Action News Jax just aired a nearly hour-long investigative special of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority.
https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/action-news-jax-investigations-taken-ride/5f41e22e-677c-4293-9642-dc2914f02731/
It's expansive, from the suffering of riders at the lagging quality of JTA's transit services, to the lavish expenditures of well-heeled executives on jet-setting and luxury hotel stays, to the albatross of the Ultimate Urban Circulator program, to the languishing employees who just want to provide the public service they are responsible for.
The concerning thread throughout is the silence on the part of public officials when asked for any sense of oversight. It's just tragic to see how one of the biggest cities in the country is abdicating the thought of how people are supposed to get around it.
Was this new material, or a compilation of their reports over the last year? I recorded it, but haven't watched it yet.
Column A, Column B. All new recording but covering some previous ground while also discussing more recent developments.
I just viewed this entire reporting special (note, due to technical issues, you may have to drag the timeline cursor forward to roll from one episode to the next). It is outstanding, thorough, well researched and damning. Anyone watching this would want to immediately replace JTAs board and CEO or close the agency down entirely and replace it with something entirely different.
As predicted on the Jaxson and proven in this reporting, JTA is about to become the next "JEA level" scandal here. It is just a matter of how long it takes to blow up. If Nate Monroe would join in reporting the abuses found by Action News, JTA would already be on the ropes. Action News deserves some awards for this reporting which stands out among the best investigative reporting locally since the T-U's reports on Zahn at JEA. No stone was left unturned... poor and declining bus service (longer headways, cancelled and late scheduled bus routes, etc.), wasteful spending on travel and more, bloated salaries, excessive time away from the office, the U2C as a boondoggle in the making, employee dissatisfaction and excessive turnover, dollars and free services supporting the Jaguars, the lack of transparency, failure of leadership at all levels, no accountability or oversight, dismal financial and operational metrics vs. industry standards, etc.
It is an upside down world that some normally rational leaders including Deegan and Carlucci are standing by JTA while firebrand Diamond gets it. Be careful, JTA is radioactive and may be poisonous to political health. Get out while you can.
All JTA critics on the Jaxson need to watch this reporting in its entirety to further expound authoritatively on the many shortcomings of JTA. It is our collective civic duty.
Wow, I will have to check this out later today. The U2C Maintenance shed is coming out of the ground in LaVilla now. If you have been paying attention to the construction, you can see why it's eating up a good share of the initial Bay Street Innovation Corridor funds. When all this eventually blows up, LaVilla will have a sound storm shelter.
Quote from: thelakelander on October 24, 2024, 08:40:48 AM
Wow, I will have to check this out later today. The U2C Maintenance shed is coming out of the ground in LaVilla now. If you have been paying attention to the construction, you can see why it's eating up a good share of the initial Bay Street Innovation Corridor funds. When all this eventually blows up, LaVilla will have a sound storm shelter.
Amen to that. The walls look like they're going to support a 30 story building. If the land wasn't so low lying, I'd think it would be perfect Category 5 Hurricane Shelter.
Hats off to Emily Turner for her reporting, but unless she has photos of Nat Ford at one of Diddy's parties, nothing will happen.
My guess for the most likely scenario is a board member smells the coffee and advises Ford to move on voluntarily before everyone gets further embarrassed. Then, maybe more of the dirty laundry gets aired after his departure but it is soon put aside as leaders proclaim a "new day" at JTA thanks to their "proactive" leadership. And, we start all over with inaction, just a new "coach" in charge. Kind of like the Jags 8). Selling ""hope."
Outrageous that the JTA board is not oversighting at all. Add, the FDOT district secretary that is the 7th board member hasn't attended a JTA board meeting in 6 years! Tells you everything about how serious the board is about executing their fiduciary responsibilities. Instead, as noted in the reporting, they take lavish trips at JTA's expense as an added perk to their role. For over 50 years, JTA board has been a joke and it continues to this day.
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on October 24, 2024, 11:10:31 AM
My guess for the most likely scenario is a board member smells the coffee and advises Ford to move on voluntarily before everyone gets further embarrassed....
Outrageous that the JTA board is not oversighting at all. Add, the FDOT district secretary that is the 7th board member hasn't attended a JTA board meeting in 6 years! Tells you everything about how serious the board is about executing their fiduciary responsibilities.
I spoke with a couple board members and they are in lock step with Nat Ford and his "vision". One said supporting Nat Ford is a hill they would die on. Whatever is going on, he has won them over and there will be no seeing the forest for the trees from them.
Quote from: Captain Zissou on October 24, 2024, 11:37:34 AM
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on October 24, 2024, 11:10:31 AM
My guess for the most likely scenario is a board member smells the coffee and advises Ford to move on voluntarily before everyone gets further embarrassed....
Outrageous that the JTA board is not oversighting at all. Add, the FDOT district secretary that is the 7th board member hasn't attended a JTA board meeting in 6 years! Tells you everything about how serious the board is about executing their fiduciary responsibilities.
I spoke with a couple board members and they are in lock step with Nat Ford and his "vision". One said supporting Nat Ford is a hill they would die on. Whatever is going on, he has won them over and there will be no seeing the forest for the trees from them.
That statement feels like either everyone is going to make some coin, or someone has photos of somewhere doing something.
^ Would be interesting to know if Ford has effective final say on his board appointments by the Mayor and Governor. This could help assure board loyalty to him.
I would add all seem to be either connected to the Chamber (two are past or current chairs and one an employee and where Daniel Davis is also a big Ford fan per the Action News reporting) and/or connected to businesses that likely rely on doing business with other Chamber members so unlikely to rock the Chamber boat.
Thus, I am guessing that no board members are truly independent of the Chamber cartel. The Chamber doesn't care a hoot about mass transit but does salivate over the millions in grants that JTA obtains. Add attracting Holon as a perceived feather in the cap for both Ford and the Chamber. Likely, all this is Ford's saving grace. JTA has followed this pattern for years... it is a basis for why we also took on the Skyway even though critical reaction to it was similar as to the U2C.
As they say, just follow the money.
Speaking of money, it seems notable that they discuss in this how JTA spends its public funds on various "causes," including hundreds of thousands of dollars in sponsorships to the Jaguars and $20,000 to The Donna Foundation (but only after Deegan's campaign for Mayor). I don't think it's clear what chain of authority there is over whether to spend that money and on whom.
^ It was also interesting that JTA provides transportation to Jags games as a "service" with no contribution from the Jags. And, then, the next day, over 50 bus routes are cancelled due to the previous day's Jags service with no notice to bus riders. Incredible!
Quote from: marcuscnelson on October 24, 2024, 03:36:55 PM
Speaking of money, it seems notable that they discuss in this how JTA spends its public funds on various "causes," including hundreds of thousands of dollars in sponsorships to the Jaguars and $20,000 to The Donna Foundation (but only after Deegan's campaign for Mayor). I don't think it's clear what chain of authority there is over whether to spend that money and on whom.
How is that legal?
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on October 24, 2024, 03:50:24 PM
^ It was also interesting that JTA provides transportation to Jags games as a "service" with no contribution from the Jags. And, then, the next day, over 50 bus routes are cancelled due to the previous day's Jags service with no notice to bus riders. Incredible!
From a public policy standpoint, it actually makes sense to try and encourage transit ridership to games. Reducing downtown traffic, reducing drunk driving, that sort of thing. I'm not sure transit agencies in other NFL cities run stadium service with any direct contribution from their teams for that service. But to have it be at the expense of commuters the following morning is
horrific.
My question there is why they are still running dedicated bus service all the way from Armsdale, JTB, the Beaches, and Kings Avenue, which then massively disrupts services. Three Flyer lines run from Armsdale, JTB, and the Beaches to downtown, and JTA still owns something called the Skyway which should be able to move riders from Kings Avenue across the river.
Fun thought: will they still have to run Gameday Xpress service to the stadium even with the Bay Street Innovation Corridor, because of the obvious inability for that to actually handle serious gameday traffic?
Most of the major cities have more reliable transit systems. When there's LRT or heavy rail already operating daily, people use them. For example, there's a Marta station a block or so away from the downtown Atlanta stadium, arena and convention center. Charlotte, Houston, San Diego, etc. developed their LRT systems in a similar fashion. JTA should follow suit. That's a simple, logical best practice.
Just watched this special. Very damning. Crazy amount of spending on questionable items like workplace massages, administrative salaries, etc. while bus service is piss poor and completely unreliable for those that depend on it. The story about a passenger missing a chemo appointment because the bus didn't come is horrific. I can see the stress the unreliable service places upon the transit users and the front line JTA employees who get those desparate calls on a consistant basis. I already knew the U2C won't work, so nothing new there, other then most of our leaders continue to bury their heads into the sand around that thing. Ultimately, it will likely take a lot of people down with it when shit hits the fan.
This was the U2C bomb shelter earlier this week. Passed by on Jefferson earlier this afternoon. I think it is about up now.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Cities/Jacksonville/Development/UCU---October-2024/i-sbZnsgQ/0/MFCnq8NBz2S3BVpsQpHgdZGXWK2nKHqrH7gFQ6dkK/X3/20241019_111622-X3.jpg)
Quote from: thelakelander on October 24, 2024, 10:01:42 PM
Just watched this special. Very damning. Crazy amount of spending on questionable items like workplace massages, administrative salaries, etc. will bus service is piss pour and completely unreliable for those that depend on it. The story about a passenger missing a chemo appointment because the bus didn't come is horrific. I can see the stress the unreliable service places upon the transit users and the front line JTA employees who get those desparate calls on a consistant basis. I already knew the U2C won't work, so nothing new there, other then most of our leaders continue to bury their heads into the sand around that thing. Ultimately, it will likely take a lot of people down with it when shit hits the fan.
I've beat this drum before but the saddest part will be having to pick up the pieces and rebuild public & political trust in public transportation investment after spending a decade taking everyone on a fantasy joyride and getting filthy rich in the process.
There's a lot to be said with both FDOT and COJ engineers being on record stating their serious concerns with the validity of the U2C project. People with experience and expertise in the field, that aren't being paid to keep the spending going on this boondoggle, aren't backing it. Heck, the FDOT board representative hasnt't been to a meeting in six years. That's also very telling. Nothing we haven't said here a million ties before, but the red flags are all around and way more concerning than anything involving the Skyway during its planning days.
Quote from: thelakelander on October 25, 2024, 09:01:49 AM
There's a lot to be said with both FDOT and COJ engineers being on record stating their serious concerns with the validity of the U2C project. People with experience and expertise in the field, that aren't being paid to keep the spending going on this boondoggle, aren't backing it. Heck, the FDOT board representative hasnt't been to a meeting in six years. That's also very telling. Nothing we haven't said here a million ties before, but the red flags are all around and way more concerning than anything involving the Skyway during its planning days.
Of note: the City Council rep of the area the U2C will mostly serve has also been publicly skeptical/not exactly supportive.
Quote from: thelakelander on October 25, 2024, 09:01:49 AM
There's a lot to be said with both FDOT and COJ engineers being on record stating their serious concerns with the validity of the U2C project. People with experience and expertise in the field, that aren't being paid to keep the spending going on this boondoggle, aren't backing it. Heck, the FDOT board representative hasnt't been to a meeting in six years. That's also very telling. Nothing we haven't said here a million ties before, but the red flags are all around and way more concerning than anything involving the Skyway during its planning days.
The FDOT district secretary should have a fiduciary responsibility as a JTA board member to attend meetings and stand up for the position of the FDOT team that has expressed (likely in muted terms to avoid making controversy for themselves as that is not good for State employees in the DeSantis administration) concerns that U2C has serious issues as a worthwhile project. His abdication of this responsibility is unpardonable. Maybe the Chamber cartel has gotten to him too via the Governor.
All this talk about the absence of the FDOT District Secretary from NFTPO meetings, so I checked the Florida Statute that creates and governs Metropolitan Planning Organizations (the original federal name of Transportation Planning Organizations)
Quote
FS 339.175 METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION
(4) APPORTIONMENT.—
(a) Each M.P.O. shall review the composition of its membership in conjunction with the decennial census, ... the Governor and ... an M.P.O. shall cooperatively agree upon and prescribe who may serve as an alternate member and a method for appointing alternate members, who may vote at any M.P.O. meeting that he or she attends in place of a regular member. ... Representatives of the [Florida D]epartment [of Transportation] shall serve as nonvoting advisers to the M.P.O. governing board. Additional nonvoting advisers may be appointed by the M.P.O. as deemed necessary; ... An M.P.O. shall appoint nonvoting advisers representing major military installations located within the jurisdictional boundaries of the M.P.O. upon the request of the aforesaid major military installations and subject to the agreement of the M.P.O. All nonvoting advisers may attend and participate fully in governing board meetings but may not vote or be members of the governing board.
The NFTPO posts the agenda books for the three most recent board meetings. Each agenda book includes the minutes of the previous meeting.
The minutes for the April and May meetings show the following for FDOT representation:
Non-Voting Advisor Absent - Greg Evans, FDOT
Others Present - Larry Parks, Jim Knight, and Victoria Kutney from FDOT
June meeting
Non-Voting Advisory Present - Greg Evans, FDOT
Others Present - Achaia Brown and Victoria Kutney from FDOT
^ Charles, we are not talking about NFTPO, but JTA, a totally separate entity.
From JTA's website:
QuoteJTA Board of Directors
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority's governing body is comprised of seven members. Three members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate, three members are appointed by Jacksonville's Mayor and confirmed by the City Council, and the seventh member is the District Two Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Members serve a four-year term with the exception of the FDOT Secretary who serves the length of his/her employment in that position and can be re-appointed for an additional four years. The board members of the JTA are not entitled to compensation but are reimbursed for travel and other expenses actually incurred in their duties as provided by law.
QuoteEx-Officio Board Member & FDOT District Two Secretary
Greg Evans was appointed as the Florida Department of Transportation District Two Secretary on February 6, 2012. Mr. Evans is responsible for the day-to-day administrative, planning, production and operations activities for District Two, which encompasses 18 counties, covers nearly 12,000 square miles in North Central Florida, and maintains 8,200 lane miles of roadway and over 1,200 bridges. The area is also served by two deep-water ports and three major rail lines.
Evans has over 21 years of experience in the management and operations of public infrastructure. He is an alumnus of Southern Institute of Technology, with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Technology.
Evans joined the Board in 2012 as an Ex-Officio Member representing the Florida Department of Transportation, District Two.
Florida statute governing JTA:
Quote349.03 Jacksonville Transportation Authority.—
(1) There is hereby created and established a body politic and corporate and an agency of the state to be known as the Jacksonville Expressway Authority, redesignated as the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, and hereinafter referred to as the "authority."
(2) The governing body of the authority shall consist of seven members. Three members shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Three members shall be appointed by the mayor of the City of Jacksonville subject to confirmation by the council of the City of Jacksonville. The seventh member shall be the district secretary of the Department of Transportation serving in the district that contains the City of Jacksonville. Except for the seventh member, members shall be residents and qualified electors of Duval County...
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0349/Sections/0349.03.html#:~:text=(1)%20There%20is%20hereby%20created,to%20as%20the%20%E2%80%9Cauthority.%E2%80%9D
Typical Ex-Officio set up is described below:
QuoteEx officio members of the board have all the same rights, privileges, duties and obligations as any other board member. They can participate in debates and vote on all matters. As with all other board members, ex officio board members must always act in the organization's best interest...
....Responsibilities of an Ex Officio Member
Nonprofits must clearly explain the roles and responsibilities of ex officio members in the bylaws. Here, members should gain an understanding of any important exclusions in case there are any questions about the role of ex officio members.
The specific responsibilities of ex officio members vary by organization; however, the following are common duties:
Attend Board Meetings: Ex officio board members should attend board meetings and participate in discussions.
Provide Expertise: Ex officio board members often get chosen based on their experience in a particular area. For this reason, they should provide guidance and advice to the board based on their background and skills.
Represent the Organization: Ex officio board members are often seen as representatives of the organization or group they represent and are expected to act in the best interests of that organization or group.
Report to the Board: Depending on their role, ex officio board members may provide regular reports to the board on the activities and progress of their organization or group.
Vote on Board Decisions: Ex officio board members may have the right to vote on board decisions. However, this can depend on the organization's bylaws.
Serve on Committees: Ex officio board members may serve on committees or subcommittees of the board to help address specific issues or areas of concern related to their expertise...
https://www.boardeffect.com/blog/what-is-the-role-of-an-ex-officio-board-member/#:~:text=The%20term%20'ex%20officio'%20is,or%20another%20position%20they%20hold.%E2%80%9D
JTA exemplifies why I always love new taxes. The government always spends our money so responsibly and only uses it to improve our lives! It makes me feel so good to involuntarily give my hard earned money to the government, because with innovative projects like the U2C, they only use it to better the lives of their citizens! Oh, and because they're government appointed, they have to be held accountable and work FOR the people, not for their own gain!
What a lovely organization that I'm so glad gets a cut of my gas bill each month.
THANKS JTA!
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on October 25, 2024, 04:11:54 PM
^ Charles, we are not talking about NFTPO, but JTA, a totally separate entity.
Geebus - what a brain fart ... I apologize for the kinds of errors that drive me crazy when others perpetrate them.
I will now go sit in the corner and eat worms.
-----
As I recall, JTA does not have Member Alternates, in case the appointed member cannot attend. That said, does anyone from FDOT attend the JTA Board meetings? The logical ones would be from among those who attend NFTPO meetings. It doesn't look like JTA posts meeting minutes, just agendas.
Speaking of JTA board meetings, they are holding one tomorrow (https://www.jtafla.com/news-events-media/jta-board-meetings/notice-jacksonville-transportation-authority-board-of-directors-on-october-31-2024/) at the JRTC. Those wishing to speak during public comment must email or call in a request before 5pm today.