Jim Bailey: The Skyway can drive economic development

[thelakelander]

Jim Bailey provides his thoughts on the Skyway and its future.

After all these years, could it be that there is a legitimate future for the much-maligned Skyway?
At times called the "Riderless Express" and the "Train to Nowhere," the Skyway's mostly empty cars have glided above Downtown streets since 1989.

In 1998, the Skyway opened an extension that crosses the St. Johns River as part of the then-newly built Acosta Bridge.

Perhaps nothing in Jacksonville's modern-day history has been as criticized or contentious as the Skyway.

Jacksonville was one of seven cities selected by the U.S. Urban Mass Transit Administration for such a project.

In its planning stages as a "people mover" under Mayor Hans Tanzler during the 1970s, the Skyway had plenty of detractors who argued the city should not accept funds from the federal government to build it.

full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=539520

[JeffreyS]

I hope Mr. Ford can get traction on the expansion into Riverside.  Lake I know you don't put much stock in a public marketing campaign but I think the Mayor and Council will need to some push not to swing the axe on expansion.

[thelakelander]

I don't think they'd really fight this one, assuming JTA wins a federal grant to pay for it.

[JeffreyS]

Yes but did you think they would create a Mobility funding mechanism and then never actually pocket the cash?

I think we better be ready to push just in case.

[thelakelander]

Unfortunately, I did.  Nevertheless, I do agree that we better be ready to push to support JTA.