FIRST COAST COMMUTER RAIL TOD STUDY | EXISTING CONDITIONS
FIRST COAST COMMUTER RAIL TOD STUDY | EXISTING CONDITIONS
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PREVIOUS PLANS & STUDIES
OVERVIEW
1990
There have been numerous transportation plans and studies conducted over the years related to commuter rail that have led up to the JTA evaluation of TOD along the Florida East Coast (FEC) rail corridor. Each of these planning initiatives have built upon the work done previously to reach milestones and make important determinations. These planning studies and recommendations were reviewed and incorporated in this TOD Study for consistency. Some of the most significant studies and relevant efforts are referenced herein. The information and proposed development or transportation plans referenced in this document present a moment in time - therefore, may have changed due to economic conditions or other circumstances. EVOLUTION OF COMMUTER RAIL OPTIONS An expansive network of existing rail corridors, anchored by the historic Jacksonville Union Station (once a hub of passenger rail in the southeastern United States (U.S.), now the Prime Osborn Convention Center), a new Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center (JRTC), combined with explosive growth, collectively present the ideal foundation for JTA to consider commuter rail as part of a multimodal approach to regional mobility solutions. The JTA has explored the feasibility of commuter rail to serve the Northeast Florida region, for several decades, as transportation experts recognized more mobility options were necessary to meet the growing demand in Northeast Florida. The Long Range Corridor and Park and Ride Study, completed in February 1998, followed the JTA’s 1997 Long Range Public Transportation Plan which focused on developing rail and/or busway corridors to address the growing region. Soon after, the JTA launched the Transportation Alternatives Study (TAS) in 1999. Subsequently, from 2000 through 2006, JTA continued to evaluate regional solutions with the Rapid Transit Corridor Studies, to provide more travel options, enhance connectivity, and address the growing population in Northeast Florida. The Alternatives Analysis of the rapid transit corridors, for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) ultimately centered on the examination of light rail transit (LRT) and bus rapid transit (BRT) as more cost-effective mobility options with the opportunity to transition to more premium services in the future.
Long Range Rapid Transit Transportation Plan Long Range Corridor and Park & Ride Study -Phase II Recognized need for regional mobility solutions
1997 1998
and Ride
2000
Figure 3-2: PREVIOUS STUDIES
Commuter Rail Feasibility Study Identified 3 service corridors - North Corridor to Yulee - Southeast Corridor to St Augustine - Southwest Corridor to Green Cove
2009 Following the completion of the RTS Alternatives Analyses (AA) for the JTA’s expansive multi-corridor recommended BRT system in 2006, the focus was on the potential to establish a commuter rail service in the region, as growth, specifically south of Jacksonville in St. Johns County, continued to surface as an issue in the transportation planning arena. The JTA’s Commuter Rail Feasibility Study, completed in 2009, evaluated demographic and growth data along multiple rail corridors. With the initial nine rail corridors under consideration, the 2009 study reduced the study to six potential corridors. The study concluded commuter rail was feasible and identified three corridors to be considered for more detailed evaluation, the North Corridor (from Downtown Jacksonville to Yulee), the Southwest Corridor (from Green Cove Springs to Downtown Jacksonville) and the Southeast Corridor (from St. Augustine to Downtown Jacksonville). 2010 As dialogue concerning the desire to address future regional connectivity needs continued, the JTA also developed a Regional Rail Master Plan in 2010 to document an updated, comprehensive snapshot of rail corridors and rail transportation providers for both freight and passenger service in Northeast Florida. 2013 The JTA committed to a more detailed study of passenger rail service when the Commuter Rail Feasibility Study – Phase II was initiated in 2013. Phase II updated existing data regarding growth, explored various operating scenarios among the three proposed commuter rail corridors, prioritized the corridors, and ultimately determined the Southeast Commuter Rail Corridor, from St. Augustine to Downtown Jacksonville, as the highest priority of the three initial corridors identified in the previous studies.
2015 The Southeast Corridor Commuter Rail Service - Station Location Study, conducted in 2015, documented characteristics and land use conditions at potential locations for two commuter service alternatives: the Commuter Rail Service along the FEC Corridor and the Commuter Bus Alternative along the US 1 corridor. Nineteen potential station sites were evaluated and classified according to a general footprint in size as Small (nine sites), Medium (five sites) and Large (five sites). The site analysis including review of land use, adjacent development, proximity to rail and other transportation facilities. 2016 The preferred Southeast Commuter Rail Corridor was advanced in 2016 through the Southeast Corridor Commuter Rail Service Study Project Alternatives Study, considered as Phase III in JTA’s commuter rail study process. This study encompassed more detailed analysis of anticipated ridership, capital and operating costs, and input from the public and stakeholders. This study was prepared to determine the readiness of the Southeast Corridor to meet general project delivery requirements for entry into the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA’s) New Starts Capital Investment Grant Program to secure future federal funding. FTA project rating criteria were considered as part of the alternatives evaluation process in the study. While the public raised concerns regarding safety and viability of commuter rail; many also stated the benefits to avoid the stress of traffic and cost of commuting. The study concluded that while there were no fatal flaws, based on projected growth patterns, ridership and cost estimates, the proposed commuter rail project was not yet ready for advancement into FTA’s Project Development process. Lower cost regional services, such as express services and integration with JTA’s First Coast Flyer BRT services should be considered.
2009
Springs
2010
Commuter Rail Feasibility Study - Phase II Prioritized 3 service corridors - selected Southeast Corridor as top priority` Southeast Commuter Rail Service Corridor - Station Location Study Defined site location methodology for potential rail stations Southeast Commuter Rail Corridor Project Alternative Study (Phase III) Evaluated corridor to define readiness for more detailed study. Determined not yet ready to advance in FTA’s PD process Southeast Commuter Rail Transit Concept and Alternative Review Study Alternatives Analysis to define readiness for Project Development Southeast Commuter Rail Pre PD&E Study - Pre. Environmental Study FDOT ETDM screening for permitting agency review and initial NEPA analysis. Identified Categorical Exclusion as recommended class of action Southeast Commuter Rail Cost Study Comparison of cost estimates for capital, operating and maintenance scenarios
2013
2015
2016
2019
2020
2021
Proposes commuter rail as a multimodal mobility option, as mitigation during planned I-95 construction
Figure 3-1: PREVIOUS STUDIES TIMELINE
FCCR TOD
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