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CEO Nat Ford's departure is an opportunity to rethink what works and retire what doesn't.
Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/let-s-get-back-to-the-basics-at-jta/
Great stuff, Marcus! Hope it gets in front of the right folks.
Excellent analysis of what JTA needs to do.
Providing frequent and reliable service is the key to maintaining, and increasing, ridership. Keeping the fare reasonable is also important, but if the buses are an hour apart (like they will be on the majority of routes after the service cuts), and arrive to the bus stops later than the published schedule - or worse earlier than scheduled - it doesn't matter how low the fare is. There is a share of the community that has no other choice than transit, but you won't get "choice" riders, those who will leave their car at home, or a convenient parking lot, to ride the bus.
Having routes that go where people want to go is also important. Something that gets more difficult as the region (city) becomes more and more dispersed.
Oh, and JTA needs to stop lying to the people that the Flyer service is "Bus Rapid Transit." It is not. JTA had several "Express Flyer" routes as far back as the late 1970s/early 80s, that served park-and-ride lots (mostly in shopping centers), and provided limited stop service to downtown. The modern iteration seems to have better amenities at bus stops, and service isn't limited to the morning and evening peak hours. Otherwise, it runs in mixed traffic just like all the other bus routes.
Excellent overview of JTA today and going forward.
Charles, good points.
At the end of the article, the last heading mentioned "regional transit." So, what monies does JTA get from the surrounding counties to extend bus or rail transit to them? If not now, what could be going forward? Especially, since the surrounding counties now have representation on JTA's board.
Just like master planning needed for Downtown, where is a master plan for the multi-county region? Does the North Florida TPO have one? Is it current?
I will say, if JTA can't even run an adequate bus system in Duval County, I don't know how they could go beyond that. Running a decent bus system should be pretty basic after about a 100 years or so of them being around. As noted elsewhere, it comes down to a diversion of resources for U2C, the Skyway and, in prior decades, road building. Buses have been relegated to the bottom of JTA's mission... only getting lip service. Truly abominable for a MASS transit agency.
I would suggest the new JTA CEO fix the bus system out of the starting gate to build some credibility and get back on mission. Abandon U2C immediately and deal with the Skyway options after buses are fixed given buses are needed much more than the Skyway. Then, move on to various rail solutions which clearly will require regional partnerships and new funding sources.
One more point: The JTA CEO needs to be tied at the hip with Downtown master planning. MASS transit is key to a successful urban district but you would never know that in Jacksonville today.
Thanks for the kind words! Some notes on what's been said:
Quote from: Charles Hunter on July 23, 2026, 10:20:49 PMOh, and JTA needs to stop lying to the people that the Flyer service is "Bus Rapid Transit." It is not. JTA had several "Express Flyer" routes as far back as the late 1970s/early 80s, that served park-and-ride lots (mostly in shopping centers), and provided limited stop service to downtown. The modern iteration seems to have better amenities at bus stops, and service isn't limited to the morning and evening peak hours. Otherwise, it runs in mixed traffic just like all the other bus routes.
I think it gets harder to seriously claim that the Flyer is BRT when frequency is degraded, especially if it is meant to be the core of the transit system. It isn't unreasonable, given where Florida is from a transit standpoint, to consider those routes of that category (look at how PSTA's Spark service was forcibly downgraded from dedicated lanes like SunRunner to something much more akin to the Flyer, or how SunRunner itself has lost portions of dedicated lanes by state mandate), and I think certain platforms like the Transit App do a good job of discerning those core lines, but it should be paramount to show commitment to the $140 million investment made in building out that network.
I suspect it would be controversial but I'd prefer to see a push to move some local routes out of downtown (using Flyer lines at their
promised frequencies to make those connections into the urban core) over degrading
all of the routes at their current distributions or cutting certain routes outright. There might also be room to consider consolidating Flyer lines with their express versions to preserve overall frequencies.
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on July 23, 2026, 11:53:05 PMAt the end of the article, the last heading mentioned "regional transit." So, what monies does JTA get from the surrounding counties to extend bus or rail transit to them? If not now, what could be going forward? Especially, since the surrounding counties now have representation on JTA's board.
Just like master planning needed for Downtown, where is a master plan for the multi-county region? Does the North Florida TPO have one? Is it current?
I will say, if JTA can't even run an adequate bus system in Duval County, I don't know how they could go beyond that. Running a decent bus system should be pretty basic after about a 100 years or so of them being around. As noted elsewhere, it comes down to a diversion of resources for U2C, the Skyway and, in prior decades, road building. Buses have been relegated to the bottom of JTA's mission... only getting lip service. Truly abominable for a MASS transit agency.
As I noted over the past year or so, it was a serious misstep on the state's part to automatically extend JTA board membership to the counties surrounding Jacksonville without requiring some sort of long-term financial commitment, akin to Duval County's sales tax for JTA or Pinellas County's property tax for PSTA. But what's done is done there. On the bright side, two out of three of those surrounding counties have already effectively surrendered responsibility for the most barebones transit service to JTA anyway, but obviously building a larger regional system will demand a larger commitment, especially if that might come in the form of much better bus services or even rail. The possibility that public services overall might be kneecapped by voters in November adds some complexity to that.
I don't anticipate being placed in a position to make those decisions on how service should operate in surrounding counties, but it's certainly worth keeping in mind that the Express Select system, barebones as it is, does exist, and finding ways to expand on that, or make reasonable extensions of routes that already near those areas, is a potential path forward. That will require some creativity on JTA and the county's part to make those services fast and useful, but it's certainly not impossible if the political desire is there, especially as regional growth and congestion continues.
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on July 23, 2026, 11:53:05 PMI would suggest the new JTA CEO fix the bus system out of the starting gate to build some credibility and get back on mission. Abandon U2C immediately and deal with the Skyway options after buses are fixed given buses are needed much more than the Skyway. Then, move on to various rail solutions which clearly will require regional partnerships and new funding sources.
From what I'm presently aware of as to JTA's current condition, the first step is going to be figuring out what money exists right now to operate the bus system. The board's approved cuts are assuming that sales tax revenue will be low next year. Doing everything possible to encourage economic activity in Duval County will make a difference in what transit service is available. Things like pushing to finally allow redevelopment around transit stations without careful hand-holding by JTA will matter because sales taxes from purchases made in service of that can be reinvested into better transit.
As I discuss in the editorial, using available bonding authority for approved LOGT projects to make bus service more efficient as soon as possible will also be key. Every possible avenue to push for things like reducing dwell times or consolidating stops or getting buses through intersections faster can make a difference for what every dollar is buying in service.
Similarly, U2C's future is ultimately a question of how the money available to JTA can be stretched to both wind down that program (assuming that course of action is agreed upon) to the extent desired and (provided Council approval if that is needed) make the key investments in fixing the Skyway and planning for its longer-term future happen as soon as possible. I've said before that I think there is promise in the underlying technology for transit purposes, in the right regional context that genuinely enhances mobility, but the philosophy beneath the specific form U2C has taken has clearly proven undesirable and unnecessary in the broader transportation environment, and we should not throw good money after bad if we can help it. If that's agreed upon, then getting Beatty-Beep out of their contract, finding good adaptive reuses for the AIC and other assets, and moving forward with solutions that work at scale should be a clear Year One objective for JTA's future leadership.
On a broader note, as I point out early in this piece and have said to others, I don't want this to be about dancing on graves. In his long tenure, Nat Ford had some real accomplishments. The Flyer existing at all, the JRTC coming to life in a more reasonable form than earlier concepts, LOGT expanding and giving the next CEO some options as to future plans. These are genuine victories for mass transit on the First Coast. The places where Ford fell short are serious, and in my opinion grave errors in judgment, but that does not invalidate the good things he's done, and given the grace he's been allowed by our leaders, ultimately can't be an excuse to not do better in the future. This piece is about laying out the things future JTA leadership
needs to be thinking about for the greatest chance of success, and hopefully nudging whoever that will be in the right direction to make those things happen.
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on July 23, 2026, 11:53:05 PMExcellent overview of JTA today and going forward.
Charles, good points.
At the end of the article, the last heading mentioned "regional transit." So, what monies does JTA get from the surrounding counties to extend bus or rail transit to them? If not now, what could be going forward? Especially, since the surrounding counties now have representation on JTA's board.
Just like master planning needed for Downtown, where is a master plan for the multi-county region? Does the North Florida TPO have one? Is it current?
...
One more point: The JTA CEO needs to be tied at the hip with Downtown master planning. MASS transit is key to a successful urban district but you would never know that in Jacksonville today.
Yes, the North Florida TPO does have a regional transportation plan - cleverly called the Long Range Transportation Plan, or, since government can't operate without acronyms: LRTP (https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/d59e12e6f4aa4442ae1fe4e5faee756d). The horizon year is 2050, it was adopted in November 2024, and is updated every five years. With the next update due by November 2029, the NFTPO will probably start working on it in the second half of next year.
When developing the Long Range Plan, the NFTPO typically takes the plans of the JTA (and JAA and JaxPort) and inserts them into the LRTP as-is.
On your last point - coordination with downtown master planning - a huge YES. Of course, the first step is for there to be downtown master planning. Historically, this has always been a problem. Back in the 1970s, when JTA was developing a downtown bus circulator system with parking lots on the fringes of downtown - the Downtown Development Authority (precursor to the DIA) and City were permitting and building parking garages in the core.
Quote from: marcusnelsonI suspect it would be controversial but I'd prefer to see a push to move some local routes out of downtown (using Flyer lines at their promised frequencies to make those connections into the urban core) over degrading all of the routes at their current distributions or cutting certain routes outright. There might also be room to consider consolidating Flyer lines with their express versions to preserve overall frequencies.
The original concept of the Skyway was to intercept cars with parking garages, and transfer bus passengers at the end stations, to reduce the numbers of cars and buses in the core. This would have allowed improved frequencies on the bus routes, since they wouldn't be spending time traveling at 5 - 10 mph in the core (or allow providing the same service with fewer buses - and drivers).
^ Right, and while the Skyway might not necessarily achieve all of that as-is right now (on this note, it appears JTA is running the Southbank Line of the Skyway as a bus bridge (https://www.jtafla.com/media-center/service-alerts/modified-skyway-service/) right now), I think it's possible to find ways to maintain frequencies by reducing the amount of crossover on routes.
For example, the First Coast Flyer's Red Line crosses the Mathews Bridge to reach Arlington, but so does Route 10, which per the 10's schedule takes twenty minutes between Rosa Parks and Regency! It might be worth examining the feasibility of truncating Route 10 at Regency Square so that it can provide higher frequency service between there and the Beaches, while riders can transfer to the Flyer to reach Downtown and beyond. Maybe they don't trust themselves to reliably support those connections, or riders feel like they'll risk a missed trip and ruin their travel, but those are problems that be solved with operational discipline and (where possible) improved infrastructure.
^ What the transit industry calls "forced transfers" can work if the agency does everything right. This includes (in no particular order, using the marcusnelson example, but they are general princples)
1. No fare penalty for having to change vehicles. If it currently costs $2.00 to make the trip to downtown on the #10 route, it should still cost $2.00 if the passenger is required to change buses at Regency.
2. Schedule design and schedule adherence become much more important. (In the morning) You don't want the #10 bus arriving at Regency just after the Flyer bus has already left for downtown. It isn't as critical if the Flyer has very short headway (time between buses), but if the wait is more than 10 minutes, people get antsy. Assuming the #10 route runs less frequently than the Flyer, it would likely be scheduled to arrive at Regency shortly before the Flyer arrives, wait at the station ("dwell"), and not leave until after the Flyer arrives, so passengers can transfer from one bus to the other. [bus nerd alert] The best way to do this to facilitate low-wait-time transfers, is to have the feeder route (#10) headways a multiple of the trunk route (Flyer) headway. If the Flyer has 10 minutes between buses, the #10 could be scheduled every 20 or 30 minutes.
It's not rocket science ... it's Bus Science!
Good stuff Marcus.
I'll put a motion on the floor for the new JTA Director to bring Marcus in for a public policy/public affairs type role...assuming he would be open to it.
More JTA executives are heading for the exits. Chief Administrative Officer Cleveland Ferguson is a finalist for the top job at MARTA in Atlanta, to be decided this Thursday.
https://itsmarta.com/board-conducts-final-interviews.aspx
If I recall, the captain of the Titantic went down with the ship. That's definitely not whats happening with JTA.
Head for the obvious iceberg, eating steak and shrimp while ignoring the warnings.
Hit it head on, take the couple of available lifeboat and leave the passengers (Jax taxpayers) to sink with the rust bucket they assembled.
Not surprised though. This was predicted years ago.
Quote from: marcuscnelson on August 11, 2026, 02:27:47 PMMore JTA executives are heading for the exits. Chief Administrative Officer Cleveland Ferguson is a finalist for the top job at MARTA in Atlanta, to be decided this Thursday.
https://itsmarta.com/board-conducts-final-interviews.aspx
I don't understand why any "mass transit" executive would not want to lead the world-beating GOAT AV transit project, NAVI/U2C. These guys are crazy to leave this one-of-a-kind opportunity to rise to the pinnacle of their profession. Shocking!
Honestly, I worry that Deegan should have been more forceful about this whole situation earlier on. Yes, you can say that JEA is an independent authority, but you can say the same about JEA.
I think the JEA fiasco contributed to Daniel Davis' loss to Deegan since it was the same group behind both Curry and Davis. Now granted, Curry was WAY more in the weeds of JEA then Deegan is at JTA, but it's oddly similar.
I hope this doesn't happen as I do think Deegan is doing a good job overall (no leader is perfect), but it's oddly similar.
Side note - if you're Dallas or Atlanta, two cities with significantly larger transit systems featuring legit rail transit, what pat of looking to a leader at JEA is appealing to you?
Quote from: Steve on August 12, 2026, 08:28:21 AMSide note - if you're Dallas or Atlanta, two cities with significantly larger transit systems featuring legit rail transit, what pat of looking to a leader at JTA is appealing to you?
I doubt Ferguson is a serious candidate for Marta. I speculate that he's either a token finalist so that they can promote the in house guy, or it's a favor to someone to get him credibility for him to get the JTA role permanently. Or combo of both.
The Marta in house guy has no experience as head of an agency, and somehow one of the largest transit agency's in the US has two other finalists with no experience either. That's puzzling. It's a win-win for everyone though. The in house guy gets job and Ferguson is happy to have his name floated for a big job.
New article in the Times-Union on Ford's departure and what he's leaving behind.
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2026/08/13/nat-ford-leaves-jta-with-big-decisions-on-expanding-autonomous-transit/91125872007/
Quote from: CityLife on August 12, 2026, 08:59:56 AMQuote from: Steve on August 12, 2026, 08:28:21 AMSide note - if you're Dallas or Atlanta, two cities with significantly larger transit systems featuring legit rail transit, what pat of looking to a leader at JTA is appealing to you?
I doubt Ferguson is a serious candidate for Marta. I speculate that he's either a token finalist so that they can promote the in house guy, or it's a favor to someone to get him credibility for him to get the JTA role permanently. Or combo of both.
The Marta in house guy has no experience as head of an agency, and somehow one of the largest transit agency's in the US has two other finalists with no experience either. That's puzzling. It's a win-win for everyone though. The in house guy gets job and Ferguson is happy to have his name floated for a big job.
Just checked into MARTA's board meeting today (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7Mp4l5GK0Q) and it does in fact sound like this is what played out.
It is my understanding that the next round of JTA public meetings will include cost estimates for each of the alternatives. Also, in response to public interest (including MetroJax?), they will include a "traditional streetcar" service as a new alternative.
^Updates on both of the above:
Ferguson is indeed the JTA Board's pick to be Interim CEO, and in the Daily Record article below he expresses interest in being their final pick.
https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2026/aug/27/cleveland-ferguson-to-serve-as-interim-jta-ceo/
The discussion on those new Skyway public meetings with cost estimates is over in this thread (https://forum.metrojacksonville.com/index.php/topic,38385.msg537991/topicseen.html#new).
Dude, Ferguson could be the second coming of Jesus. They need to pick an outsider.
I second that. They need an outsider. Half the board needs to go as well. Its time for a fresh start. They should can the Skyway meetings altogether until leadership and direction is fleshed out.
Looks like there's more cuts coming at JTA - and it may include the NAVI!
From Action News
QuoteSources: JTA planning sweeping layoffs, major project changes, funding shift due to financial issues
Action News Jax has learned that the Jacksonville Transportation Authority is prepared to take drastic action to get out of a financial hole, including widespread layoffs to address mounting financial troubles.
Multiple sources familiar with the plans tell Action News Jax Ben Becker the overhaul will not only include significant layoffs, but possible pauses to high-profile projects, and a request for emergency financial relief from the Jacksonville City Council.
The sources told Action News Jax that employees at multiple levels within JTA will be impacted, from executives to bus drivers.
Sources also say the authority is considering slamming the brakes on its NAVI autonomous vehicle program, while proposals to upgrade or retrofit the Skyway remain up in the air.
In addition, JTA officials are expected to seek emergency legislation from the City Council that would allow the authority to redirect tens of millions of dollars in local option gas tax revenue.
Those funds were originally intended for transportation projects, including the Navi, Skyway improvements, and portions of the Emerald Trail. Redirecting them now would help stabilize JTA's finances and balance its books.
https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/sources-jta-planning-sweeping-layoffs-major-project-changes-funding-shift/4DO75BAPEFH3REXHZJMV2T5YS4/
^ Nat Ford had to know this was coming and, as predicted, is jumping ship literally before the bills come due for his mismanagement. None of this happened overnight to this degree. JTA management had to see it coming and appears to have been less than transparent (I am being kind here) to keep it from coming out until after Ford's announced departure and securing his next job.
I say scrap/mothball the little used, inefficient and disproportionately money draining NAVI
AND SKYWAY immediately and get back to basics, i.e. get the bus system operating as a good bus system should. Once done, JTA can revert back to what's next, beyond buses.
For now, JTA has zero credibility to ask for money for anything else or new.
The silver lining of the deficits is it is shaking out the poor management and killing projects that should have been killed off or never started long ago.
Looking forward to a more disciplined, focused and transparent JTA after this "scandal" plays out, following in the footsteps of Zahn's fiasco at JEA. All predicted here ;D .
D day!
QuoteJTA is expected to announce the changes it's making on Thursday.
Not a dime should come out of the local options gas tax to bail out JTA or offset their moronic operating losses, particularly not funds set aside for the Emerald Trail.
The City Council needs to make that a hard line.
Just an absolute disgrace, JTA has become.
I'm fine with them taking LOGT NAVI money to keep existing transit services.
I agree, redirect NAVI/U2C money to bus service.
I also agree, no Emerald Trail money for bus service, keep it on the Trail.
Skyway, my initial thought is to continue operating and necessary maintenance expenses where they are. But, if the gaping hole is deep enough, I could support temporarily suspending service, if it would make money available to get through this emergency.
In the meantime, have the Skyway PD&E prepare their final report. Pay them. Put the study on the shelf.
As I said when the January service cuts and the October fare increases were announced, those actions are typical of a transit agency in a death spiral. Deficits increasing. Raise fares / cut service. Lose more riders and deficits grow even more. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
Perhaps the Florida Attorney General or Chief Financial Officer - who love to get involved in local government - would be interested in poking around JTA's financial decisions over the last decade, and whether management staff has been transparent in their reports to Board and City Council.
I hope JTA can entice a CEO with a record of saving failing systems.
This is reckless financial mismanagement. I haven't done a deep dive on it, but will try to simplify the issues based on some quick research.
Public Agencies, counties, and cities typically have a requirement (or policy goal) for how much cash to keep in reserve relative to operating expenses. JTA had historically maintained a goal to keep a 25% reserve. In 2024 this was reduced from 25% to 20%. JTA then drew almost $20 million from reserves in FY 2025 to cover budget deficits. We are now in FY 2026 and JTA has projected cost overruns of $32.8 million, along with $22 million in outstanding bills. The agency only has cash on hand for 59 days of operations. That means they are below the 20% reserve goal that was already reduced in 2024. My estimation is that they are now at only 16.2% reserves.
Having to get a $40 million credit line is really troubling.
This isn't just on Nat Ford either. The JTA Board and City Council both have oversight over JTA's budget, and the Mayors administration has some review of the JTA review through the Mayor's Budget Review Committee. The Mayor also appoints 3 of the 7 JTA Board Members. Mayor Deegan has had two appointments on the JTA Board at all times dating back to 2023. The third Mayoral appointee, Aundra Wallace is a Curry appointee. All three of the Mayors appointees are in leadership positions: Wallace as Chair, Patricia Sams as Vice Chair, and Elaine Brown as Treasurer. Interestingly, a former Deegan mayoral appointee Megan Hayward was replaced in 2025 after calling into questions issues of JTA's management.
Like many of you, I've been very critical of Nat Ford in past, but this runs much deeper. Hopefully it is not too late to right the ship.
Yes, its a much bigger problem than Nat Ford. He's staff. Just a face at the end of the day. It's hard to trust any type of real or transformational system improvement happening without first cleaning house.
Talking stuff like autonomous vehicles, LRT, streetcar, etc. (e.g. this Skyway PD&E) is a waste of time and money if we're expecting those responsible for today's holes to be in charge of planning and implementation.
150 layoffs. Skyway and NAVI being mothballed.
^ Wow.
https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/jacksonville-transportation-authority-suspending-skyway-navi-budget-cuts-2027/77-43f6e5b3-32f9-45d3-bac1-f59a4141a631
Just a catastrophe for mass transit in North Florida. I'm not sure what else to say yet.
https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/jacksonville-transportation-authority-suspending-skyway-navi-budget-cuts-2027/77-43f6e5b3-32f9-45d3-bac1-f59a4141a631
Quote from: thelakelander on September 17, 2026, 02:44:18 PMYes, its a much bigger problem than Nat Ford. He's staff. Just a face at the end of the day. It's hard to trust any type of real or transformational system improvement happening without first cleaning house.
Talking stuff like autonomous vehicles, LRT, streetcar, etc. (e.g. this Skyway PD&E) is a waste of time and money if we're expecting those responsible for today's holes to be in charge of planning and implementation.
Yes, there's plenty of blame to share on this; and plenty of heads to roll (or at least be told to find work, or appointed position, elsewhere) Perhaps the state does need to get involved. JTA
is a state agency.
(I was just about to post the FCN link myself, but got a warning there were 2 new posts - and I reviewed them!)
So here's News4Jax - https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2026/09/17/jta-to-cut-39-million-from-fy-2027-budget-suspend-skyway-service-in-november/
QuoteNavi service will be paused Jan. 1, 2027. Ferguson said the autonomous vehicles will revert to manual operation because software used by the private-sector provider is set to expire. The change is expected to save about $487,000 per month.
So, the software costs nearly half-a-million a month? How much more could they save by eliminating the service altogether? With the absurdly low ridership, those dollars could be better spent on real bus service.
You can feel the death spiral coming. A $2.9 million surplus becomes a $30 million deficit in the span of one quarter. $22 million in unpaid, delinquent bills. An emergency $40 million line of credit. Fare reductions mixed with a 15% decline in ridership. Cash reserves that used to generate annual interest revenue for the JTA reduced to just 59-days in operating reserves. Sales tax allocations dropping. And now, weekday service is moving to a Saturday schedule.
I genuinely think the Skyway is dead forever. No retrofit. No rehab. No goofy walking trail. I think it just quietly crumbles for 10+ years while we study alternatives to death without the cash to fund any of it. I also think Navi is effectively dead.
Massive bummer. Could see the gas tax being an insane lightning rod in coming months, as JTA attempts to funnel dollars that were intended to fund capital projects into salaries for their staff.
Seems like the federal payback boogieman we've heard so much about may indeed be hokum if JTA can shut the Skyway down so quickly and project to save money near term by doing so.
Quote from: Ken_FSU on September 17, 2026, 04:50:01 PMCould see the gas tax being an insane lightning rod in coming months, as JTA attempts to funnel dollars that were intended to fund capital projects into salaries for their staff.
As it should be. The "defined project list" for JTA was a key component of selling the value proposition to the public, and it now appears the largest line items on that list will not come to fruition despite the tax remaining in place.
It's a completely predictable embarrassment that undermines faith in our entire local government. The timing certainly isn't good in the context of Amendment 3 and renewing the school mill, either.
Quote from: thelakelander on September 17, 2026, 02:44:18 PMYes, its a much bigger problem than Nat Ford. He's staff. Just a face at the end of the day. It's hard to trust any type of real or transformational system improvement happening without first cleaning house.
Talking stuff like autonomous vehicles, LRT, streetcar, etc. (e.g. this Skyway PD&E) is a waste of time and money if we're expecting those responsible for today's holes to be in charge of planning and implementation.
I think the vast majority of blame falls on Ford, personally. People trusted his vision, connections, and confidence and/or kept quiet because of his good standing in the community. He hired staff that aligned with his priorities. Sure, the board and those who appoint the board deserve scrutiny too - but those are volunteer roles ultimately.
QuotePeople trusted his vision, connections, and confidence and/or kept quiet because of his good standing in the community.
I can't blame him for this part. This has been a long time problem in Jacksonville. From day one, the autonomous vehicle stuff was silly and Ford sounded more like a fool when he tried selling me on it. No one over there could answer any basic technical question or give him some solid talking points there. We're all adults, so we have to hold ourselves accountable.
Quote from: jaxoNOLE on September 17, 2026, 05:25:23 PMSeems like the federal payback boogieman we've heard so much about may indeed be hokum if JTA can shut the Skyway down so quickly and project to save money near term by doing so.
I wouldn't say this is the case. The FTA doesn't instantly show up at your door, but they
will get around to you if a year or two passes without a clear path to reopening whatever they paid for. St. Louis' Loop Trolley is a recent example of this:
https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2021-12-27/feds-to-region-get-loop-trolley-running-again-or-pay-us-back
You can even read the letter explaining their demands:
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21170228-loop-trolley-federal-obligation-to-operate-letter-122721/
In the end, the regional transit agency in St. Louis took over that trolley and reopened it, satisfying the FTA.
In the case of JTA, they would likely cite the 1990s grant awards that expanded and converted the Skyway to its current length and technology (not necessarily the original demonstration project grant from the 80s, though they perhaps could include it anyway) and then of course the 2018 BUILD grant for NAVI.
If I were Ferguson right now, I think I'd bin NAVI (obviously), find ways to reuse the assets, give the feds their $12.5 million back so we can all wash our hands of it, and then look at the cheaper Skyway rehab alternative Ennis found in that new Lea+Elliott study (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eIEDwf7BeI4kBNZOcK0PM-0HIXvOfvT6/view?usp=sharing) since being under construction both pushes worrying about operating costs a little further down the line and officially (hopefully) frees JTA to reallocate the remaining U2C funds from the LOGT to the bus improvements I mentioned in this thread's article.
I understand some here disagree, but that this unreplicable guideway already ties the billions in public and private investment between Pearl Square and the UF campus together, with the possibility of continued infill between them and (bear with me) accessing Brooklyn and the Sports Complex
without being stuck in traffic like NAVI or a streetcar is enough benefit to justify that cost over the emotional value of tearing down that guideway and believing we'll spend a billion or more dollars to build another one from scratch later. That Gateway Jax even commissioned this study of their own volition says something to me.
^Apparently these talks are underway on the Skyway, if JTA is to be believed.
QuoteCity and JTA leaders have expressed concerns over the years that stopping Skyway operations, which has long struggled with ridership, and tearing down the infrastructure would result in the federal government recalling the roughly $90 million in grants used to build it.
Ferguson says JTA wrote to the Federal Department of Transportation in February to start talks about the Skyway's remaining useful life, and he says the pause will not trigger any financial clawback.
Full article: https://jaxtoday.org/2026/09/17/jta-layoffs-bus-service-skyway-navi/
What people don't talk about as frequently, but has definitely caught the ire of the feds over the last two years, is the First Coast Flyer. We took close to $90 million for a BRT-lite system, with promised headways of 10-minutes. The Flyer is now running headways of 20-minutes on a good day. It ain't gonna be pretty if we don't fix that.
I really think that between the Skyway, First Coast Flyer, and Navi, it's going to be very hard for Jacksonville to get transportation grants moving forward.
I agree. JTA is a clusterfuck. We're going to have to learn how to do more with less. So whatever we have, we better learn to work with and improve it or find billions in local money for the next gimmick.
Btw, what does it actually cost to operate NAVI on Bay Street? This article mentions saving $10 million on the Skyway operation for the fiscal year but refers to saving $487k per month on NAVI by letting humans drive those camper vans. Thats nearly $6 million. It sounds like NAVI cost more to operate than the Skyway....
^ Overall the problem I find here is that JTA's overall financial picture is not especially clear, and that seems to be having major consequences. Obviously they've been submitting budget documents that all involved have claimed to be happy with, but we're at a point where those documents somehow failed to reflect the underling condition of the agency. I'm not sure we totally know exactly how much JTA has received or spent on its major projects, between the First Coast Flyer itself, JRTC, U2C (beyond and including the Bay Street Corridor), and whatever other things like MobilityWorks and the various bond issues. I would certainly have questions for the previous CFOs and perhaps other executives on how exactly we got here. Those have to be answered to build the kind of confidence thats going to be needed to actually deliver better mass transit in this region. Unless, of course, everyone in charge wants to agree to once again blow millions of taxpayer dollars on something of questionable value to the public vs to JTA executives' resumes.
On the specific question, my understanding was that JTA signed a 5-year contract with Beep valued at "up to" $36.3 million, up to $7.26 million per year. $487k a month comes out to $5.84 million a year, so I'm not sure if that larger number includes extra service hours that JTA has been previously foregoing or something else.
Quote from: Ken_FSU on September 17, 2026, 08:09:39 PMWhat people don't talk about as frequently, but has definitely caught the ire of the feds over the last two years, is the First Coast Flyer. We took close to $90 million for a BRT-lite system, with promised headways of 10-minutes. The Flyer is now running headways of 20-minutes on a good day. It ain't gonna be pretty if we don't fix that.
I really think that between the Skyway, First Coast Flyer, and Navi, it's going to be very hard for Jacksonville to get transportation grants moving forward.
We did manage to finally deliver the promised frequencies on the full Flyer system for about a year, from ~early 2025 to earlier this year when the present circumstances became public, so at least the clock has somewhat just started. But I think the Flyer's performance in general probably begs some questions about the decisions JTA made on that system as opposed to how a lot of other cities our size have chosen to go about having BRT. As I say in the article, it'd be smart to take some of the LOGT money and really try to improve the infrastructure to reduce the operating costs, or maybe at least try to standardize around something like a 15-minute all-day frequency the way something like SunRunner does, but that probably demands serious leadership at JTA that won't want to run off on flights of fancy like U2C again. I'm not immediately sure how we convince local leadership to be okay with that.
Quote from: Ken_FSU on September 17, 2026, 08:09:39 PM^Apparently these talks are underway on the Skyway, if JTA is to be believed.
QuoteCity and JTA leaders have expressed concerns over the years that stopping Skyway operations, which has long struggled with ridership, and tearing down the infrastructure would result in the federal government recalling the roughly $90 million in grants used to build it.
Ferguson says JTA wrote to the Federal Department of Transportation in February to start talks about the Skyway's remaining useful life, and he says the pause will not trigger any financial clawback.
Full article: https://jaxtoday.org/2026/09/17/jta-layoffs-bus-service-skyway-navi/
What people don't talk about as frequently, but has definitely caught the ire of the feds over the last two years, is the First Coast Flyer. We took close to $90 million for a BRT-lite system, with promised headways of 10-minutes. The Flyer is now running headways of 20-minutes on a good day. It ain't gonna be pretty if we don't fix that.
I really think that between the Skyway, First Coast Flyer, and Navi, it's going to be very hard for Jacksonville to get transportation grants moving forward.
Biz Journal has a slightly different read:
QuoteThe existing Skyway also comes with federal obligations that complicate simply walking away from the system.
Ferguson said the infrastructure has approximately 15 years of useful life remaining, and accepting federal funding generally carries an expectation that the federally supported asset will remain in transportation use through that period.
JTA has previously said abandoning the Skyway before the end of its useful life could trigger federal repayment obligations.
"Either we're going to have a conversation with the feds about how we transfer that useful life to other federal assets," Ferguson said, "or other alternatives."
Time will tell but it seems like they want to abandon the Skyway and force the NAVI experiment hell or high water. That's been the motto for the last decade. Nothing mentioned today changes that direction.
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on September 16, 2026, 11:38:35 PM^ Nat Ford had to know this was coming and, as predicted, is jumping ship literally before the bills come due for his mismanagement. None of this happened overnight to this degree. JTA management had to see it coming and appears to have been less than transparent (I am being kind here) to keep it from coming out until after Ford's announced departure and securing his next job.
I say scrap/mothball the little used, inefficient and disproportionately money draining NAVI AND SKYWAY immediately and get back to basics, i.e. get the bus system operating as a good bus system should. Once done, JTA can revert back to what's next, beyond buses.
For now, JTA has zero credibility to ask for money for anything else or new.
The silver lining of the deficits is it is shaking out the poor management and killing projects that should have been killed off or never started long ago.
Looking forward to a more disciplined, focused and transparent JTA after this "scandal" plays out, following in the footsteps of Zahn's fiasco at JEA. All predicted here ;D .
D day!
QuoteJTA is expected to announce the changes it's making on Thursday.
The spirit of my former post above aligns with today's announcement.
I don't want to say I told you so, but I will ;D .
I have consistently said BOTH NAVI and the Skyway made very poor uses of taxpayer dollars for what they delivered or, actually, NOT delivered.
I have said the Skyway, and now the addition of NAVI, would give mass transit initiatives a black eye making future mass transit initiatives difficult to implement. You can imagine what the politics will be after today.
I predicted a big scandal at JTA would develop around Nat Ford, the JTA Board & Co. It has now arrived.
I preached that the bus system running robustly should be the #1 priority for JTA before they moved on to anything else.
I questioned the payback to the Feds being that big of deal and whether, if it even needs to happen, that it might be far cheaper than running the Skyway into the future. If cutting the Skyway saves $10 million/year for 15 years (that's $150 million) vs. paying less than $15 million in penalties to abandon it is the choice, any sane person would kill the Skyway given its poor history to boot. And, here we are.
Pretty much batting a thousand here. Sorry that I was on point so much because it will harm the taxpayers and mass transit in Jacksonville for years to come. If only people would make decisions rationally and with common sense, not based on special or self interests, laziness and/or making political points.
Quote"Number two, program our core mission. We're prioritizing the essential services our community depends on while being most responsible stewards of taxpayers' dollars. And third, stabilizing today to restore tomorrow. The faster we get back on strong financial footing, the sooner we can reinstate the service level our community needs and expects."
https://jaxtoday.org/2026/09/17/jta-layoffs-bus-service-skyway-navi/
Here are some more comments and quotes to pile on:
All quotes below at: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2026/sep/17/jta-reducing-more-services-laying-off-employees-to-address-further-budget-concerns/This is JTA board malpractice:
Quote"JTA's board was not previously aware of the dire nature of the agency's financial situation," spokesperson Phil Perry wrote. "We became aware as they did. As we all move forward, there must be a collective effort to learn from the past with an eye toward ensuring world class public transit in the future."
This quote appears to clarify a total shutdown of NAVI on January 1:
QuoteIn addition, the authority said it will suspend service on the Downtown Skyway tram beginning Nov. 2, a move designed to save $10 million. JTA also plans to save $5.84 million by suspending Downtown Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation service beginning Jan. 1.
The authority will reduce service on many of its bus routes to Saturday levels in coming weeks.
JTA said the suspension of Skyway and NAVI service would be indefinite. It did not say what it would save from the layoffs and frequency reductions.
More evidence that the payback to the Feds was a red herring. JTA can't even give a number for discussion purposes so how could the say it was so menacing?
QuoteA grant to the city by the federal government required that the Skyway run for its full lifespan, though what is considered the "full lifespan" is not dictated. JTA is also not certain how much it would owe the federal government should it shut down the Skyway before that lifespan is complete, although Ferguson said the authority had been having conversations with the federal government to determine that.
Whoa! Here is a new angle for the Skyway:
QuoteFerguson said one of those options was to allow the private sector to operate the Skyway as a toll road, and said JTA had already received an unsolicited bid from a private construction company to convert the Skyway into a roadway.
And, then there is Holon. Looking mighty iffy.
QuoteHolon said it still planned to move forward with the plant in 2026 but has not announced a new groundbreaking date.
The following quotes at: https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/jta-announces-nearly-200-layoffs-major-service-cuts-agency-works-close-39-million-budget-gap/6PH35QX55FECFKABUDUCKCEZCA/
JTA Interim CEO Cleveland Ferguson III explained how the agency envisions using those funds.
Quote"To pay down the debt as well as the severance packages that will be offered to our employees over these next couple of weeks," said Ferguson.
OK, then what would you call claiming a balanced budget or better to a 20%+ deficit in less than 6 months?
QuoteWe asked Ferguson whether he believes JTA's financial problems amount to mismanagement and whether he takes any responsibility as a member of leadership.
He rejected that characterization.
"No, this is not a case of mismanagement at all," he said....
....When asked how JTA got into its current financial situation, Ferguson said the agency's money was spent in accordance with its budget.
"Well, the money is, from a budgetary perspective, is spent in accordance with the budget. That's been improved year over year, and we're really focused on stabilizing today and moving forward in the future," he said.
JTA board will now join the former JEA board in the "Worst Boards of All Time" Hall of Fame for laziness, incompetence, mismanagement, failure to execute fiduciary responsibilities and abusing the taxpayers' interests. Like JEA, the State Attorney needs to call for a Grand Jury investigation. Given Fed funds are involved, maybe the U.S. Attorney, too.
Many here warned that U2C could become an Achilles heal for an otherwise popular mayor. The below proves that point. Hope Deegan can find a politically savvy way out of this mess.
Quote'She's lying': Former JTA board member blasts Mayor; calls for criminal investigation into agency
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A former Jacksonville Transportation Authority board member is speaking out 18 months after being removed from the board by Mayor Donna Deegan, saying warnings she raised about the agency's finances and oversight were ignored.
Megan Hayward was ousted by Deegan in March 2025, after she repeatedly questioned how the agency was spending money.
" I wasn't taken seriously," Hayward said during an interview with Action News Jax Ben Becker, who first reported Wednesday about widespread layoffs and the fallout.
Hayward said she was the lone board member to raise concerns about spending, governance, and oversight at JTA, including NAVI, which is part of the agency's Ultimate Urban Circulator program, also known as U2C. The autonomous vehicle project became a signature initiative of former JTA CEO Nat Ford and cost tens of millions of dollars.
"He was given free rein, and I don't know why," Hayward said of Ford, who left for the CEO job with Dallas Area Rapid Transit. "There was a lot of hubris behind this. People knew this wouldn't work, especially on the executive team," Hayward said.
Now, as JTA deals with major layoffs and the shutdown of both the Skyway and the Navi, Hayward argues responsibility extends beyond agency leadership.
She criticized both Ford and Mayor Deegan, accusing them of allowing the agency's financial problems spiral out of control.
The comments come after the mayor's office released a statement Thursday saying JTA's board "was not previously aware of the dire nature of the agency's financial situation" and that the mayor's office became aware of the issues when the board did.
Hayward strongly disputed that claim.
"B.S. I say B.S.," Hayward said when asked about the statement.
She also believes her removal from the board was tied to her opposition to the U2C project.
"Because she[Deegan] knew I was going to vote off the U2C project, I'm assuming that's why she kicked me off. She's lying [in her statement]," Hayward said.
Hayward also blamed members of the City Council and her former colleagues on the JTA board for failing to act on concerns she said were raised long before the agency's recent financial crisis became public.
Ultimately, she believes there should be a criminal investigation.
"One thousand percent, yes. The state needs to investigate them, the feds need to investigate them, the Department of Transportation should investigate them," Hayward said. "There are serious questions and issues that I brought up a year and a half ago that have not been answered to this day."
"Mayor Deegan appointed Elaine Brown to the JTA Board because of her previous transportation experience and did so when it aligned with the onboarding of several other new board members. False claims from a disgruntled former board member will not change that fact."
Action News Jax reached out to the State Attorney's Office to ask whether it would consider opening a criminal investigation, and we are waiting to hear back.
https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/shes-lying-former-jta-board-member-blasts-mayor-calls-criminal-investigation-into-agency/2J72QOGI7BFPTMTRCEDGLKJN3Y/
^ the headline is sensational, but the former board member blames the entire city council and her fellow board members in that interview, as well.
Start the PR campaign now! Lol... been calling this for years now. She's cooked if this comes out fully. How do you turn a blind eye to this?
Quote from: fsu813 on September 18, 2026, 06:29:36 AM^ the headline is sensational, but the former board member blames the entire city council and her fellow board members in that interview, as well.
Unfortunately, I don't think that will be enough to cover for Deegan. Rory Diamond is already pouncing as predicted he would when this was sure to blow.
QuoteFormer JTA board member says she warned officials about agency's financial situation
Mayor Deegan said her office learned about the financial struggles at the same time the board did.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Reactions continued to pour in after the Jacksonville Transportation Authority announced plans to cut roughly 150 positions and reduce services as it works to trim $39 million from its budget.
A former JTA board member and some city leaders say the agency's financial struggles did not happen overnight and that warning signs were ignored.
Megan Hayward, who served on the JTA board for about a year and a half before she was removed, said she repeatedly questioned spending on projects including NAVI, the agency's autonomous vehicle program.
The project is scheduled to be temporarily halted Jan. 1.
"I looked at Donna before I left, and I said, if you guys do not take this seriously, this is going to be your JEA scandal. And here we are," Hayward said, referring to Mayor Donna Deegan.
Hayward said the cost of the NAVI project grew by more than $20 million beyond its original projection of about $250 million.
"It had ballooned already, like over $20 million from the original cost that had been projected," she said.
In her opinion, Hayward said, the spending reflected "complete ego and hubris" by Deegan and JTA's executive team.
"It could have been avoided if the NAVI project had been shut down sooner," Hayward said.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Deegan said JTA's board "was not previously aware of the dire nature of the agency's financial situation. We became aware as they did."
City Council member Rory Diamond also criticized the mayor on social media, writing: "Never forget, @MayorDeegan cheered as @JTAFLA was driven into a ditch."
Diamond said he and others had warned for years about problems at JTA.
"We've been screaming from the mountaintops for the last two years that there's huge problems over there, and the mayor removed a board member who's asking those very questions," Diamond said. "So, you can't pretend not to know what's going on and have done all that. It makes no sense. It's dishonest."
JTA riders are now questioning how the cuts could affect their commutes and access to transportation.
"When I heard about it, I was like, on social media scrolling through, I just couldn't believe it because I have to catch the bus every single day," rider Shacara Miller said. "And because of how late I get back and forth to the terminal, it's going to be kind of hard with all the budget cuts."
Hayward said the agency's financial crisis and the use of federal money warrant a criminal investigation.
"There needs to be. When you're talking about federal money, it's a big deal what happens," she said.
She also criticized the impact of the cuts on mechanics, bus drivers and other lower-paid employees.
"The people that cause these problems to happen aren't getting hit as hard," Hayward said. "It's really affecting the mechanics, the bus drivers, the lower-tiered employees."
Hayward said JTA's executive team prioritized its own salaries over the people who depend on the system.
Deegan said the city needs to learn from the past while working to ensure world-class public transportation in the future.
https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2026/09/18/former-jta-board-member-says-she-warned-officials-about-agencys-financial-situation-before-jta-staff-and-budget-cuts/
Quote from: Jax_Developer on September 18, 2026, 07:38:23 AMStart the PR campaign now! Lol... been calling this for years now. She's cooked if this comes out fully. How do you turn a blind eye to this?
well JTA is an independent authority
Quote from: tufsu1 on September 19, 2026, 08:28:29 PMQuote from: Jax_Developer on September 18, 2026, 07:38:23 AMStart the PR campaign now! Lol... been calling this for years now. She's cooked if this comes out fully. How do you turn a blind eye to this?
well JTA is an independent authority
That the mayor has exercised her board appointment power on to remove a NAVI skeptic. She has also publicly supported NAVI. She might not have the power to kill NAVI single-handedly, but she hasn't exercised good judgment within her area of influence either.
Quote from: tufsu1 on September 19, 2026, 08:28:29 PMQuote from: Jax_Developer on September 18, 2026, 07:38:23 AMStart the PR campaign now! Lol... been calling this for years now. She's cooked if this comes out fully. How do you turn a blind eye to this?
well JTA is an independent authority
Lol.
Quote from: tufsu1 on September 19, 2026, 08:28:29 PMQuote from: Jax_Developer on September 18, 2026, 07:38:23 AMStart the PR campaign now! Lol... been calling this for years now. She's cooked if this comes out fully. How do you turn a blind eye to this?
well JTA is an independent authority
While true....I'm pretty sure Curry tried that same argument with JEA a few years back. How did that go?
She may have been able to make that claim if it weren't for the board member that was pulled. That move might turn out to be a bad one.
^ Unlike JEA, the Governor also appoints board members to JTA. 1 out of X board members during Ford's tenure reported any concerns about finances. And the type of finance concerns she had were not the same as the issues presenting today, sans Navi. She was generally concerned about relatively small things like uneven employee education reimbursement, and inaccurate reporting of ridership numbers (which is a whole other potential issue).
I totally understand the superficial optics. Sometimes that's good enough to have a long shelf life, sometimes the context catches up to the story after time.
^ Regardless of the JTA board, if anyone on the City Council, Mayor's office or JTA board read the Jaxson, they could have seen this train/bus/Skyway/NAVI about to run over them ;D . If it was obvious to outsiders, it should have been more than obvious to leadership. Credit too, to Action News for also pointing out substantial cracks in the JTA foundation.
Blind love, politically, friendship or otherwise, in business is just plain unhealthy. One has to continuously hold management accountable for expenses being managed/reasonable/justified, revenue being protected/growing, the bottom line being optimized given mission and constraints, and that no one is misusing their position to run the ship aground. Thoughtful and feasible long term strategy/planning should also be expected.
It's not personal, its good business management 101. No one should be offended (e.g. I sense the Mayor and the JTA Board didn't want to take on Ford). If one is offended, that should invite even more scrutiny... after all, what are they afraid of revealing?
Based on the below, I would say both NAVI and the Skyway are cooked! No doubt, tough on the employees, but it's the right and only decision to be made. Sadly, the Skyway decision should have been made 40 years ago and the NAVI about 5 years ago. Better late than never.
The Financial Planning Manager is an obvious casualty unless he/she spoke up and no one would listen. Unfair in that case but they need a scapegoat, perhaps.
Quote....News4JAX obtained a list of more than 150 employees whose positions are being eliminated as part of JTA's restructuring. Positions eliminated Friday include
- Program Manager
- Chief Innovation Officer
- Director - Automation & Innovation
- Business Relations Administrator
- Financial Planning & Analysis Manager
Employees who worked with JTA's Skyway Line are also on the list. News4JAX witnessed the Skyway operating in downtown Jacksonville on Monday. Workers who oversaw JTA's Navi system are included as well. JTA says Navi will make its last run at the end of this year...
https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2026/09/21/hurt-and-blindsided-laid-off-jta-employee-says-employees-were-given-severance-packets-escorted-out-of-headquarters/