Let’s Get Back to the Basics at JTA

[marcuscnelson]

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 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 and it does in fact sound like this is what played out.

[Charles Hunter]

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.

[marcuscnelson]

^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.

[Steve]

Dude, Ferguson could be the second coming of Jesus. They need to pick an outsider.

[thelakelander]

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.

[Charles Hunter]

Looks like there's more cuts coming at JTA - and it may include the NAVI!

From Action News

Sources: 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/

[jaxlongtimer]

^ 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 day!

JTA is expected to announce the changes it's making on Thursday.

[Ken_FSU]

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.

[thelakelander]

I'm fine with them taking LOGT NAVI money to keep existing transit services.

[Charles Hunter]

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.

[CityLife]

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.

[thelakelander]

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.

[Ken_FSU]

150 layoffs. Skyway and NAVI being mothballed.

[marcuscnelson]

^ 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.

[thelakelander]

https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/jacksonville-transportation-authority-suspending-skyway-navi-budget-cuts-2027/77-43f6e5b3-32f9-45d3-bac1-f59a4141a631