JTA Plans Major 2027 Cuts

[Charles Hunter]

JTA to hold community meetings and a public hearing on the fare increases / service cuts:
https://jtafla.com/about-us/public-hearings-and-notices/

Upcoming Community Meetings:
• Tuesday, July 14 - 4 PM - Gulliford Community Center, Mayport
• Thursday, July 16 - 5 PM -  Webb Wesconnett Library 103rd Street
• Tuesday, July 21 - 5 PM - JRTC Bay Street
• Wednesday, July 22 - 4 PM - Highlands Library Dunn Ave
• Thursday, July 23 - 5 PM - Pablo Creek Library Beach Blvd.
Public Hearing:
• Tuesday, July 28 - 5 PM - JRTC

Then the Board meeting is Wednesday, July 29, at 3 PM, in the JRTC

[marcuscnelson]

Nat Ford's next stop appears to be Dallas, Texas.

Local news there announced that he is one of three finalists to be the next CEO of Dallas Area Rapid Transit.

https://www.fox4news.com/news/dart-names-finalists-vacant-ceo-position

[jcjohnpaint]

Sounds like a perfect placeforhim

[Todd_Parker]

Nat Ford's next stop appears to be Dallas, Texas.

Local news there announced that he is one of three finalists to be the next CEO of Dallas Area Rapid Transit.

https://www.fox4news.com/news/dart-names-finalists-vacant-ceo-position

ESPN has announced the following trade:

Dallas receives: Nat Ford, NAVI, and the "potential" HOLON manufacturing facility

Jacksonville receives: DART Light Rail line

[jaxlongtimer]

Nat Ford's next stop appears to be Dallas, Texas.

Local news there announced that he is one of three finalists to be the next CEO of Dallas Area Rapid Transit.

https://www.fox4news.com/news/dart-names-finalists-vacant-ceo-position

I went to Dallas DART's website where they offer the below description:

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) provides modern public transit services designed for fast, comfortable, and economical travel. The agency operates light rail, Trinity Railway Express, regional rail, bus routes, GoLink on-demand service, and paratransit, moving more than 171,000 passengers daily across a 700-square-mile, 12-city region including Addison, Carrollton, Cockrell Hill, Dallas, Farmers Branch, Garland, Glenn Heights, Irving, Richardson, Rowlett, Plano, and University Park.

https://www.dart.org/about/about-dart/about-dart

Not one mention of AV's (Waymo is operating in Dallas so maybe that common sense approach prevailed unlike Jax) and lots of mentions of rail services.  Seems Ford would not be a good match given his track record in Jacksonville.  It looks like the last CEO resigned due to "political interference."  Maybe navigating that makes Ford more attractive given his ability to sell U2C snake oil to Jax officials.

I note that one of the 3 finalists was a past EVP of Dallas DART and the other is CEO of a regional transportation authority in Ohio.  Will be interesting to see who wins the job.

[marcuscnelson]

Interesting to compare DART's description to JTA under Ford:

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) is an independent state agency serving Jacksonville, Florida, and Northeast Florida with multi-modal responsibilities. The JTA provides varied mass public transit services and builds roads, bridges, and other infrastructure to enhance mobility in Jacksonville. Public transportation services include BRT and regular bus service, Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation (NAVI), paratransit, the St. Johns River Ferry, Skyway APM, and other mobility and on-demand services in Duval, Clay, Nassau, and St. Johns counties.

We are at the forefront of shaping the future of mobility in Northeast Florida. The team is committed to driving innovation through our comprehensive transit solutions. Our strategic goals focus on improved mobility, and efficiency.

One still sees themselves as primarily a public transit agency, the other is obsessed with "mobility" and "innovation". Yet who is more integral to their region? Who is actually getting more people anywhere?