Peyton's financial restructuring would put major mass transit projects on hold

[thelakelander]

I'm glad JTA is finally starting to smell the coffee.  Peyton's plan to use local mass transit money for additional road improvements would cripple an already struggling system in a city that needs better mass transit just as much as any other place.

JTA fears delays in shift of funding

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority's projects to untangle traffic snarls at major highway interchanges could take a back seat to smaller street overhauls under Mayor John Peyton's idea to extend the Better Jacksonville Plan.

That's been one chief concern for the public transportation agency, which has been crunching numbers since Peyton's Dec. 1 announcement that revenues for the growth management program were dwindling.

JTA also is wary that a financial restructuring Peyton plans to submit to the City Council will set back plans to extend bus service and could cripple public transportation funding in the long run.

full article: http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2008-12-14/jta_fears_delays_in_shift_of_funding

[thelakelander]

Peyton said his proposed restructuring will not cancel any projects, but he said the local roads likely would come first. He said money has become too tight and he'd rather see the local projects completed while state and federal dollars are sought for the highways.

"In an ideal world, we'd love to be able to do everything now," Peyton said. "We can't afford that luxury."

Great quote.  In an ideal world we would be able to do everything now.  However, we can't afford that luxury.  This means whatever you invest in should result in the most positive economic return to the local community.  Since rail is more cost efficient and stimulates transit oriented development (more return), rail should be the priority.  Not small isolated road improvements all spread out across the county.

[thelakelander]

He said the Peyton plan could lose $174 million in funding for JTA, including $94 million needed to acquire property for bus rapid transit, a developing program intended to reduce rush-hour bottlenecks.

"They're asking the JTA to forego our money so they can work on their own projects," JTA spokesman Mike Miller said, referencing an agreement that started taking shape around two decades ago, when a half-cent sales tax replaced the city's toll plazas.

Is it safe to assume $6 million of the BJP $100 million for rapid mass transit has been spent already?  Also, a loss of $174 million in JTA funding will lead to the funding of Peyton's $100 million plan?  How does it help the community to lose $74 million in funding?

[Joe]

Ugh, typical crap from Peyton. I'm a pretty hardcore Republican, and this guy just keeps pissing me off beyond belief. And that's pretty much what I hear from other Republicans as well. He is going to have such an awful legacy.

At least there's the silver lining of defunding BRT right-of-way acquisition. Hopefully BRT will die and the next mayor will have the vision to select commuter rail as a replacement.

[Doctor_K]

Amen, Joe.  Here's hoping.

[JeffreyS]

You know if Peyton has made some back room prommises about road improvements to get some of the port deals done tells us then at least we wouldn't just think he is a nut. Please leave Mr. Mayor,  I for one am in favor of paying him for his whole term just to leave now.

[Charles Hunter]

The $100million is not just for "BRT" right of way, it is for any "rapid transit" right of way (except the Skyway).  From looking at another thread (sorry, no link) here, the latest version of BRT doesn't include much new right of way, mostly using existing streets.  So, taking away the transit right of way money will hurt other options - like commuter rail, which will need property for stations and parking lots.

[thelakelander]

CH, wouldn't the option of buying an existing rail line (if one became available), with track already in place, be considered purchasing ROW? 

[Charles Hunter]

Makes sense to me.  But the Mayor apparently wants to take it all away.

[thelakelander]

This thing isn't dead.  This is not something that should be debated behind close doors.  The pros and cons of what to do with the funding the rest of the BJP projects should be out in the open.

Mousa and Mosley told council members today that the $211 million of Better Jacksonville money slated for the courthouse cannot be used to fund those road projects. They said the revenue for road projects has fallen short, mainly because the projections were always too lofty and also the economic downturn.

The options to fund the remaining road projects aren't easy and will come up for debate initially between the mayor's office, City Council and Jacksonville Transportation Authority. One possibility is extending the local option gas tax beyond the current 2016 sunset date.

http://www.jacksonville.com/interact/blog/tia_mitchell/2009-05-05/city_council_courthouse_budget_update

[heights unknown]

Here we go again; somebody please get Peyton out of office.  But on the flip side, we just can't let the roads go either...need to have good streets and highways to drive the cars on, which brings up the question, then what is the solution?  Using money slated for commuter rail and other public commuter projects might seem to be a solution but is certainly not the answer.  This is a real hard one for Mayor Peyton.

Funds are real short right now with a crunched budget; better get those numbers rolling to find some cash somewhere.

Heights Unknown

[Ocklawaha]

Every day I find myself wishing Johnny Boy would just go take a long walk off of a short pier...

Jethro Tull's famous album "THICK AS A BRICK" seems to apply here.

Anyone thinking patching the pot holes in the local roads will create jobs is a hype that apparently has been mainlining concrete in his veins. Time for the Council to STAND FOR SOMETHING!

OCKLAWAHA

[mtraininjax]

Hopefully BRT will die and the next mayor will have the vision to select commuter rail as a replacement.

First of all, Peyton is not in charge of the City, the Council is. If the citizens cry loud enough, they will get their wishes, ala no landfill. Anyone remember when the 1/2 cent sales tax was supposed to end when Hazouri demolished the toll roads in 1987? 10 years, 20 years? Well, we still have it today. My guess is we will have the extra JTA taxes as long as the city has roads, and a few more to boot.

Peyton cannot get out of office soon enough.