Gov. DeSantis makes two JTA appointments

[Steve]

https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/desantis-jta-board-appointments-were-essentially-firing-current-chair-sources-say/BD7RMUAU6VENTCRVZRMYKWCHKU/

[marcuscnelson]

A third appointment plus the FDOT District Secretary showing up to board meetings and voting would effectively give the state control over JTA, unless they require more than a majority vote. Whether they actually want to do something differently with that capability, I don't know.

[Charles Hunter]

A third appointment plus the FDOT District Secretary showing up to board meetings and voting would effectively give the state control over JTA, unless they require more than a majority vote. Whether they actually want to do something differently with that capability, I don't know.

The State having 3+1 votes has been the case for as long as the JTA has existed. Unless things have changed recently, split votes are very rare, so one 'appointer' having a majority hasn't been an issue.

[marcuscnelson]

My point is that things could be about to change.

[Charles Hunter]

My point is that things could be about to change.

It could happen. I wonder if they have any instructions, or had to have 'the right position' on certain issues (U2C, CEO, etc.)?

[Jrz Jax]

Our first opportunity to see what might be happening with the new board is the now-uncanceled February board meeting Thursday 2/27 at 2pm.

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) announces that the Board of Directors will meet on Thursday, February 27, 2025 in the Board Room on the third floor of the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center located at 100 LaVilla Center Drive, Jacksonville, Florida 32204 as follows:
2:00 pm Board Meeting
A virtual link will be posted to the JTA website with instructions by 5:00 pm on February 24, 2025.

As of yesterday, this was showing up as canceled. Not sure when the original cancelation was posted.

CANCELLATION NOTICE

JACKSONVILLE TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS BOARD MEETING
ON SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 27, 2024
IS CANCELLED

So ... things are changing already ??

[CityLife]

I'd be surprised if the U2C doesn't get in the crosshairs of the new Trump Administration. The new transportation secretary just announced, they are reviewing California's high speed rail debacle.

https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/us-transportation-secretary-duffy-announces-review-california-high-speed-rail-project

WASHINGTON – Today, at the direction of Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) initiated a review of the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA). This review will help determine whether roughly $4 billion in taxpayer money should remain committed to the proposed project to build high-speed rail in the California Central Valley between Merced and Bakersfield.

The entire San Francisco to Los Angeles project was initially supposed to be completed by 2020 and cost $33 billion. Today, the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment alone would cost more than the original total. The latest estimate for San Francisco to Los Angeles is $106 billion — more than three times the original cost estimate.

"For too long, taxpayers have subsidized the massively over-budget and delayed California High-Speed Rail project," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. "President Trump is right that this project is in dire need of an investigation. That is why I am directing my staff to review and determine whether the CHSRA has followed through on the commitments it made to receive billions of dollars in federal funding. If not, I will have to consider whether that money could be given to deserving infrastructure projects elsewhere in the United States."

The U2C isn't as high profile of a project, but have to think it will get on the radar at some point.

[CityLife]

Looks like the Trump admin may not even have to get involved. As stated earlier in the thread, it appears that DeSantis is intentionally shaking up the board. Remember that Buckland is the one with some of these ridiculous sound bites at the FSCJ autonomous shuttle launch last year:

"we see a lot of renderings here in Jacksonville. I know I get a little bit tired of seeing them and when we have something that actually comes to fruition, we've had two recently, we had the fountain come to life and now look at this. Look at we are doing here at FSCJ. It's real. Here it is."

"yes it's bold and it's one that is filled with unique challenges, but there is also so much potential as we seek to make Jacksonville a hub for the autonomous vehicle industry. And that's important for you members of the media to remember, we're going to be famous for this one day and you'll be thanking us."

"If you take only one thing away from this, I hope it would be an understanding that this initiative is about so much more than autonomous vehicles. It's about job creation. It's about nurturing a better connected community. And most importantly, it's about creating a tool that enables residents here in Jacksonville we serve to achieve their own success both now and for decades to come."

Also, here is an article from Action News Jax about the new appointments and removal of Buckland as chair.
https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/desantis-jta-board-appointments-were-essentially-firing-current-chair-sources-say/BD7RMUAU6VENTCRVZRMYKWCHKU/

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis didn't just appoint two new people -- multiple sources tell Action News Jax's Emily Turner he essentially fired the current chair.

Buckland wasn't termed out, she'd resubmitted her application for another term and was right in the middle of her leadership role as board chair when the governor made the move. He will be replacing all his appointees, putting fresh eyes on what's happening at JTA.

[Ken_FSU]

^Meanwhile, they can't even run a fucking bus on time.

Jacksonville man desperate for help with JTA buses, says delays cost him his job

"It's been a horrific situation," Bynum said. "Buses are not showing up. If they do show up it's extremely late. The app is not current. There are times when you use the app. you'll be looking for your bus but it's not appearing."
After dealing with delayed buses and an improperly working app, Bynum tells us he eventually lost his job and missed job interviews, due to being late from buses not showing. "They eventually got tired of me being late and claiming the buses were the reason."

https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/jacksonville-man-desperate-for-help-with-jta-buses-says-delays-cost-him-his-job/77-25ffe29d-76b1-46e8-840f-cba7dd6c3677

[CityLife]

Ken, if only someone had brought this to JTA's attention before. Oh wait, Action News wrote an entire article on the same topic with even more examples last February.

https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/investigates/investigates-whistleblower-passengers-say-jta-buses-regularly-run-late-sometimes-dont-show-up/3OX4SJPW55HGZGZL7AI4BDBTAU/

"I'm not logging on until noon," she said, "but this is the strategic planning I need to do to get to work in a timely manner."

That's because she has to take the bus. She takes the 50B, if it's running, from Baymeadows and Southside to her job. She works at a call center downtown. Depending on the day, it takes her two buses and a Skyway ride to get there.

"If it shows up I know it'll be a good day and I'll get to work on time," she said.

It's a journey that takes her two hours and twenty minutes to make on the day we followed her. If she drove herself, it would be an easy 20-minute trip.

"It's taxing physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially," she said, and that's why she's saving up for a car.

Since Action News Jax began its investigation into JTA, our inbox has been filled with emails and calls from riders, all saying the same thing: hours standing on the side of the road, waiting for their ride -- busses running late or, sometimes, never coming at all.

[thelakelander]

Don't worry, somehow the U2C will resolve all of this!

[thelakelander]

Now the mayor is making moves. What's going on over there at JTA?

Legislation filed by mayor appears to oust sitting JTA board member, replace her with former Neptune Beach mayor

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2025/02/28/legislation-filed-by-mayor-appears-to-oust-sitting-jta-board-member-replace-her-with-former-neptune-beach-mayor/

[Ken_FSU]

Apparently it's coming out that JTA may have been misrepresenting ridership numbers to the feds too? Which could be quite bad, as their funding is tied to ridership.

[Charles Hunter]

Apparently it's coming out that JTA may have been misrepresenting ridership numbers to the feds too? Which could be quite bad, as their funding is tied to ridership.

Will this be something for DOGE* to use to say, "See? $10 of Fraud!! Slash the budget by a million!!"

* someone on FB said DOGE is pronounced "doggy"

[Jrz Jax]

At the meeting on Thursday, Hayward asked a couple of pointed questions about discrepancies in the ridership numbers and whether it was a good idea to be approving funds for JAXUSA, since Aundra Wallace is on both boards. Ford talked about the ridership numbers and said he would look into it. The solicitor jumped in that an opinion was given to the board on the potential conflict of interest in advance.

Hopefully this is not related.