FIRST COAST COMMUTER RAIL TOD STUDY | EXISTING CONDITIONS
FIRST COAST COMMUTER RAIL TOD STUDY | EXISTING CONDITIONS
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RELATED REGIONAL MOBILITY PLANNING
The JTA has continued to document its priorities to advance regional mobility solutions. The JTA’s most recent strategic plan, Mobility Optimization through Vision, and Excellence 2023-2027 (MOVE2027), emphasized the importance of enhancing connectivity with adjacent counties and placed a priority on regional collaboration. The strategic plan, updated in 2023, demonstrates JTA’s commitment to providing more multimodal mobility options for the region over the next five years, building upon years of study and partnerships to connect Northeast Florida communities. Simultaneous with the JTA’s 2009 Commuter Rail Feasibility Study, the region was also conducting a multi-year effort to evaluate the need for a Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) in Northeast Florida. Connecting the region, especially with explosive growth south of Jacksonville, in St. Johns County, continued to surface among transportation priorities. Dialogue surrounding the formation of an RTA in the region, is evident as far back as 1987. The Regional Transportation Study Commission (RTSC), convened in 2010, expanded the conversations around regional connectivity and multimodal mobility options. The Northeast Florida Regional Transportation Commission (NEFRTC) commenced late in 2013, and continued to operate with planning functions, until it sunset in 2018, when a dedicated funding source could not be established to
continue ongoing operations. During its operations, the NEFRTC produced Connecting Regionally for Success in 2017, a regional multimodal transportation plan, to document its collaborative activities to identify mobility needs, gaps in transportation services and facilities, and multimodal transportation priorities for Northeast Florida. One of the committees formed to support the NEFRTC, the Regional Transit Working Group (RTWG), continues to meet regularly to address regional transit connectivity and resource sharing. The committee, through leadership of the JTA, also produced the Regional Transit Action Plan in 2016. The Action Plan defined numerous initiatives including support for future modes, such as commuter rail, to enhance connectivity and customer aligned services in the region. Several of the region’s long range transportation planning initiatives identify support for advancing regional premium transportation services, such as commuter rail. The region’s Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP), the 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), developed through the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), as well as the JTA’s Transit Development Plan (TDP) incorporated JTA’s commuter rail planning recommendations and corresponding public feedback
in support of rail solutions to meet future demands. The 2045 LRTP lists commuter rail along the FEC corridor from St. Augustine, St. Johns County, to Downtown Jacksonville as one of the cost feasible transportation projects. The Northeast Florida Coordinated Transportation Plan (2019) prepared by the JTA and regional transportation stakeholders, including the RTWG, recommended improved coordination on a regional scale, to encourage “seamless” transportation between counties and the area’s transportation service providers. St. Johns County has continued to experience significant growth and is home to some of the fastest growing
communities in Florida. St. Johns County transportation planners have been strong partners with the JTA. The JTA has explored multiple options to coordinate transit services and in 2020 launched the St. Johns Express Select service. Currently operating with limited morning and evening peak trips to serve commuters between St. Johns County Government Complex, Durbin Park, and Duval County, the premium service will be critical in the future as the county continues to experience phenomenal growth. Highlights of these studies and other related regionally focused transportation plans and studies are listed in Table 3-2.
PLAN/PROJECT NAME
YEAR
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Assessment of all rail corridors in the region and identified what role JTA could potentially have in rail future.
Regional Rail Master Plan
2010
Collaboration with Regional Transit Working Group (RTWG) that identified regional coordination and regional connectivity as priorities. Connecting Regionally for Success. Collaboration with Regional Transportation Commission (NEFRTC). Evaluated need for prioritizing regional roads, transit, and trails. In follow-up to Smart Cities initiatives, this regional plan identifies potential corridors and strategies for implementing technologies for connected vehicles and infrastructure. Updated every three years to assess and identify strategies for coordinated services for disabled, senior, and veteran populations. Developed with collaboration of RTWG and supports future commuter rail options.
Commuter Rail Feasibility Study
2016
Regional Multimodal Transportation Plan
2016
Smart Region Master Plan
2017
Northeast Florida Coordinated Mobility Plan
2019
JTA Transit Development Plan (TDP) Major Update
Ten-year assessment and outlook; assessment of current and future needs, financial plan with annual updates to follow.
2019
20-year horizon, latest adopted November 14, 2019. Identifies commuter rail along FEC corridor from St. Augustine to Downtown Jacksonville in the list of cost feasible transportation projects. 2021 Major Update identifying existing and future transit planning and mobility options to support growth and development.
Long Range Transportation Plan 2045
2019
St. Johns County Transit Development Plan (TDP) 2021 Major Update
2021
Figure 3-4: RELATED REGIONAL MOBILITY PLANS
Table 3-2: RELATED REGIONAL PLANS AND STUDIES
FCCR TOD
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