Extending the Skyway and Bike Share in Jax's Future?

[thelakelander]

Saw bike share in D.C. and their roads were tight and busy also.

They also have some protected bike lanes:  http://www.thewashcycle.com/2012/09/ddot-proposes-extending-the-15th-street-cycletrack-to-euclid.html

Chattanooga has bike share. They have less bike infrastructure than we have right now. Jax's urban core's street network is comprehensive and compact enough for cyclist to take advantage of lesser traveled streets that happen to parallel busy corridors. Nevertheless, we're overdue for a policy with teeth that requires all of our routine street repaving projects to incorporate multi-modal enhancements, where feasible. Getting something like that in place will literally transform biking in the urban core for limited additional cost over a 5-10 year period by itself.

[IrvAdams]

I work in Mandarin just off Philips Highway. There is a bike lane along Philips for a ways, and although there are many car turn-ins and other interruptions people do bike through there. Of course, the road is wide and traffic zips by pretty quick.

Anyway, seems that lately the City has put up some Bike Lane signage that's new, and even that little bit helps. I think most drivers respond favorably to signage and other traffic direction like striping, lights, etc. A media campaign would be very helpful as a start. Driver consciousness-raising.

[AuditoreEnterprise]

I know it likely would never happen, but it is something I really liked to use back in California and I think incorporated into the right area near the urban core can do wonders. It was something like 12 miles long and built mainly on top of decommissioned rail tracks. It has a main connecting road on both sides and sees tons of walking, biking, rollerblading, skateboarding, scooter, running, dogs, everything... The neighborhood was okay before it was built, but this improvement increased property value and brought a lot of traffic to the area.

[AuditoreEnterprise]

forgot to mention every like 4 or 5 blocks there is a cross section so that cars can cross or turn around.

[AuditoreEnterprise]

there is also a section like this where a rapid bus runs next to the path connecting 3 colleges and the main transit station going from the valley to downtown LA.

[thelakelander]

^Nice!

[ProjectMaximus]

I would like to see the extension a block or two deeper into Brooklyn

A two block extension would probably almost double the cost with very little benefit.

I disagree. Well, I don't know about the cost and whether it's worth it, but I think there's a lot of benefit to extending down Riverside even just a few more blocks. You gotta try and get it as close to the office towers as possible.

[thelakelander]

Roughly $28-$30 million/mile according to their 2009 study on extending the Skyway as far south as Forest Street.

[ProjectMaximus]

A few other questions/comments:

1) The bikeshare concept sounds absolutely awesome. If it's implemented well it could be the saving grace for JTA and the overall connectivity.

2) Are TIGER grants ever partially funded or is it always all or nothing?

3) In the map of the Brooklyn station extension, they used the wrong Fidelity logo. The green logo is for Fidelity Investments which, if I'm not mistaken, has no offices in the FNF building. Small slip up, especially in such a detailed and long application, but a slip nevertheless.

[ProjectMaximus]

Roughly $28-$30 million/mile according to their 2009 study on extending the Skyway as far south as Forest Street.

Wow, that seems astronomical and definitely not worth it. To get to Forest St then would cost an extra $12 mil.

[Steve]

I would like to see the extension a block or two deeper into Brooklyn

A two block extension would probably almost double the cost with very little benefit.

Would it? According to the presentation, guideway is 3.4 of the 26.5 overall project. The station and maintenance improvements would be the same regardless.

Personally, I think it would be a benefit to potentially locate at the Shoppes on Riverside, in between the two outparcels. Not only would it shroud the parking lot for the development, it would be a lot more centralized to the area between Downtown and Forest St.

[thelakelander]

I do wish it was at least extended to the front of the Fresh Market shopping center. A station there would block the surface parking lot and offer better/safer pedestrian access to adjacent land uses. With that said, if they don't win the TIGER grant, what's the fallback option?

[ProjectMaximus]

^I wish JTA read Metrojacksonville more often. You guys have been saying that (extending in front of the surface parking lot) since the project was first unveiled.

[jcjohnpaint]

I am pretty sure they do to some degree

[Ocklawaha]

there is also a section like this where a rapid bus runs next to the path connecting 3 colleges and the main transit station going from the valley to downtown LA.

The 'MetroRapid Orange Line,' is a rather special case, one that Jacksonville couldn't duplicate and doesn't need. Specifically while the bikeway is a great idea, the 'Bronze Level' BRT was chosen over rail because it would not create a hot TOD market. Our own so-called BRT does not meet this level of service-amenities and would not even score as 'basic BRT' on a international level and is unlikely to have any effect on development. We do have a few bikeways along former railroads within the urban core, and a couple of grade separated ones in the area, but we need much, much more.

Without the exclusive right-of-way of the Orange Line (former Pacific Electric Railway) our buses will run in regular traffic lanes with a suicide bike lane alongside. With virtually no pedestrian-bike overpasses, massive 6-8 lane at grade highway crossings, and but a few short cycle crosswalk lights, if we don't upgrade the whole infrastructure we're likely to just increase our kill rate.