JTA meetings on the future of the Skyway

[marcuscnelson]

Perhaps that's the point...

[Charles Hunter]

ActionNews just aired a report that FDOT has reservations about a JTA grant application for funding NAVI/U2C. Although FDOT has concerns, they are going ahead with the grant. As of 6:18 PM, they have not posted it to their website.

[Tacachale]

New JDR article for the second round of community input https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2026/apr/28/jta-schedules-second-round-of-public-meetings-on-skyway-future/

JTA will present the same alternatives during the May meetings as it did during the previous sessions, held in February through March. A JTA spokesperson said the options presented to the public in May will reflect cost ranges for the plans, with other considerations potentially added.

Asking the public to come out —again— about the same thing with little time between is a recipe for poor attendance. 

Evidently cost estimates will be included this time, which likely will have an effect on people's opinions.

[jaxlongtimer]

I am guessing JTA is (1) either looking to bolster the support from the public to kill putting U2C on the Skyway, as that is the result of the first round, so they can say their hand was forced by "unrelenting" public opposition to kill it (vs. admitting the impending failure of the project) or (2) hoping another round produces a more pro-U2C result to provide support for keeping it going.

I am betting that (1) is more likely, at least in terms of public input, unless JTA, forewarned, stacks the crowd with U2C supporters like they did for boosting its ridership numbers.

During an April 7 meeting of the City Council Special Committee on Duval DOGE, JTA CEO Nat Ford said members of the public had expressed the most interest in converting the Skyway into a railway for people-mover trains or a multiuse trail.

[fsu813]

No offense to any of us in the public, but basing any transportation decisions on who happens to show up / send an email is ridiculous. Well, to be specific, show up or email *again*. This isn't how serious decisions are made.

[marcuscnelson]

ActionNews just aired a report that FDOT has reservations about a JTA grant application for funding NAVI/U2C. Although FDOT has concerns, they are going ahead with the grant. As of 6:18 PM, they have not posted it to their website.

Article on this is out, going to put it in a more directly relevant thread.

[Nmhatt]

New JDR article on this subject

JTA declined to provide further details on why the authority scheduled, then postponed, the public meetings. During the April 30 meeting of the JTA board, there was discussion of factoring "traditional" transportation alternatives into future considerations about the Skyway. Those included streetcars and light-rail systems, a spokesperson said.

It definitely seems like JTA is trying to save face and cut bait on the original NAVI transition plan. Can't say that hate the new direction this is going

[fsu813]

New JDR article on this subject

JTA declined to provide further details on why the authority scheduled, then postponed, the public meetings. During the April 30 meeting of the JTA board, there was discussion of factoring "traditional" transportation alternatives into future considerations about the Skyway. Those included streetcars and light-rail systems, a spokesperson said.

It definitely seems like JTA is trying to save face and cut bait on the original NAVI transition plan. Can't say that hate the new direction this is going

Street car. Le sigh. Was it 2009 when JTA was exploring this option last? I remember taking surveys, etc then about it. It's our white whale.

[thelakelander]

Yes, ages ago and we're no where closer after almost 20 years.

[thelakelander]

https://jaxtoday.org/2026/05/05/jta-skyway-meetings/

Hmm...

Those ranked results are pretty shaky. (1) is an unfeasible option that will fall out if any realistic technical analysis is conducted.

Keep it operating as a peoplemover (the most obvious and logical) would probably be #1 but is split between two options (2) new peoplemover cars and (4) refurbish existing cars.

I know for a fact, my take when I filled out the survey isn't reflected in the rankings as described.

Also, for those who voted to turn it into an elevated path, that also isn't an indicator of them endorsing NAVI vans as an on ground replacement for transit.

Questionable all around.

[marcuscnelson]

It's deeply frustrating that it's taken a decade and potentially nine figures spent (between the Test & Learn program and Bay Street Innovation Corridor's development and all the studies along the way) to end up essentially back at square one as we were in 2016.

It's actually taken so long that we seem to have largely missed the era in which streetcars even had an opportunity for major federal funding at all, and in many cases are now seen as having not done much to support their use as mass transit beyond the aesthetic appeal of being adjacent to new development (that still has parking). The few new systems still being considered at this point have either been in the pipeline for years already (Sacramento) or are foregoing federal funding at all (Omaha).

And notably, JTA is still (as recently as a few days ago) continuing to aggressively push the U2C's value as being for "national leadership" and attracting junkets to gawk at it rather than actually carrying people places (presumably because everyone can see it doesn't). The focus on "bringing the Skyway down to Earth" keeps coming at the expense of actually having usable transit, especially at a time when the state has committed itself to frustrating such a focus.

Additionally, to be now pushing hearings back until the fall (and then a decision to after that) means that even the smarter options are at best probably as far out as 2030. While we are already down to one functioning train, because JTA has so badly wasted everyone's time. Just tragic, the things we do to ourselves.

[thelakelander]

Tragic indeed. In the meantime, just continued demolition by neglect with the existing system. I have little faith in JTA's ability to deliver just about anything effectively and cost efficiently at the moment. My opinion has been shaped by watching this slow, predictable, billion dollar train wreck take place since the passage of the BJP +20 years ago and the $100 million set aside back then for rapid mass transit. What a way to waste time, money and accomplish little to nothing.

[MakeDTjaxGre@tAgain]

The trend follows as they're not ever going to get a real means of transformation in this city. But with that said, happy they're considering light rail. I'm all in on light rail as this is a true people mover of done right. Considerably more manufacturers and reliable! We wouldn't be considering what to do in another 20 years should we convert, rebuild, tear down etc.

Idc what it costs. Cut funding NAVI?! Seems they're looking for an out regardless. Where do you guys anticipate buildout looks like outside of downtown, as well as first line going beyond the downtown 'overlay'?

[Ken_FSU]

So far, community feedback on possible Skyway redesigns shows the favorite is a desire to convert the overhead track into a pedestrian-friendly walkway as autonomous people movers stay on the city streets below.

This is why experienced transportation planners - with a tried-and-true vision that has the city's best long-term transportation interests in mind - should be making these decisions, not News4Jax commenters.

Could you imagine, when JTA is already sitting on a $150 million dollar deficit for the ACTUAL pedestrian trail that we've spent over 20 years planning, JTA then turning around and spending over $100 million to decommission the existing transit guideways to build a duplicative pedestrian trail that actually removes people from the streets, while starting over with new stations at grade?

It legitimately sounds like the suggestion that a meth head high on bath salts would make in James Weldon Johnson Park.

"Like.... what if the pedestrians walked on the traintracks in the sky, and the trains rode on the sidewalks ON THE GROUND?"

Why JTA would even put this option in the survey BAFFLES me.

[marcuscnelson]

The trend follows as they're not ever going to get a real means of transformation in this city. But with that said, happy they're considering light rail. I'm all in on light rail as this is a true people mover of done right. Considerably more manufacturers and reliable! We wouldn't be considering what to do in another 20 years should we convert, rebuild, tear down etc.

Idc what it costs. Cut funding NAVI?! Seems they're looking for an out regardless. Where do you guys anticipate buildout looks like outside of downtown, as well as first line going beyond the downtown 'overlay'?

The lack of a coherent mass transit plan, or policy in service of such a plan, makes it hard to anticipate anything.

In terms of what might make sense to build out a light rail system in Jacksonville, what broadly comes to mind for me is something that links the urban neighborhoods north and west of downtown, to Town Center/UNF and the Beaches, via Downtown and Atlantic Blvd/Arlington Expy/Mathews Bridge. That would connect parts of town that could most benefit from having rapid transit (either by existing density or the potential for added density) that aren't already adjacent to potential regional rail corridors (or in which the road layout/likely demand would be better utilized as BRT).

Once upon a time I'd have thought it'd make sense to start with a line radiating to/from Downtown, but more recently I think there could be some promise in starting with something like Town Center-Regency Square (6 miles), with the ability to then continue towards Downtown as Arlington Expy and Mathews Bridge are redeveloped or branch east towards the Beaches. Granted if you really wanted to you could do both as separate segments (though that would mean more than one yard/maintenance facility) and then connect them whenever the bridge project happens.

Anything like that would be more expensive than NAVI, to the point of demanding public-buy in on the investment and supporting redevelopment, but in exchange provide much higher capacity and speed for regional connectivity.