Jacksonville Should Love A Streetcar: Ten Reasons

[Keith-N-Jax]

I would like to believe that Jacksonville is ready. It's our leaders that are not.

[mtraininjax]

How about 10 reasons why it should love a bus instead of a streetcar:

1) Cheaper
2) Cheaper
3) Cheaper
4) Cheaper
5) Cheaper
6) Cheaper
7) Cheaper
Cheaper
9) Cheaper
10) Cheaper

If you want streetcars, go where they are, stop wasting time, money and resources asking for something not important to MOST taxpayers here.

[Keith-N-Jax]

SO when did you do a survey and last time I checked I was paying taxes also.

[thelakelander]

How about 10 reasons why it should love a bus instead of a streetcar:

1) Cheaper
2) Cheaper
3) Cheaper
4) Cheaper
5) Cheaper
6) Cheaper
7) Cheaper
Cheaper
9) Cheaper
10) Cheaper

If you want streetcars, go where they are, stop wasting time, money and resources asking for something not important to MOST taxpayers here.

I guess you could say its also cheaper to hire a prostitute for an hour than to establish a true relationship with someone.  The core has had buses since the 1930s and look at it today:























Your rubber wheeled options, both the regular bus and faux trolley, have done nothing to spur development or increase property values since their beginnings in the 1930s. 

Now we get news that Jax has one of the weakest economies in the US right now.
http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2009/06/15/daily28.html?surround=lfn&ana=test

Regardless of how you feel, what we have done in the past is clearly not working (see images above).  Considering Jax is in need of an economic catalyst swift kick in the pants, streetcars are an economic development tool and buses (fake trolleys included) are not, here are ten real reasons that suggest fixed transit is worth exploring:

1. Portland Streetcar

stimulated $3.5 billion and 10,212 new residential units within 3 blocks of the streetcar corridor since it was approved in 1997.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-apr-elements-of-urbanism-portland

2. Seattle South Lake Union Streetcar

stimulated 6,100 residential units and 3.3 million sf of commercial space within 4 blocks of the streetcar corridor after it was approved in 2005.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-jan-seattle-streetcar-opens

3. Tacoma Link

stimulated over 2,000 residential units along the route since operation began in 2003.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2007-sep-im-smaller-than-jax-and-i-have-rail-tacoma

4. Little Rock River Rail Streetcar

$400 million in development and 600 new residential units within 2 blocks of streetcar alignment since operation began in 2004.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-jan-affordable-streetcar-little-rock-river-rail

5. Tampa TECO Streetcar

As of 2008, $1 billion in private development along streetcar route since the operation began in 2002.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-dec-elements-of-urbanism-tampa

6. Kenosha Streetcar

350 units and $150 million in development along a 1.9 mile line in a really small town since operation began in 2000.  That city is now considering a $16 million, 4-mile extension.

7. Memphis Streetcar

$2 billion in development along streetcar corridor since operation began in 1993.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2007-aug-im-smaller-than-jax-and-i-have-rail-memphis

^http://Peer%20City%20Handout%20for%20distribution.pdf

8. Charlotte Trolley

The success since its opening in 1996 has spurred the implementation of a starter 9.6 mile light rail that already carries over 21,700 riders a day.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-may-rail-ridership-exceeds-expectations


9. Norfolk's Tide Light Rail

The economy may be down but this 7.4-mile line is already spurring development that Jacksonville can only dream of at this stage.

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-apr-a-lesson-for-jacksonville-norfolks-tide-light-rail

10. Dallas M-Line Streetcar

Began operation in 1989, spurred massive redevelopment in Uptown Dallas and led to the community's acceptance of light and commuter rail systems.  Btw, its a volunteer service with no fares to ride.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-mar-affordable-streetcar-m-line-streetcar

"To say DART Rail's impact has been substantial for the Dallas region's economy would be an understatement," said Dr. Bernard Weinstein, director of the University of North Texas Center for Economic Development and Research. "It's a trend that's impossible to miss; the local business community certainly hasn't."

Beyond the jobs and direct economic benefits generated by construction of the system, DART Rail is dramatically changing the urban landscape with more than $7 billion in current, planned and projected transit-oriented developments (TODs) springing up around station areas.

In a November 2007 study, Weinstein and colleague Dr. Terry Clower project transit-oriented development near DART Rail eventually will generate more than $46 million each year to area schools, $23.5 million to member cities, millions more to other local taxing entities.

http://www.dart.org/about/economicimpact.asp

Isn't sending extra money to schools your thing?  Do you really believe buses will result in developments that will pay property taxes that will send more money to schools?

[BridgeTroll]

Lake... your ten reasons are much better than mtrains ten reasons.

[thelakelander]

There is a reason more cities are jumping on board.  I'm not Ocklawaha, but I've traveled enough to know that these things spur the development and density that Jacksonville has struggled to attract.  Being "cheaper" (which is highly debatable that buses are cheaper over time) is what has gotten us to where we are today.  Now its time to be sensible.

[BridgeTroll]

More and more cities are seeing the light and it looks like the Feds are slowly coming around also.  Jacksonville is at a important crossroads.  Mass transit in the form of rail is something most cities of any size or significance are jumping into.  Jacksonville needs to decide if it is going to be a player or a bystander left behind.  I hope for the former but I feel we are destined for the latter.

[Keith-N-Jax]

BT I agree with your last post. With state of the economy it will be tough though. A broke city and sub pat leadership does not spell well for our city. Its almost if time had run out on Jacksonville now

[tufsu1]

the next few months will be key....lets see if streetcars make it into the region's Long Range Transportation Plan Update.