FIRST COAST COMMUTER RAIL TOD STUDY | EXISTING CONDITIONS
FIRST COAST COMMUTER RAIL TOD STUDY | EXISTING CONDITIONS
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GAP ANALYSIS
REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY
One particular area that demands focused attention and enhancement is the vicinity surrounding the Baymeadows and San Sebastian View Stations. In these areas, the coverage offered by the public transit system is limited. The introduction of planned bicycle and trail connections or the establishment of park and ride facilities in this region represents a significant opportunity to augment multimodal connectivity. These improvements are not only pivotal for the convenience of commuters but also play a pivotal role in promoting sustainable and efficient transportation solutions both within this specific subarea and for travel to and from it.
In addition, shuttle services should be considered to improve connectivity. Shuttles services complement to fixed route transit, particularly to and from major attractors such as hospitals, commercial districts, employment centers, and schools. An important component of regional multimodal connectivity is the provision of park-and-ride facilities. To maximize connectivity park-and-ride facilities should be implemented as follows: » Population densities are too low to support frequent bus service » Stations are at least 5 to 8 miles from the CBD » Facilities are less costly to provide than special feeder bus service » Stations are located near access points of limited access facilities » Major corridors are congested
A comprehensive gap analysis within the FCCR study area was conducted using the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tool. The aim was to achieve a thorough understanding of the transportation and infrastructure requirements, extending to a one-mile radii buffer for each FCCR station. The gap analysis goal is centered on pointing out any deficiencies or gaps in the existing and proposed transportation network. After the gaps were identified, the next step involved pinpointing and consolidating the prioritized recommendations, which are presented in Table 3-12. The FCCR corridor spans the distance between the vibrant downtown of Jacksonville and the historic city of St. Augustine. While it is worth noting that the gaps in multimodal connections around these two city centers are relatively minor, it is imperative to emphasize that even minor gaps can exert a substantial influence on overall transportation efficiency and the quality of the user experience.
Regional connectivity is a critical component to a successful transit network. The proposed commuter rail service connects St. Augustine in the south to Jacksonville in the north. In order to adequately connect the region, east-west connectivity is needed. Specifically, the addition of the proposed JTB Station at J. Turner Butler Boulevard (SR 202) will provide that connectivity with the commuter rail service. The J. Turner Butler Boulevard corridor is ideal for creating a network by implementing premium or express transit because it can provide access to employment and major attractors such as St. Johns Town Center, University of North Florida, and the Mayo Clinic. In addition, J. Turner Butler Boulevard provides the greatest geographic coverage to the east when compared to Southside Boulevard (SR 115) or I-295 as the aforementioned corridors are primarily north-south corridors. To maximize regional connectivity to commuter rail service, local and express bus services should be provided to the stations where feasible in urban and suburban environments. Connecting bus services should have the following characteristics: » Local service must be frequent and reliable » Bus routes should be direct without deviations, if possible » Headways of 10 to 15 minutes in the peak hour and 20 minutes in the off-peak hours
IDENTIFIED NETWORK GAPS
PRIORITY RECOMMENDATION
FCCR STATION
MULTI - USE/ RECREATIONAL
BICYCLE
TRANSIT
JRTC
Yes
Yes
No
High
San Marco
No
No
No
Low
Jackson Square
Yes
No
No
Medium
Walmart/University
Yes
Yes
No
High
JTB
Yes
Yes
No
High
Baymeadows
No
Yes
Yes
Low
Avenues Walk
No
No
Yes
Low
Old St. Augustine
No
Yes
Yes
Low
CR 210
No
Yes
Yes
Low
Palencia
No
Yes
Yes
Low
San Sebastian View
Yes
Yes
No
Medium
San Carlos
Yes
Yes
No
Medium
St. Augustine
Yes
Yes
No
Medium
King Street
Yes
Yes
No
Medium
SR312
Yes
Yes
No
Medium
Table 3-12: IDENTIFIED NETWORK GAPS
FCCR TOD
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