by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
As head of the Beaches Trolley Task Force, it’s City Council member Kevin Hyde’s job to help find funding sources for what proved to be a very popular weekend mode of transportation around the beach this past summer.
Hyde may ask the Tourist Development Council to contribute $25,000 towards the operating costs of running the trolley for 19-20 weeks next summer, about 10 weeks longer than the inaugural service lasted. However, Hyde will have to wait until February to make that request.
According to TDC administrator Annette Hastings, Hyde has not submitted an application for the funding and the item is not on today’s TDC agenda. Anyone or any organization seeking TDC funding must submit an application in time to be on the next meeting’s agenda and make a presentation to the TDC during which they explain their need for funding. The TDC then votes.
Hyde met Tuesday with Council President and TDC Chair Ronnie Fussell to explain the funding options, the need to secure TDC money and ask Fussell to place the item on Thursday’s TDC agenda. Fussell said the late request put him on the spot.
“I have denied others who missed the (agenda) deadline,” said Fussell, adding he will consider it, especially since the next TDC meeting isn’t until February.
According to Hyde, the plan is for the trolley service to start at the “opening of the beaches” in late April and run through Labor Day at a cost of $110,000. In addition to TDC dollars, Hyde said the service will be funded through sponsorships and rider fees — something that didn’t exist the first summer. JTA will provide the trolleys, drivers and maintenance, but won’t subsidize the service.
Hyde said JTA did a survey that indicated riders would be willing to pay between 50 cents and $1 per trip. There’s also the option of weekend or monthly passes.
“The expectation is people will buy the pass,” said Hyde, who is joined on the task force by Council member Art Graham, who represents the beach, and a representative from each beach city.
Hyde said the ridership exceeded expectations and the numbers back that up. According to JTA, its ridership projections for the trolley that ran from Town Center in Atlantic and Neptune Beach to South Beach Regional Shopping Center were 350, 700 and 350 for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively. The actual numbers were 1,112, 1,791 and 630.
Hyde said numbers like that have beaches hotel owners excited about the possibilities for next summer and many are willing to participate in some capacity. He said Visit Jacksonville President and CEO John Reyes has talked to many of them.
“The hotels would issue fare cards as part of the stay,” said Hyde. “There may even be coupons to local restaurants on the back.”
Fussell said he would prefer that a formal application be submitted to the TDC. Hyde said it was important to secure a portion of the funding to show JTA and potential private sponsors the money is available for the service.
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