by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Springfield revitalization fever is going around and its seems the Jacksonville Transportation Authority is the latest to catch it. After years of lobbying by the the historic neighborhood, the JTA paid for and installed new bus shelters along Main Street, which it says are not only nice to look at, but they are also unlike anything else across the state.
Currently three of the $45,000 custom-made shelters are in place between First and Fourth Streets. JTA spokesperson Mike Miller said more are on the way.
“We’re getting wonderful feedback about them and we’re hopeful we’ll be able to install more in the near future,” Miller said, adding that with a retooled design they would cost about $25,000 each. “They truly are state-of-the-art, really one-of-a-kind.”
Louise DeSpain, chair of Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council, Inc., said she was “very pleased with the bus shelters.”
SPAR was among the many Springfield advocates that for months urged the City to install the shelters.
“I think they’re great and we’re all very happy with them,” she said.
Aside from being equipped with roofs and bike racks, the shelters are also wired for electricity and capable of being upgraded as technology advances.
“We just felt that with all of the (Better Jacksonville Plan) dollars that have been invested in Springfield, we wanted to be able to complement that,” Miller said of the shelters’ design. “The feeling was that we wanted to offer something that was consistent with the rest of the historic architecture there.”
Miller said more shelters would likely be installed farther north along Main Street between Fourth and 12th streets, but only after the City completes work to overhaul those blocks next year.
Eighth Street near Shands Jacksonville would also be primed for the shelters, but only after money to pay for them becomes available. That money, Miller said, could be generated by advertisements on the shelters.
Advertising on a public right-of-way isn’t legal today, but legislation is in the works that would allow JTA to get around that road block.
Nothing’s definite, but by waiving those advertising restrictions, City Council member Art Shad said last month that the transportation authority would able to install many more shelters.
The required legislation could reach the full Council by as early as next month. However, DeSpain said she would not want to see the shelters used as makeshift billboards.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate for a historic neighborhood,” said DeSpain, adding that SPAR would be prepared to publicly speak out against the ads if necessary. “We don’t want that to happen unless they would be in extremely good taste.”