5. The JTA and Jacksonville get serious about rapid transit
For those who have long wondered when Jacksonville will invest in rapid transit, 2017 should be a year of high interest. First, after a decade of starts, stops and modification of plans, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) plans to break ground on the Jacksonville Intermodal Station (JAXIS) in January 2017. When complete in 2019, this multimodal transportation hub will include new administrative offices for the JTA and terminals for local buses, JTA Flyer BRT system, Skyway and Greyhound. The return of passenger rail service could also get a boost if JTA’s application for a $22 million FASTLANE grant for downtown rail enhancements is successful. Furthermore, with two JTA Flyer Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines now in operation, plans to implement a third line should come to fruition in 2017. When complete, the Flyer’s Red Line will connect downtown to Jacksonville Beach with 10 to 15 minute bus service.
The JTA is also moving forward with plans to revamp and expand its 2.5-mile, elevated Skyway system. Plans involve replacing existing monorail vehicles with autonomous vehicles that can also operate at-grade, finally enabling the Skyway to be extended into neighborhoods, districts and destinations outside of the downtown proper. The JTA’s goal is to have a pilot corridor, possibly to EverBank Field, Brooklyn or Riverside, up and running within two years. The aggressive timeline, means much of the pilot route’s operational and implementation details must be vetted and in place by mid-to-late 2017.