by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Downtown business owners and JTA marked the first Downtown-Riverside Trolley loop Monday morning. Jacksonville Economic Development Commission Executive Director Ron Barton said the new line is the first step in connecting Downtown to its immediate surrounding areas. “Being able to link Downtown and Riverside in such a way will ultimately make for a stronger Downtown,” Barton. The line’s matron voyage departed at 10:30 a.m. — with guest riders that included City Council member Don Redman, Jacksonville Landing owner Toney Sleiman, JTA Executive Director Mike Blaylock, Barton and others — and returned at 11 a.m.
The Daily Record lunchtime test.
“All aboard!”
With that simple command from Michael Blaylock, executive director of JTA, the new Riverside Trolley line was clear for its matron voyage.
Monday’s kickoff celebrating the launch of the new lunchtime route to Riverside was met with optimism by local transportation officials, business owners and City officials.
“This (Riverside trolley route) is a great benefit to Downtown Jacksonville,” said Blaylock.
The new 1.8 mile route features 23 stops and will run Monday–Friday from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m, with stops scheduled every 10 minutes. The introductory period from May 5–16 is free, with a 50-cent fee per trip following the first phase. The two main stops are Downtown at Water and Laura streets and Riverside at Margaret Street and Riverside Avenue.
“One of the challenges we’ve heard from people who want to go to Riverside for lunch is parking,” said JTA Director of External Affairs Mike Miller. “The focus of this line is the lunch crowd and we’re hoping it encourages people from Riverside to come Downtown and from Downtown to Riverside.”
Miller said JTA has been working on the Riverside Trolley project for about nine months and that with its success he hopes to see other new lines created that will originate Downtown and go to other surrounding areas like Springfield, San Marco and Avondale.
Such projects, though, would take more trolleys and additional funding, he said.
Blaylock echoed that message before the ribbon cutting ceremony. One business owner with a prominent stop was eager to see the new line’s potential.
“I think it’s a really great thing,” said Jacksonville Landing owner Toney Sleiman, after returning from the first trip. “It’s going to allow people who might not have ever given Riverside or Downtown businesses and restaurants a chance to come and experience different things.”
Sleiman said it was a popular ride while he was on board – so much so that crowds of people had to wait a few extra minutes for the next shuttle because the trolley was full.
“That’s an encouraging sign,” he said. “There’s definitely a lot of interest in something like this.”
Those hoping to use the service for normal transportation to work are out of luck at the moment. Miller said that while the route will cater to lunchtime patrons of both areas, there are currently no plans to expand the Riverside line times. Currently, the Azalea and Magnolia lines run Monday–Friday from 5:43 a.m.–7:23 p.m and Saturday from 8 a.m.–6 p.m.; the Sunflower line runs Monday–Friday from 6 a.m.–7 p.m.
“We’re going to see how this goes and take it from there,” he said. “But we received a lot of positive feedback already, so it is exciting.”
For more information on the Riverside Trolley line, go to www.jtafla.com or call 630-3100.