Expanding the Skyway: Where would you like it to go?

[Sonic101]

This feels like how the idea of a monorail was romanticized 40 years or so ago: "This is the future! It's going to be great!" But then the idea never takes off and the few cities that were early adopters are left with expensive infrastructure that isn't supported nearly as well as other modes.

[Adam White]

I don't know about this. The technology seems pretty speculative right now compared to fixed transit options that will have a lot more TOD opportunities than any bus, driverless or not.

It's not fixed, so flexibility would be considered a benefit to some. However, flexibility in terms of being able to run at-grade or on the Skyway's elevated structure is different than flexibility, in terms of shifting routes on various corridors or mixing in with regular vehicular traffic. If stimulating TOD and attracting choice riders are major factors of consideration, some form of dedicated lanes and ROW would probably need to be seriously considered.

The only way I could see this working would be dedicated lanes on all or most of the routes. At that point, I don't see the benefit, unless it's substantially cheaper than rail lines.

Excluding vehicle costs, vehicle O&M, capacity needs, etc., if a lane was dedicated to it on an existing street (ex. road diet), then it would be significantly cheaper than building rail. However, without the dedicated lane, you'd lose most of the ancillary that a high capacity transit corridor can bring to an urban area.


Right-sizing an existing street by adding a traffic separator to create a dedicated lane wouldn't be significantly different than doing it for a cycle track.

What's the benefit of a driverless bus over a traditional one? Aside from saving a bit on driver salaries, of course.

^From a choice rider's perspective, that will be a challenge that will have to be answered as things progress.

But Lake... what is the benefit of such a system? How is it any better than BRT, for example? Or a guided bus/trolleybus? Is it solely down to savings on salaries?

[thelakelander]

^I guess you could argue it is a version of BRT operating on dedicated ROW. From a technology standpoint, it could enhance safety by being less prone to human error than a regular bus (the Skyway is automated, so being driverless won't mean much to the average rider). However, it would still be advantageous to not mix with regular traffic, regardless of the vehicle type. Regardless of the technology, the best transit lines tend to be reliable, frequent, take riders directly to where they want to go, and efficient.  Mixing with regular street traffic can hurt all of these things. On the reverse side, is the Skyway more beneficial if you can never afford to get it out of downtown?

[Adam White]

^I guess you could argue it is a version of BRT operating on dedicated ROW. From a technology standpoint, it could enhance safety by being less prone to human error than a regular bus (the Skyway is automated, so being driverless won't mean much to the average rider). However, it would still be advantageous to not mix with regular traffic, regardless of the vehicle type. Regardless of the technology, the best transit lines tend to be reliable, frequent, take riders directly to where they want to go, and efficient.  Mixing with regular street traffic can hurt all of these things. On the reverse side, is the Skyway more beneficial if you can never afford to get it out of downtown?

I can see the driverless aspect being a bit of a novelty - mainly because they are buses or whatever. Whatever the solution, I like the idea of an expended Skyway or whatever it would be. This could end up being a "gamechanger".

[Keith-N-Jax]

Don't see how this is the answer. You still have a system that doesn't move a good number of people. Is there no way to update the skyway cars and tracks with out breaking the bank? I guess cost is going to be the leading factor in the decision process.

[KenFSU]

A couple more closeups from the Skyway public forum a week or two back, courtesy Jensen Werley, JBJ.

[MASTERMECH48]

Looking into the future and how such systems are used in Europe, I could envision it connecting the AIR PORT [northside], BEACHES, SOUTH SIDE [NAS] and out to WESTERN areas.  I hesitate to suggest shopping centers as they come and go. Terminals in the areas of those popular spots, possible.  System is a candidate for autonomous operation, boarding passes, separate topic. During my NAVAL career I have seen well operated/planned systems and Jacksonville needs something to assist our horrendous BUSS system.  Naples and Cannes have better BUSS management than we do.

[thelakelander]

I believe we will see driverless buses on regular bus routes before the Skyway (in any form) is extended to the airport and the beaches. At the end of the day, it's still intended to be an urban circulator system as opposed to a rapid transit line like heavy rail or LRT.

[Charles Hunter]

Does that Southbank route cross the FEC RR at grade?  Whether the buses are driverless or not, having to wait for trains will kill any hope of keeping a schedule. Needs to stay elevated until it gets over the FEC.

[Keith-N-Jax]

On South Bank it doesn't cross the tracks, I believe there's a pedestrian bridge there right?

[Charles Hunter]

I was talking about the proposed extension. Right now, the elevated track stops just north of the I-95 overpass. A long way from the RR tracks. There is a pedestrian bridge from that station to the parking garage just south of the overpass.

[thelakelander]

^It would be elevated.

[RatTownRyan]

Automated shuttle to Baptist Health? Yes, if a Florida House bill passes
Could self-driving shuttle buses come to Jacksonville in the near future? A bill filed in the Florida House may make that happen sooner than later.

HB 3831, filed by Rep. Jason Fischer, seeks $500,000 for a local deployment of the Olli minibus, a Local Motors vehicle made in part with 3D printing and powered by IBM Watson technology.

The Watson technology allows passengers to communicate with the vehicle, much as an iPhone user might with Siri.

That half a million dollars would bring two Olli shuttles to Jacksonville and Baptist Health Complex as the first working example of this technology anywhere in Florida.

The shuttles would be used for medical transport — Elite Parking Services of America would, in conjunction with Baptist Health, start up this two shuttle system.

The system would be the first in Florida, and could serve as a pilot to see if the program is practicable in areas of urban density.

The program is supported locally, including by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, home of the downtown automated Skyway system, a people mover that was expected to be a prototype for a future that didn't exactly arrive.

Elite Parking Services is a name known beyond Jacksonville; its owner and proprietor, Dane Grey, is a connected Jacksonville Republican who was honored by Gov. Rick Scott in 2016's State of the State address.

Grey, who also received a gubernatorial Young Entrepreneur award, is an unlikely candidate for the veto pen, should this bill clear the Florida Legislature.

The lobbyist of record on this bill: Kevin Doyle of Wexford Strategies.

[ProjectMaximus]

Sounds like this one will happen then...interested to see how it works out. I guess I'll enjoy an earmark every now and then when it's for something I want 

[TimmyB]

Automated shuttle to Baptist Health? ...The program is supported locally, including by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, home of the downtown automated Skyway system, a people mover that was expected to be a prototype for a future that didn't exactly arrive.

Sounds cool, but this is hardly the quality you are looking for from your endorsements list!    Love to see it happen.