JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is set to eliminate some routes and increase some fares in order to make up for a projected $17.5 million budget deficit in fiscal year 2027, according to a report from our news partners, The Jacksonville Daily Record.
JTA plans to trim services for some of its bus and ReadiRide routes, and shorten hours for its Downtown Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation service. It would also transition ReadiRide service into Uber fares, while increasing bus fares that it had lowered in a pilot program months before.
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ReadiRide is a shuttle service that users can book by phone, which services door-to-door rides in 14 areas around Duval County. NAVI is the first portion of JTA’s Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C) program. The first phase, which cost $65 million, runs autonomous vehicles along a 3.5-mile route mostly along Bay Street.
With a 7-0 vote May 28, JTA’s board of directors approved a $139.2 million FY27 budget, which included the plans to balance the expected deficit. Like the city and other independent authorities, JTA’s fiscal year runs Oct. 1 to Sept. 31.
Pending a final review in August, the increased fares would take effect in January 2027, allowing JTA customers to have some time before the end of a six-month fare reduction pilot program Aug. 1. JTA’s service cuts would begin Oct. 1.
The board’s approved reductions to expenses are as follows:
• $8.37 million by altering the frequency of four bus routes, including all four First Coast Flyer bus routes. The First Coast Flyer and three other bus routes would see frequency reduced from 20 to 25 minutes, while seven more bus routes would see service reduced from 30 to 60 minutes.
• $2.79 million by eliminating five bus routes.
• $1.72 million by reducing the frequency of NAVI service from seven minutes to 12 minutes.
• $130,608 by eliminating five ReadiRide zones.
• Save $200,000 by offering Uber vouchers in place of ReadiRide service.
JTA expects service cuts to save $13.62 million.
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