by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Jaguars fans looking to beat limited parking and traffic on their way to and from Jacksonville Municipal Stadium this football season will have an alternate mode of travel after JTA and the team announced Friday that the longtime stadium shuttle service will return for another season.
“These fans (shuttle riders) avoid the hassle of traffic and parking,” said Jaguars spokesperson Dan Edwards. “This year with the price of gasoline, this is an inexpensive alternative.”
The rising fuel prices that are inflicting pain on drivers at the pump will also affect this year’s shuttle service.
Cutbacks include two less suburban lots than a year ago, with the Lane Avenue/I-10 lot on the Westside and Gateway Mall lot on the Northside no longer running. The closest lot for drivers in those areas will be Downtown at the Osborn Center location.
The cutting of the two lots was a cost saving measure, said JTA Director of External Affairs Mike Miller, due to the increase in leasing rates. JTA owns the remaining sites with the exception of the Wingate Park lot in Jacksonville Beach and according to Miller it is remaining because the owners have cut the Authority a less costly deal.
“We just had to make a few decisions based on the cost of doing business,” said Miller.
Additionally, prices for riders will be going up a few dollars per game. The increase is a direct result of the increase in gas prices, said Miller.
The remaining suburban lots located at Phillips Highway/J. Tuner Butler, Marbon Road/San Jose and Wingate Park, will now cost $12 round trip per game. Urban lots at the Osborn Center and Kings Avenue Station in San Marco will cost riders $7 round trip per game.
There is an incentive for fans who park in the urban lots: the Jaguars will provide those riders a coupon for a concession item valued around $5, said Edwards.
Season ridership passes return with suburban lots costing $96 per person and urban lots priced at $56 dollars per person.
The increased prices won’t matter to at least one rider.
“It’s still a deal,” said Nick Brewer, who said he used the Phillips Highway/JTB lot several times last season. “You don’t have to sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic, find a parking spot that costs $20 and then drive home in more traffic.”
Brewer said he used the service three to four times last season and would continue to do so this year.
“I’ve driven before but I like the shuttle better,” he said. “You’re able to get in, get out and go.”
According to Edwards and Miller, around 8,000 fans used the shuttle service each game last year. Miller expects slightly larger numbers this year.
“With the way the team is expected to play, I know expectations are high,” said Miller. “I think more people are going to go to the games and I think the shuttle ridership numbers will increase, too.”
For more information on the shuttle, call 630-3100 or go to www.ridejta.net.
356-2466