The mysterious Ocklawaha returns
Posted on 15 May 2011 by k. a. gardner
JACKSONVILLE — The following is excerpted from the mysterious Ocklawaha‘s new Facebook group “Streetcar NOW Jacksonville.” In reality Ocklawaha is Robert C. Mann, Jacksonville Transit [see FF blog roll] pundit. I agree with him about the need for streetcars downtown, but not necessarily on the uselessness of the Skyway elevated system. It’s already operating and streetcars could feed into its Northbank – Southbank connector. The first street car line should be on Park Street from Jacksonville Terminal to King Street.
“TROLLEY DAZE IN JACKSONVILLE”
Are you a believer in Jacksonville? Would you like to see a giant step backwards in order to bounce this city’s urban development a giant leap forward? STREETCAR NOW IS THE PLACE!
The only truly American form of transportation, streetcars, invented, improved and perfected in the United States and the America’s are making a comeback worldwide. First proposed in 1981, Jacksonville would have been the first American city in 60 years to go back to the rails with a vintage streetcar system (and only the 3rd if modern streetcars were included) Today, we will fall somewhere between number 45 and 75, depending on how it’s counted. We procrastinated while a useless Skyway System was built and became a white-elephant. We procrastinated while Tampa, and then Savannah reconstructed their own streetcar starter lines. We’ve been paralyzed while city after city has rolled right past us, with OUR IDEA!
Savannah streetcar, photo credit APTA
Frequently asked questions about trolleys.
Does a trolley have rubber tires? Strictly speaking, No. Trolley cars or streetcars have steel wheels and run on rails, which are often laid directly in street paving. Today many cities use rubber tired vehicles which are decorated to look somewhat like trolleys, but these vehicles are not real trolleys nor streetcars and are not the subject of this [Facebook] website.
Some people may feel they can obtain the benefits of a heritage trolley line by using these inexpensive faux trolleys, but the economic, developmental, and visitor attracting benefits are not generated by these bus trolleys. Authentic rail based systems are required to achieve the benefits. As well, some cities, such as San Francisco, use electric trolley buses, which also may be called trolleys for short.
Through most of the 20th century the terms were essentially interchangeable both describing an electrically powered car running on rails. However, local usage often favored one term over the other. For example, in San Francisco the term streetcar has always been preferred, but in Philadelphia the term trolley has been more common. Today some people planning heritage lines are stressing preferential use of one of the two terms to minimize confusion and encourage consistency. In some cases, the word “streetcar” is preferred in order to clarify the difference between a streetcar operating on rails vs. a rubber tired vehicle made to look like a trolley.
Why choose a rail-based system over a rubber-tired system? A rail-based system provides numerous advantages that help outweigh its higher capital cost: A sense of government commitment and permanence that reassures potential riders, neighbors, and businesses that service will continue. People overwhelmingly prefer riding rail vehicles to buses, so rail solutions attract more passengers (see Transportation Research Record 1221 for a detailed treatment of rail vs. bus ridership). For the above reasons, rail systems typically inspire business development.
Heritage trolley systems provide a sense of historical authenticity that blends very well with an urban environment, especially older, redeveloping neighborhoods. Heritage trolleys with proper maintenance last essentially indefinitely (New Orleans operates cars built in the mid-1920s in daily, heavy service) while buses seldom have a life of more than 20 years.
"Jacksonville Terminal, Jacksonville, FLA." "Beautiful Florida: The Winter Playground of the Nation" Published circa 1920s by Curt Teich & Co. Chicago, USA. Postcard collection of Roy Winkelman.
If a heritage line is operated by the transit agency then funding for capital and operating needs can be obtained as part of the normal transit funding process. Also, integration of schedules and fares will be easiest if the line is part of the organization providing other local transit. On the other hand, the heritage system will also then be subject to the normal budget process, including cutbacks at times of budget constraint.
If a heritage line is operated by a nonprofit, then securing tax deductible donations and volunteer labor may be easier. As well, if the nonprofit has dedicated sources of funding to support the heritage line (such as earnings from an endowment or proceeds of a local business assessment district) then segregating and protecting these funds from competing transit priorities may be easier. There may also be greater freedom in setting pay scales and working hours.
I think Ocklawaha raises a good point about the economic benefits of a 501c3 non-profit organization operating a dedicated streetcar line .
American Public Transportation Assoc. Streetcar and Heritage Trolley Site: Savannah, GA
UPDATE: via Streetcar NOW Jacksonville 01 July 2011
Robert W. Mann Working for Mayor Brown in the transportation transition committee, I’ll let y’all know if streetcar is one of our recommendations.
It would be great to have streetcars back, and without the monopolistic practices that used to victimize the poor.
Hello Mrs. Weirsdo, It’s always good to see you. I understand Anastasia is having a birthday party for Pooh. I’ll have to drop by Stuffed Animal Planet to wish him well.