First Coast Flyer
| First Coast Flyer | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| System | Jacksonville Transportation Authority |
| Status | Operating |
| Began service | December 7, 2015[1] |
| Route | |
| Locale | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Stations | 23 (as of May 2016[update]) |
The First Coast Flyer is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Jacksonville, Florida. It is operated by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA). The first phase, including stations in Downtown Jacksonville and the northbound Green Line, opened in December 2015; additional phases are scheduled to be complete by 2019.
History and planning
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority began studying building a rapid transit in 2000, and identified bus rapid transit as the best fit for some corridors.[2] The North Florida Transportation Planning Organization added the BRT system to the city's long-range plan.[3] After years of planning, the system, named the First Coast Flyer, broke ground in 2014 with transit improvements in Downtown Jacksonville.[4] The system opened on December 7, 2015, with service Downtown and on the Green Line, running north to Interstate 295.[5]
Routes
Currently, the First Coast Flyer serves stations in Downtown Jacksonville and along the Green Line.[6]
Downtown service runs on Northbound and Southbound routes, and features twelve stations and dedicated lanes for its buses.[7] Downtown service will ultimately run from the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center (planned for the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center), north to the Rosa Parks Transit Station, and south to a station at Kings Avenue on the Southbank.
Green Line
The North Corridor/Green Line Route 102 runs 9.39 miles north through the Springfield and Northside areas. It runs from the Rosa Parks Transit Station to Interstate 295 on Lem Turner Road. It serves 11 stations.[8]
Future expansion
Three additional corridors are planned for the First Coast Flyer, to be completed in phases by 2019. These are the Southeast Corridor (Blue Line) is currently under construction. It will run south along Philips Highway (US-1) to the Avenues Mall and will include seven stations.[9] The East Corridor (Red Line) is under development. It is planned to run east from Downtown to Jacksonville Beach along Arlington Expressway, Southside Boulevard and Beach Boulevard.[10] The Southwest Corridor (Purple Line) is also under development. It is planned to run south from the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center through Riverside and Avondale to Orange Park along Blanding Boulevard.[11]
References
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