Commuter rail line (Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando: 2014, house, construction)

[Juliet Joe]

Is there a commuter rail line that runs from Nocatee to downtown Jacksonville? If not, are there plans to add one? It seems that with all the growth in the Nocatee area, South Duval County and St. Augustine, this would bring a huge boon to downtown. People can travel by train to work and entertainment venues. The rail line already exists. Just add some stations along the way and run passenger trains on a regular basis.

[judeK]

Originally Posted by Juliet Joe

Is there a commuter rail line that runs from Nocatee to downtown Jacksonville? If not, are there plans to add one? It seems that with all the growth in the Nocatee area, South Duval County and St. Augustine, this would bring a huge boon to downtown. People can travel by train to work and entertainment venues. The rail line already exists. Just add some stations along the way and run passenger trains on a regular basis.

Nope! No commuter trains of any kind on the First Coast. Yet!
They have been talking about it for years, with nothing coming of it.
I've heard that maybe in 20 years or so, there might finally be a
local/commuter train from St Augustine to Downtown Jacksonville.

[Fl1150]

Yea they are currently in the stages of planning check out this link http://www.jtafla.com/JTAFuturePlans...ge=Feasibility Study&pid=26 They recently started construction on a BRT system which should be complete in a couple years. Its slow and steady but will come eventually as traffic grows. They also doing Route optimization and making the current bus routes more efficient which means if they get the that right the bus system will be the best option for public transit for now.

[pinetreecity]

I think the Jacksonville area is more likely to get a passenger rail line between Jacksonville and Miami/Orlando than a commuter line between St Johns county and Jacksonville.

This is a privately organized effort.

Is All Aboard Florida A Match For Jacksonville? | Metro Jacksonville

[Juliet Joe]

I couldn't open the link, received server error, but that is great news that it is in the planning stage at least. A commuter rail line between Jacksonville and Miami with stops along the way including St John's County would be very desirable and really bring great opportunity to the Jacksonville area. Where are the bus lines you mentioned? Do they run along US1 or I-95?

[projectmaximus]

Commuter rail for NEFL has undergone multiple feasibility studies in the past two decades and unfortunately all momentum has come to a halt. It's part of the TPO's 2035 and 2040 plans but honestly pinetreecity is exactly right. As it looks right now, the AAF project is the best chance to get any sort of passenger rail from St Aug. to Jax. I'd expect that to happen first (connecting Miami to Jax) before a true commuter rail line is established. I'd also expect the skyway to be expanded and/or light rail system established in the urban core before commuter rail is operating. The JTA is trumpeting their BRT plan, rolling out between next year and 2017, which is another reason any thoughts of commuter rail will be set back another decade or more.

And, while the ROW is available and the track is operational, it's unfortunately still much more than just cobbling together stations and mixing passenger trains with freight.

[projectmaximus]

I'm glad you are expressing interest though!!

[Ruger20]

Originally Posted by projectmaximus

And, while the ROW is available and the track is operational, it's unfortunately still much more than just cobbling together stations and mixing passenger trains with freight.

Well stated. This work is right in my wheel house and very complex, much more goes into engineering on the rails then the average person would ever imagine. Then throw in the political motivations and funding issues for public transportation projects.

[Fl1150]

Originally Posted by Juliet Joe

I couldn't open the link, received server error, but that is great news that it is in the planning stage at least. A commuter rail line between Jacksonville and Miami with stops along the way including St John's County would be very desirable and really bring great opportunity to the Jacksonville area. Where are the bus lines you mentioned? Do they run along US1 or I-95?

Here is a map of the system only the North and Southeast corridor have funding for now with the other ones are finalizing studies and getting approved. Construction began earlier this week and the downtown part ready by next year with others following behind maybe a year or two later.
[IMG]http://media.bizj.us/view/img/4396021/brtcorridormap1*600.jpg[/IMG]

[judeK]

Originally Posted by Fl1150

Here is a map of the system only the North and Southeast corridor have funding for now with the other ones are finalizing studies and getting approved. Construction began earlier this week and the downtown part ready by next year with others following behind maybe a year or two later.

A link that actually links.
http://media.bizj.us/view/img/439602...ormap1*600.jpg