JTA Skyway to Remain Fare-Free for Another Year

[Metro Jacksonville]

JTA Skyway to Remain Fare-Free for Another Year



During last year's mayoral race, Metro Jacksonville offered five affordable solutions that we believed would dramatically increase the JTA Skyway's ridership.  Today, we are happy to report that one of those recommendations, which involved making the skyway fare free, has led to a 62% increase ridership.


Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-aug-jta-skyway-to-remain-fare-free-for-another-year

[Mathew1056]

I'm happy to see that the skyway will remain free for another year. Just from my observations, it seem that eliminating the fare has caused an increased ridership. Keeping it fare free will hopefully continue that trend. Of the options presented above, the most attractive are three, four, and five. Allowing vendors and advertisers, though it my seem like a sell out, will make the stations seem more inviting. I'm sad to see that for events downtown that the skyway is only rarely used. I would like to see Artwalk utilized some of the station. Maybe so installations or musicians. It needs something new to liven it up. 

[duvaldude08]

Im surprised the Jaguars havent considered the wrap advertising yet.

[gedo3]

Maybe the skyway and the food truck ideas could be combined? 

[Dapperdan]

Great idea gedo3. There could be one or two trucks at each stop, thus encouraging using the skyway to get to the food trucks.

[dougskiles]

Now we need to get them to run it at night and on the weekends.

[mbwright]

During the superbowl, there were several that wanted to do advertising/wraping, but JTA or somebody said it would look offensive.  Not sure why it was OK for the buses, but not on the skyway. 

[Captain Zissou]

This is a positive move.  Let's keep this momentum going!!  Next step, allow the mobility fee moratorium to sunset.

[jcjohnpaint]

Yes great news indeed.  And Doug I totally agree.  I remember I took the skyway over from San Marco one night during art walk.  It was only 9 when I went to take it back and it was closed.  It was kind of funny because art walk was still in swing.  The experience was pretty crappy.   

[Bativac]

Now we need to get them to run it at night and on the weekends.

Yes! A thousand times yes!!!

[PeeJayEss]

I'm having a pub crawl idea....

[mbstout]

I am against the idea of plastering every square inch of space with advertising (see Sao Paolo and it's ban on outdoor advertising!!) but I can't help to see that large chunk of concrete under the Hemming Plaza sign (last photo) used as a 3'x12' banner ad space.
I live in New York and spaces like Times Square CAN BE and ARE interesting because of the dynamic energy the onslaught of moving ads/people/vehicles.. (See Rem Koolhaas's 'Delirious New York')
If it means increased ridership and free fares then I'm all for it (I would draw the line at cover-wrapping the whole train in adverts though- some things should remain pristine and origional!) 
Renting the lower skyway plaza areas to Food Trucks parked at the base is an excellent idea the JTA should pursue b/c they wouldn't be in competition with Brick and Mortar businesses and pull people into space, then invite them to explore via the Skyway..

[fsujax]

^^leasing space to vendors is in the works.

[urbaknight]

I ride the skyway alot now, and most of the time it's pretty busy. I'm thinking of hanging out and collecting signatures for a petition for them to finish the skyway as it was intended. How would I go about organizing a petition drive?

And JTA might like this idea; When the skyway actually goes to the Sports Complex, Shands, Five Points, maybe even the beaches, they can start charging again. People will pay a fare if it goes somewhere.

Perhaps they can get Federal grant money again to expand.

[BigGuy219]

As a downtown resident I have used the Skyway for years, several times a week.

Now that it is free I have seen a great uptick in the number of riders.

However, I have noticed something different. In many trips that I have been on recently between Hemming Plaza and Rosa Parks there has been standing room only. During this trip, the Skyway car seems to tilt more than I remember it in doing in the past when there were less riders. In some cases, the tilt during the turn has become so severe that I actually became uneasy.

I am sure that JTA is monitoring on their cameras and would not allow them to travel with unsafe capacity, but I do feel I have a keen perception of things like this based on years of use, and I do notice a dramatic difference in turns when the car is at 'max capacity'.

Just adding my thoughts. Glad it's going to keep being free. It helps a lot of people. I'd keep using it, free or pay.