route also offers an opportunity for across the platform transfer by bringing the Skyway down to ground level at the Atlantic Station.

The expansion to the stadium would probably do quite well in terms of ridership annually provided the south bank parking garage becomes accessible with the overland bridge rebuild. Using Bay then turning northward on Randolph with a station in the middle of the sports district, then over the FREEway to around Randolph and Jessie would guarantee daily usage.

The original plan to go north to Shand's, makes more sense today because the new VA clinic would be on the route, this facility will have most of the diagnostic facilities that are currently located only in Gainesville and Lake City. Staying south and west of the Springfield Parks would keep the line from visual pollution in the historic district.

The 'sleeper' route is southward through Brooklyn. Until some serious dirt starts moving there, the only hope would be Blue Cross/Fidelity. Certainly I'd love to see the old Annie Lytle school turned into a Skyway/bus station packed with boutiques, offices, and studios. Crossing into Riverside/Avondale/5-Points would damage a neighborhood that would be better served by streetcar.

[BridgeTroll]

My understanding is this free phase is temporary until the new STAR card system is installed...

[wsansewjs]

San Marco at FEC RY and Atlantic is a no brainer. Commuters coming up from the south bank could transfer to the Skyway to access hospitals, offices and residential towers. The route also offers an opportunity for across the platform transfer by bringing the Skyway down to ground level at the Atlantic Station.

The expansion to the stadium would probably do quite well in terms of ridership annually provided the south bank parking garage becomes accessible with the overland bridge rebuild. Using Bay then turning northward on Randolph with a station in the middle of the sports district, then over the FREEway to around Randolph and Jessie would guarantee daily usage.

The original plan to go north to Shand's, makes more sense today because the new VA clinic would be on the route, this facility will have most of the diagnostic facilities that are currently located only in Gainesville and Lake City. Staying south and west of the Springfield Parks would keep the line from visual pollution in the historic district.

The 'sleeper' route is southward through Brooklyn. Until some serious dirt starts moving there, the only hope would be Blue Cross/Fidelity. Certainly I'd love to see the old Annie Lytle school turned into a Skyway/bus station packed with boutiques, offices, and studios. Crossing into Riverside/Avondale/5-Points would damage a neighborhood that would be better served by streetcar.

DING DING DING WE HAVE A WINNER, UNCLE OCK!

-Josh

[JeffreyS]

My understanding is this free phase is temporary until the new STAR card system is installed...

I think that was  the idea.  The News4Jax article said the JTA was considering making it permanent however.

[exnewsman]

My understanding is this free phase is temporary until the new STAR card system is installed...

I think that was  the idea.  The News4Jax article said the JTA was considering making it permanent however.

Jim Piggot also took credit for the Skyway being free (in an earlier report) when it had nothing to do with him or the Ch4 reports.