Jacksonville's Skyway Express - Cyburbia Forums

masafer · 2002-08-05, 05:24 PM

http://www.planetizen.com/news/item.php?id=6953

It's a shame that this didn't work, but it was entirely the wrong technology for the wrong place for the wrong time. They built a hugely expensive automated fixed guideway system in one of the least dense cities in the country at a time when investment was fleeing downtown, and then didn't build it to serve the remaining attractions and business centers. It doesn't stop near the Jacksonville Landing (a Rouse marketplace), or near the two largest office towers in downtown. They built it to the obsolete convention center (which isn't even the largest convention center in downtown anymore), but not to the sports complex which is only a mile away.

It's a shame because the failure of the system has turned off the city from seriously considering any further investment in public transportation. There are plans for a light rail system, which might work if the stations were well designed, but it's almost certain to get shot down by the politicians because the skyway is such an abject failure. Simply too expensive per mile for too little gain.

Is there any rail system in the country that serves fewer people daily?

boiker · 2002-08-05, 05:50 PM

amtrack?

(rimshot)

actually amtrack gets pretty decent ridership, it's operating expenses are just so high.

green22 · 2002-08-09, 06:38 PM

It would be hard to imagine anything more empty than Detroit's monorail.Even Jville's people mover was more extensive than Detroit's system.On the bright side it didn't anger the big 3 auto makers in Detroit.I can see them now "yes build the people mover it will discourage Detroit from ever being tempted by the transit fairy again".

OfficialPlanner · 2003-10-01, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by green22
It would be hard to imagine anything more empty than Detroit's monorail.Even Jville's people mover was more extensive than Detroit's system.On the bright side it didn't anger the big 3 auto makers in Detroit.I can see them now "yes build the people mover it will discourage Detroit from ever being tempted by the transit fairy again".

LOL

The jacksonville skyway is just as bad. They had one opportunity to experiment with mass transit and ****ed it up big time. Local residents will never ever want to see their tax dollars fund transit again

That money would of been far better spent on buses or a streetlevel LRT.

lowlyplanner · 2003-10-01, 02:55 PM

The Skyway was built to get people to park at satellite lots and ride into town, which doesn't make a lot of sense when you can still park downtown cheaper than riding the thing.

Had they extended it a mile or so in each direction, it would land smack in the middle of three dense, gentrifying neighborhoods (mine among them) and probably get some decent ridership. Masafer is probably right that the whole experience has made the City unlikely to ever fund transit again...

And I won't even go into what kind of bus fleet they could have bought instead.

2002-08-05, 05:24 PM	#1
masafer Cyburbian Registered: Apr 2002 Location: New Brunswick, NJ Posts: 32	Jacksonville's Skyway Express http://www.planetizen.com/news/item.php?id=6953 It's a shame that this didn't work, but it was entirely the wrong technology for the wrong place for the wrong time. They built a hugely expensive automated fixed guideway system in one of the least dense cities in the country at a time when investment was fleeing downtown, and then didn't build it to serve the remaining attractions and business centers. It doesn't stop near the Jacksonville Landing (a Rouse marketplace), or near the two largest office towers in downtown. They built it to the obsolete convention center (which isn't even the largest convention center in downtown anymore), but not to the sports complex which is only a mile away. It's a shame because the failure of the system has turned off the city from seriously considering any further investment in public transportation. There are plans for a light rail system, which might work if the stations were well designed, but it's almost certain to get shot down by the politicians because the skyway is such an abject failure. Simply too expensive per mile for too little gain. Is there any rail system in the country that serves fewer people daily?

2002-08-05, 05:50 PM	#2
boiker Cyburbian Registered: Dec 2001 Location: West Valley, AZ Posts: 3,697	hmm... amtrack? (rimshot) actually amtrack gets pretty decent ridership, it's operating expenses are just so high. __________________ Dude, I'm cheesing so hard right now.

2002-08-09, 06:38 PM	#3
green22 INACTIVE Registered: Jul 2002 Location: Toronto,Ontario Posts: 101	It would be hard to imagine anything more empty than Detroit's monorail.Even Jville's people mover was more extensive than Detroit's system.On the bright side it didn't anger the big 3 auto makers in Detroit.I can see them now "yes build the people mover it will discourage Detroit from ever being tempted by the transit fairy again".

2003-10-01, 02:55 PM	#5
lowlyplanner Registered: May 2002 Location: Solo! Posts: 68	The Skyway was built to get people to park at satellite lots and ride into town, which doesn't make a lot of sense when you can still park downtown cheaper than riding the thing. Had they extended it a mile or so in each direction, it would land smack in the middle of three dense, gentrifying neighborhoods (mine among them) and probably get some decent ridership. Masafer is probably right that the whole experience has made the City unlikely to ever fund transit again... And I won't even go into what kind of bus fleet they could have bought instead.

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