Flagler fears Jacksonville-based regional transportation authority

[thelakelander]

This was predictable....

It is about 70 miles from the offices of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority to Flagler County.

But when some people in Flagler look north toward Jacksonville, they see a 500-pound gorilla where the JTA offices sit on Myrtle Avenue, one that they think poses a real threat to the transportation projects planned in their county.

The Legislature ordered JTA this year to come up with a framework for a regional transportation authority in Northeast Florida, and that's what has Flagler unhappy. It worries that a regional transportation authority run out of Jacksonville will focus on Duval County, to its detriment.

"Our main concern is that Flagler won't be able to get anything done if this regional transportation authority is created," said Carl Laundrie, Flagler County spokesman. "If you look at the population of the counties involved, Flagler County would be a small part of this."

JTA has tried to tone down the fear by saying it is still trying to figure out how a regional authority will work. But Flagler is not mollified.

full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-09-24/story/flagler_fears_jacksonville_based_regional_transportation_authority

[CS Foltz]

Flagler has cause to be concerned................JTA can not handle this end of the world (Skyway at 7 Million to operate) I have yet to see any cohesive structured plan of any kind for Jacksonville and they want JTA to manage and oversee something outside Duval County. I think when we have our house in order then worry about someone else's

[Charles Hunter]

Flagler is in an interesting position geographically - they are probably tied as much to Daytona as they are to Jacksonville.  Could a regional authority exclude them?  What did the Legislature say?

[CS Foltz]

Mr Charles ......my take on the situation is that JTA would become the Regional Authority! I also agree with your thoughts regarding just where Flagler sits and I don't get just how JTA could understand their transportation requirements. All the surveys in the world do not give an accurate picture of just what is going on and how to plan out on a ten year window!

[jandar]

Flagler is part of Daytona's "metro" area, and is part of Orlando's DMA.
They only want to be tied to us in certain situations anyway.

Why all of a sudden are they concerned about NE Florida stuff. They have always thought themselves to be more Central Florida.

[JeffreyS]

Transportation seems like it should be planned regionally so it sounds to me like a good idea. 

[tufsu1]

The legislature named 7 counties as part of the RTA study area....Duval, Clay, Nassau, baker, St. Johns, Putnam, and Flagler....the same 7 counties that comprise the Northeast Florida Regional Council area.

[fsujax]

and don't forget Flagler is part of Cornerstone. They try to have it both ways. I guarantee they wouldn't turn down a possible commuter rail connection to their county from Jacksonville.

[JeffreyS]

I'm sorry what is cornerstone?

[fsujax]

The NE FL Economic Development group.

http://www.expandinjax.com/Home.aspx

[JeffreyS]

Thanks good site.

[reednavy]

Well, it isn't our fault that most of that county is a massive planned city that has very little appeal.

[Ocklawaha]

Another crack at this would be to split JTA into a highway and a transit authority. Allow local option opt out on roads, and pull in the neighbors on mass transit.

This way Flagler could continue to pave the countryside with endless tract homes, twisting roads and Publix plazas. Meanwhile the play assistant to Commuter Rail and Motor Coach.

Greyhound had a local that ran from downtown - A1A - down the beach to Main Street Daytona, back in the 1960's. JTA should be looking at that link to FLAGLER BEACH. Another local could ply the US 1 corridors.

OCKLAWAHA

[CS Foltz]

Well JTA should be split up...........one rail,HSR & LR, and concrete,roads! Infact JTA should change their name! I don't know to what but something that is more in line with their mission! How about "Bollux Inc"?

[Seraphs]

I'm sorry what is cornerstone?

Where Flager sits, (I-4) Orlando to the west and (I-95) Jacksonville to the north, is at an intersection between the two cities.  I think this is what FSUJAX means.  This is an essential location and I agree with some of the others they do mostly think of themselves as central Florida.  However, I think including them in commuter rail would be wise.