A commuter train development study was funded through a $1 million Federal Transit Administration grant. Then $3.9 million was earmarked from Jacksonville’s local option gas tax for a preliminary engineering and federal environmental study.
What’s next The first phase is to identify any issues the rail line could face, as well as opportunities. The study has to determine goals and objectives for each possible train station and the area around it. Each of 15 potential station sites was evaluated for possible use, zoning and ownership, and how well it connected to other transit systems. That was then boiled down to seven sites that have the characteristics needed for successful transit-oriented development.
Then came required public workshops.
Powell said the authority already held virtual community workshops in February, one for each county. Now comes this week’s workshops, following up on what was discussed five months ago, to determine goals and objectives for each station area.
When built, the rail line would run from 5 a.m. to just before 10 p.m. daily along Florida East Coast’s freight line right of way, just west of U.S. 1. The rail line would have its Jacksonville nexus next to the Prime Osborn Convention Center, which was once a railroad station, with JTA’s Regional Transportation Center already home to its bus lines as well as Skyway and various private bus services.
Jacksonville then would have two other proposed stations. One possibility is the JTA Park n’ Ride Transit Hub on Avenues Walk Boulevard off Philips Highway, since it is already a JTA city bus stop. Another is proposed near U.S. 1 and Baymeadows Road.
Those stops and what could be part of them is the focus of Tuesday’s workshop in Jacksonville, Powell said.
A map shows the possible stations on the First Coast Commuter Rail line. | JTA The workshop Wednesday in St. Augustine will include discussion about what is called the King Street Station in the West King neighborhood, just west of the San Sebastian River near U.S. 1/Ponce de Leon Boulevard. JTA sees this area as a western gateway into the downtown core that has experienced some growth in recent years because of its historic, urban neighborhood qualities.
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