Open News Thread

[jbm32206]

Although the idea of replacing the police helicopters sounds great, but would it really end up saving money? I don't think so....like SC said, it involves more than just landing the copter on a pad, with a blimp, there's a crew to help tie it down. Plus the wind factor is a factor to consider.

I personally feel that the copters, although annoying when circling above your house while trying to watch TV....they play a very important part in patroling and protecting. I feel they're well worth the money.

[Ocklawaha]

Rember this one from JTA?

BRT can operate on MUCH CLOSER headways then Light Rail so it has about the same or MORE passenger per hour ability?

NOT!

Just spent some time with a Transit Group from (one of my old haunts) Los Angeles!
That "SUPER" Metro bus, BRT line (#720) on the highly populated Los Angeles-Civic Center- Santa Monica route is covering the 8/9 am hour with 6 minute headways. (best I could find in the schedule) most are 20 minutes!

Meanwhile the BLUE LINE, LRT between Los Angeles and Long Beach, which cuts through miles of industrial wasteland, before getting into population centers such as Watts, Compton and Long Beach (even then North Long Beach is hardly served where anyone lives!) This line is running the 8/9 AM hours in 3 minute headways!

Also in Tuscon, the Old Pueblo Heritage Troley has a very limited operation, 3 days a week. It goes from the University to the old town night spots. The real daily shuttle service on the same route is provided by "Potato Chip Trucks looks something like Trolley" bus service. The Trolley costs over a buck to ride, the Potato Chip Trucks about 35 cents. Yet with a limited schedule, and only 3 days a week, the trolley is pulling over 3-4 TIMES THE RIDERS!  As I've said before, given the choice of getting in a Jaguar game for 2 or 3 bucks, or going to watch some pop warner kids run around the field with cardboard cut outs of the Jaguars, for 35 cents... WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Same law of "NON-TOURISM" applies to our own "Potato Chip Truck should-have-been-a-trolley operatoin".

Ocklawaha

[Ocklawaha]

The Amtrak Bill, sailed throught the Senate early this year... it was a landslide. No one could have guessed the house would just toss it on the table for the next round. Now with one of the key sponsors out of the game, Amtrak is in REAL TROUBLE! Bush would have to sign it, (HE WON'T) unless we get a solid veto proof majority. Right now we can't even get the new Congress to pick the darn thing up for consideration! Amtrak NEEDS all of us like never before. Jacksonville we have a ton of money and lots of jobs invested here. Not to mention some future Governor with brains, giving us Regional trains, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Pensacola, FEC to Miami, and more are all possible IF THIS GETS PASSED! This would include BILLIONS to retire debit, buy new equipment and set up a RICH program of grants to States that are interested. (Of course Florida is not even looking, Georgia and the Carolinas as well as the other Gulf Coast States are standing at the door in Washington) Because of our location, even IF Florida stays deaf, mute and blind to Railroad Service, we could still anchor service for Georgia and Alabama. Planners in BOTH locations have mentioned Jacksonville as the terminal for trains they want to fund! Get those letters, calls and e-mails out today!

Ocklawaha

[jbm32206]

Is it just me, or does it seem absolutely ridiculous that someone would only get 15 days in a county jail for a deadly hit and run?! Oh, and Kizzy James will also have18 months probation and her driver's license suspended.

Let's see, you can drive along, hit someone, leave the scene and allow that child to die, take your car to a repair shop to hide the damage and lie about your part in what happened. Gee, that's really telling society that the fact that her actions that took a life, means nothing what so ever!

[Ocklawaha]

Wow Joan, what are our Judges smoking? I think I need some just to understand this!

In Colombia, we learned you cross a street at your own peril! NO ONE, will slow, swerve, stop or otherwise try and avoid you. True, most traffic is only moving at 40-50 MPH, but it doesn't take much. So they came up with a system to get the attention of the people... Now everytime someone is run over and killed, they paint a four pointed "star" on the pavement, with a human image in the center and the persons name. Trouble is, downtown is getting full of "Stars!"

Ocklawaha