Item 8BAGENDA ITEM # 8B
JUNE 14, 2010
JACKSONVILLE TRANSPORTATION AUTIiOR.
P.O. DRAWER "O" • 100 N. MYRTLE AVENUE • JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32203
TELEPHONE 904/fi30~181 FAX- 804/630-3166
May 27, 2010
The Honorabld Louis "Mik+e" Borno
Office of the Mayor
800 Seminole Road
Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233
Dear Mayor Borno:
AVAI.PARKER
Chairman
MICHAEL CAVENDISH
Vice Chairman
DONALD P. HINSON
Secretary
EDWARD E. BURR
Treasurer
A. J. JOHNS
ALAN R. MOSLEY, P.E.
CLEVE E. WARREN
MICHAEL J. BLAYLOCK
Executive DirectodCEO
It is my pleasure to announce that the JTA Beaches Trolley is again up and ruaningl For the past two
summers, the Beaches Trolley has helped over 34,000 riders circulate around the Beaches. The Trolley served well
over 1,700 persons a day on most weekends, including visitors and residents going to the beach, to restaurants and to
shops. The Trolley has reduced, and continues to reduce the congestion on your roadways on weekends throughout
the summer.
To maintain this service, JTA needs your continued financial support. Investing in this service that brings
visitors and residents to the beaches to support your tocai businesses is an excellent use of your financial resources.
For the City of Atlantic Beach, your investment is your contn'bution toward the operation of JTA's Weekend
Beaches Trolley service declared "The Best Thing to Happen to Northeast Florida"-Folio )17eekty Magazine 20(18.
I urge the City of Atlantic Beach to provide $5000.00 at a minimum; the same level of financial support
that you contributed in 2009. Please recognize the future of this service is dependent upon your financial
partnership.
I recognize the financial difficulties that the current economy has placed on cities, and the JTA shares this
burden. JTA has taken steps to reduce costs without negatively impacting the convenience and attractiveness of the
trolley service. We have modified the frequency from 15 minutes to 20 minutes and changed the route to use 3r8
Street (AlA) at Atlantic tn avoid the many delays and unsafe conditions inherent in the area. Fares were increased
to $1 per trip; the same as fares of our other bus services. But, even with these efficiencies, JTA is still left with
substantial unfiunded operational costs.
. JTA began the Beaches Trolley in partnership with the cities of Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach and
Atlantic Beach, and with the many small enterprises in the area for the mutual benefit of all. Today JTA needs
funding partners to repeat their commitments in this venture by maintaining or increasing your financial support to
successfully operate the Beaches Trolley this season.
JTA would be happy to meet with you, your staff, or your City Council members to discuss this firrther.
look forward to your continued support and another exciting summer season with the JTA Weekend Beaches
Trolley.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Blaylock
Executive Director/Cfi0
JTA-Regional 7~ransportation Solutions
www.jtafla.com