by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
A rendering of JTA’s multi-modal Regional Transportation Center in LaVilla.
JTA’s Regional Transportation Center has been in the conceptual stages for several years. There have been countless studies done and numerous consultants have all chimed in on the best way for JTA, Amtrak and Greyhound to combine their efforts into a multi-modal transportation hub in LaVilla.
Barring any setbacks, JTA plans to put ideas to paper by October. JTA Executive Director Mike Blaylock recently asked Mayor John Peyton to sign a Memorandum of Understanding, an agreement that outlines how JTA and the City will proceed in an effort to assure the project gets underway in October. According to Blaylock, the MOU is required by the Florida Department of Transportation, another major player in the project that will incorporate the Osborn Center and several blocks in LaVilla and include a parking structure.
“We did receive it (the letter from Blaylock) and we are taking a look at it,” said Susie Wiles, spokesperson for Peyton.
Wendy Morrow of JTA said the entire project will cost $173 million and that the MOU only requires a commitment of $5 million from the City. Of that $5 million, a little over $1.49 million is due by October; the remaining $3.5 million is due by July 2009, a date that coincides with FDOT’s remaining commitment to the project.
Morrow said by October JTA plans to begin the final stages of the road network design phase. She said the entire project — which includes an Amtrak station, a relocated Greyhound station, a regional Intelligent Transportation System management center, a JTA bus hub, a Park-n-Ride facility, JTA offices, retail space, parking and a pedestrian concourse — will take several years to construct and will be built in phases as funds become available.
“Roadway construction will begin in the fall of 2008 and we’ll begin building (the center) in the fall of 2009,” said Morrow, adding that Amtrak and Greyhound have both been in on discussions about the project and have agreed, to date, to participate. She said the center will be built even if Amtrak or Greyhound backs out.
Wiles said the use of the Osborn Center will not affect its ability to host conventions nor will the ownership of the Osborn Center change once the RTC is completed.
“Some could make the case it will enhance the uses,” she said. “This will not disrupt the Osborn Center as you think of it and it will not affect the convention space.”
According to the MOU, the City’s portion of the project’s funding will help JTA and the DOT finance the redesigned roadway network, public plaza and retail spaces, all of which will be included in the Skyway starter line facility. Phase I will also include an enhanced entrance into Downtown from the interstate onto Forsyth and Bay streets.
Blaylock indicated JTA staff members presented the project to the JTA board at its June meeting.
“The City’s MOU is also critically needed to launch the project within this time,” said Blaylock.
The first phase will also include offices for the First Coast Metropolitan Planning Organization and the City’s traffic engineering office and space for a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and Jacksonville Fire & Rescue facility.
“We are excited about finally bringing this project to fruition,” said Blaylock. “It is our goal to finalize this agreement with the City expeditiously as the FDOT’s allocated dollars could be forfeited if we delay. We look forward to a groundbreaking by late fall.”