DVI's position on Bus Shelters

[thelakelander]

Impact of Bus Shelters on Downtown


Position Statement

Downtown Vision, Inc. has several concerns regarding the potential impact on Downtown of Ordinance 2005-0718, which would allow the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) to contract with a third party business to provide bus shelters funded by advertising revenue.

The history of this legislation dates back to 2005 and, while we are not opposed to JTA finding ways to offset bus shelter and maintenance costs, we would like to see the legislative language revisited in light of how this will impact Downtown and where Downtown revitalization is today.

Recommendations

Downtown Vision would like to see Ordinance 2005-0718 be amended to include the following:

1. Require that any JTA bus shelters located in the defined boundaries of Downtown Jacksonville be subject to a specific design guideline to be established by the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission and Downtown Development Review Board.  These guidelines should include requirements that all bus shelters have a high percentage of transparency and benches that limit the opportunity to lie prone or semi-prone, such as circular benches.

2. Require that bus shelters receive a certain standard of care within Downtown, including provision for daily pressure washing, daily litter and graffiti removal, high level lighting and upkeep of the structure.

3. Require that vandalism be replaced, repaired or removed within 72 hours as required by the Property Safety Code, instead of the proposed two-week limit.

4. Require that one trash receptacle be provided at each bus shelter within the designated boundary of Downtown Jacksonville.

5. Consider the fairness of allowing unrestricted advertising on bus shelters within an area where property owners and businesses are required to adhere to strict signage regulations and the opportunity for signage placement is regulated through rigorous review by the Downtown Development Review Board and Ordinance 2002-446.

In conclusion, bus shelters Downtown need to be regulated specifically for shelter design, placement and maintenance.  We also encourage a comprehensive discussion of existing ordinances and include provisions to require review by the Downtown Development Review Board to ensure that what is proposed (design, placement and maintenance) is in keeping with the guidelines established as part of the Downtown Master Plan.

Other cities have been successful in finding ways to make this concept work and we believe we can do the same for Downtown Jacksonville.

We welcome the opportunity to amend or craft new legislation that benefits all interests involved.

http://www.downtownjacksonville.org/news/?news_id=187

[downtownparks]

seems pretty reasonable to me.