Do you want a Streetcar System Downtown?

[Metro Jacksonville]

Do you want a Streetcar System Downtown?



JTA wants to know if you would support a real streetcar system in Jacksonville.  Here's your chance to let everyone know.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/636

[jeh1980]

I like to see some streetcars. Trolleys are OK, but not like the real thing down in San Francisco. I would love to see some modern streetcars in downtown. Let's put them in places that would need a vibrant boost. Let's not murmur and complain about our city anymore and let's make a difference, eh?

[jbm32206]

Yes, I'd like to have them. As for the murmur and complaints....they're valid and we have the right to do so...I agree that we can make a difference, which is why we speak up in the first place.

[vicupstate]

Outstanding job on the route.  The Brooklyn/Riverside part is ideal in every aspect.  I MIGHT would go with a Main St. route rather than Newnan/Hubbard, but I could go either way.  I like the route to the stadium district too.

[lindab]

We have ridden the streetcars in New Orleans and in Frisco. They are easy off and on and quiet going down streets. They also get good usage. With Florida's abundant good weather days, a car with opening windows would be important. I like the route into Five Points as I live there. But, it should go near parking areas so people can get on it. I think the downtown routes should follow the best possibilities for use by office workers and shoppers; a little more research needed. Glad someone is listening.

[JWW]

What if...the Skyway had been built at street level.

[thelakelander]

Outstanding job on the route.  The Brooklyn/Riverside part is ideal in every aspect.  I MIGHT would go with a Main St. route rather than Newnan/Hubbard, but I could go either way.  I like the route to the stadium district too.

The Hubbard/Main Street routes are where most of the debate came from.  While everyone agrees that a route on Main would be idea, the problems came when you account for the fact that Main is a federal highway (US 17/1) and millions are currently being spent to tear it up and rebuild.  To lay tracks in Main could become a lengthy process (Federal highway) and would render a significant portion of the current streetscape project a waste.

The selection to look at Hubbard, up to 8th was done primarily to keep it as close to Main as possible, without requiring to rip up the current/future/funded streetscape and to set up the Premier Foods/Wachovia Bank blocks as potential TOD sites in the heart of Springfield, helping spread redevelopment both along Main and 8th.

[Traveller]

Can the stadium route continue west toward the new (hopefully) court house?

[thelakelander]

What if...the Skyway had been built at street level.

Then you would not be able to cross it on foot or by car, unless their were grade separated crossings (ex. bridges or tunnels) to allow non-skyway traffic to do so.  I can only think is what if our officials had listened to the opposition at the time, turned down the Federal grant for the skyway and built light rail for a fraction of the Skyway's costs instead.  If that was done back in the late 1970s/early 80's we would probably have already gone through the same revitalization process that San Deigo and Portland went through when they went that route during the same era.

[thelakelander]

Can the stadium route continue west toward the new (hopefully) court house?

Another aspect of the planning process was not to try and duplicate Skyway routes, but instead provide a service that complemented the Skyway by accessing areas of downtown that the skyway currently does not serve.  Since the new courthouse site is only a block away from the Skyway's Hemming Plaza station everyone figured downtown would benefit more by taking the same amount of money and using it to extend lines into Springfield, Brooklyn and Five Points.

[zoo]

YES streetcars. Modern/Heritage doesn't matter to me - just get it done! I suppose if one option were quieter than the other (though it doesn't seem one would be), I'd opt for that one.

In Springfield, I think a Main St. line would be a better choice despite the historical use of Hubbard. Hubbard is single-family residential , and the dropping off of riders on that street doesn't seem to make sense like it would if that street were more multi-family. A streetcar a Main would be more convenient to, and create excitement on, the main commercial corridor -- and b/c it's a federal hwy, some funding could come from FDOT.

2 other things I think are missing in metrojacksonville.com's Springfield route solution are

1. The connection to UF/Shands. Those folks will likely want to use the businesses that are coming to Main, and a revitalized downtown. That's like saying, here's a Riverside route with no stops in front of BCBS, Fidelity and Everbank.

2. Also missing is a "stadium spur" that enables resident/northside traffic to abandon the car further north of the sports district. With fewer cars going to stadium/arena/fairgrounds, metrojacksonville.com's suggestion to use some of stadium parking for garage/mixed use to improve that part of downtown works better.

[scaleybark]

Anything that connects the Blue Cross/Fidelity/Everbank complex to 5 points would be good for 5 points, especially during the hot summer months.  Employees often walk or drive to 5 points for lunch, but during the summer, you get too sweaty.

[zoo]

...Stadium spur from the north end of Springfield through the Eastside neighborhood. Then that area becomes attractive for redevelopment also.

[zoo]

More on stadium spur: make this line the one that pairs with the s-line greenway through Springfield Historic District.

Start at BRT station on Davis, loop north up to s-line behind Shands, follow the s-line greenway east/south down to 1st, then cut over to A. Philip Randolph and down to stadium. Area behind Shands would be cleaned up, and opp for TOD @ 95/Davis/8th, as well as 12th and Main east through the warehouse area of Springfield, then development down main corridor of Eastside.

A shared s-line might make for maximized usage/activity?

[thelakelander]

2 other things I think are missing in metrojacksonville.com's Springfield route solution are

1. The connection to UF/Shands. Those folks will likely want to use the businesses that are coming to Main, and a revitalized downtown. That's like saying, here's a Riverside route with no stops in front of BCBS, Fidelity and Everbank.

2. Also missing is a "stadium spur" that enables resident/northside traffic to abandon the car further north of the sports district. With fewer cars going to stadium/arena/fairgrounds, metrojacksonville.com's suggestion to use some of stadium parking for garage/mixed use to improve that part of downtown works better.

All of this would be solved by using DMUs on the CSX "A", the city owned S-Line (it runs right through Shands' property, and eventually the FEC line.  Graphics showing these routes have been developed, but they'll be posted at a later date once before/after renderings are completed.

In Springfield, I think a Main St. line would be a better choice despite the historical use of Hubbard. Hubbard is single-family residential , and the dropping off of riders on that street doesn't seem to make sense like it would if that street were more multi-family. A streetcar a Main would be more convenient to, and create excitement on, the main commercial corridor -- and b/c it's a federal hwy, some funding could come from FDOT.

Regarding FDOT funding, do you think FDOT would be willing to give more money to lay streetcar tracks down Main, which would mean the money given for the current streetscape project would be a waste?