by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Almost two dozen members of the Jacksonville Community Council Inc. packed a lunch and learned a little about the future of transportation in Northeast Florida during the organization’s quarterly “Lunch and Learn” seminar Tuesday.
North Florida Transportation Planing Organization Executive Director Denise Bunnewith and JTA Director of External Affairs Mike Miller spoke to the group about area transportation projects, funding and what it will take to make Northeast Florida mass transit friendly.
“As a community, we use this space as often as possible to communicate, learn, decide and become better engaged in the issues,” said JCCI Executive Director Skip Cramer.
Miller used a slideshow presentation to focus on several JTA projects and the Authority’s efforts to create a more sustainable system of transit in the face of a population – and transportation – increase.
He cited two studies by the GeoPlan Center and Bureau of Economic and Business Research that stated the region’s population could double from 1.3 million to 2.6 million by 2060, which would require a system overhaul for better efficiency and decreased congestion.
Projects like the Bus Rapid Transit system, light commuter rail, waterway transportation, streetcars and transit oriented properties are all in the works, he said, but all will require some additional work before the overhaul comes to fruition.
A new Mathews Bridge must be constructed, he said, as the current structure is unable to support many forms of mass transit. Additionally, Jacksonville’s large land mass and urban sprawl is working against the effort to create commuter rail.
“There’s just not enough density yet for the FTA (Federal Transit Authority) to go with rail,” said Miller.
With the increase in population over the next several years and the introduction of transit-oriented developments – compressed, walkable communities that lead to high density and convenient mass transit – around the area, the density issue should not be a long-standing issue, he said.
Bunnewith spoke of the NFTPO’s own attempts to improve transit, focusing on the potential funding issues associated with such changes to the current system and needed additional capacity on roadways.
“How to pay for all the needed changes really is the biggest challenge,” she said.
Though private and public/private ventures will happen, she said, the gas tax won’t cover all the needed costs – which means alternative funding from sources such as toll booths are being discussed.
She also mentioned potentially looking into a mileage tax, based on how many miles drivers drive and tracked by an installed GPS, similar to the one Oregon has used in the past.
“Consumers will have a choice,” said Bunnewith, referring to the potential return of toll booths.
Looking for help from State and federal sources for funding isn’t a reliable option, either.
“We’ve got to do it (secure funding) ourselves,” she said. “We can’t rely on other sources to handle our transportation needs.”
For Miller, forums such as Tuesday’s “Lunch and Learn” present an opportunity to help educate members of the community who can share his message with others – something he wishes he could do more often.
“I wish I could speak to crowds like JCCI on a weekly basis,” said Miller. “Transportation issues have got to become a fabric of the community. They can help get the message out. Just like when people build a house and have to have water and electric plans... we (transportation members) want to be at that table, too.”
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