Obama budget includes $38 million for Jacksonville BRT system

[Lakelander]

If Congress approves Obama's 2013 budget, $38.2 million will go for the construction of a 21 mile bus rapid transit system in Jacksonville that would be operational by 2014.


Cleveland's Health Line BRT. An example of what may be coming to Jacksonville.

Each line would get half the money, or $19.1 million apiece. The allocations would represent the federal government’s 80 percent portion for the project, with JTA and the state each providing another 10 percent.

The budget proposal would provide full funding for both the planned north and south corridors of the project, which JTA Chief Executive Officer Michael Blaylock said would be completed by the end of 2014 if the funding is approved by Congress. Construction of the downtown portion, including Jefferson Street, would begin by December, thanks to a $6.3 million federal grant for the project received last year.

The north route would pass the Veterans Administration clinic, Shands Jacksonville and the Gateway Mall and turn up along Lem Turner Boulevard. The southern route would stretch from downtown along Philips Highway to The Avenues mall.

full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2...-jta-bus-lines


Proposed North Corridor - 9.28 miles


Proposed Southeast Corridor - 11.6 miles

[Bobdreamz]

Interesting news for Jax but does the BRT cross the St. John river? or does the North & South lines end at the river itself? Does it connect with the skyway at all?

[Lakelander]

The downtown line is already funded and anticipated to begin construction this year. Buses will use the Acosta Bridge to cross the river. Existing streets along the corridor will have a lane set aside for buses only. Personally, I'm not too crazy about the route on the Southbank because it parallels the skyway and includes stops at each of the skyway's Southbank stations. To me, they'll compete for riders at the expense of the skyway (no reason to transfer to skyway, if the bus you're riding stops at the exact same locations.).

[tampasteve]

Will it use reserved ROW outside of DT?

Steve

[hpal3]

Hate to mention politics...but, Obamas last budget was voted down 97 to nothing. Thats one of the reasons that Harry Reid refuses to bring it up for a vote.

[Lakelander]

^Yeah, I don't expect his budget to get passed. However, I also don't think JTA needs $40 million to pull this off either.

[Lakelander]

Originally Posted by tampasteve

Will it use reserved ROW outside of DT?

Steve

In some areas, they'll travel in their own dedicated lanes. In other areas, they'll share. The lion's share of the costs are for the purchase of new buses, stations, signal priority, and real time information.

[gugi182]

Do the people of jacksonville used the JTA Skyway and how much is the ridership?

[Lakelander]

The skyway doesn't go anywhere and isn't integrated into the rest of the transit network but it gets somewhere between 3,000 and 3,500 a day.