by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
People who ride the JTA’s Laura & Ocean Trolley to get to points from the FCCJ-Rosa Parks bus station to the Courthouse Annex on Bay Street and back again to the station will have to find a new means of transportation effective May 4.
That was one of the announcements made Wednesday at Downtown Vision, Inc.’s quarterly operations meeting.
Regional Transportation Planner James Boyle of JTA said the level of ridership doesn’t warrant continuing to offer the service. He suggested that after the service ends those who have been using the trolley should take the Skyway to Hemming Plaza and then continue on foot to their destination.
Midday service on the Bay Street Trolley that serves the parking lot at St. Andrews Station near the Arena will also be changed. The trips per hour will be reduced except during the peak morning and evening periods.
Describing those two changes as “the bad news,” Boyle announced that discussions are underway with interests in Springfield to inaugurate trolley service between Downtown’s core and UF Shands Hospital. If it’s eventually approved, service to Springfield won’t begin until sometime next year when the Main Street construction project is completed, said Boyle.
Also in the “good news” department, Boyle said the Beaver Street Trolley route will be expanded May 5 to include the Beaver Street Farmer’s Market.
In other news:
• Sheriff John Rutherford and Assistant Chief J.R. Ross will take a walking tour Downtown at 3 p.m. May 6 to meet business owners, employees and residents and discuss safety issues. The route begins at the corner of Pearl and Forsyth streets and will go past Hemming Plaza on Monroe Street then wind its way to bay and Newnan Streets before returning along bay Street to Pearl Street.
Following the walk, DVI will host a reception for the JSO and Downtown stakeholders prior to the 5 p.m. beginning of the First Wednesday ArtWalk. For more information, call the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Zone 1 Substation at 924-5361.
• Lt. Mike Bruno is leaving Patrol Division East/Zone 1 for a new assignment in the JSO’s Internal Affairs Division. He has been a familiar face in the blue uniform Downtown since October and a farewell gathering and cake cutting for Bruno will take place at 2 p.m. April 24 at Hemming Plaza. DVI Director of District Services Amy Harrell requested that people RSVP to 634-0303 if they plan to attend.
• Jacksonville Economic Development Commission Manager Karen Nasrallah reported that legislation to remove pay telephones located in the public right of way from Downtown sidewalks was introduced to the City Council this week.
“From our side, it’s about walking Downtown. Pay phones take up space and people can end up walking on the curb line,” said JEDC Deputy Executive Director Paul Crawford.
The bill, if enacted, would affect only 15 telephones and the JEDC is investigating the possibility of installing emergency telephones similar to those found on college and corporate campuses to provide access to 911 in the event of an emergency.
• Crawford also said signs will be posted Downtown to make sure panhandlers and people who are panhandled realize that asking for money on the street is against the law. The signs will be similar to those found in Savannah, Ga. and will include an international-style “no panhandling” icon and the JSO logo.
DVI Executive Director Terry Lorince said the signs are the latest in a series of efforts to make everyone aware of the law. The signage prohibiting loitering and trespassing has proven to be effective.
“Everything we’re doing is to legally put more controls on behavior Downtown,” she said.
356-2466