\u201cI think that\u2019s a great opportunity, and folks are recognizing that this mobility innovation is coming and how they can leverage it for their mobility needs for their community,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ford made the comments as he presented JTA\u2019s 2026 State of the Authority report.<\/p>\n
The NAVI system \u2014 for Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation \u2014 is the nation\u2019s first autonomous<\/a> public transportation service, stretching from LaVilla to the Sports and Entertainment District.<\/p>\n The shuttles are the first phase of a larger plan known as the Ultimate Urban Circulator, or U2C, which will send autonomous vehicles to the Southbank, San Marco, Brooklyn and Riverside.<\/p>\n JTA launched NAVI June 30, and fares were free for the first three months, before rising to $1.75 in October.<\/p>\n JTA showed just over 100 riders per day<\/a> in its first three months and converted NAVI back to free ridership again on Dec. 15.<\/p>\n NAVI\u2019s slow six months<\/p>\n NAVI currently runs on a 3.2-mile loop between LaVilla and EverBank Stadium. A JTA staffer sits on each of 14 Ford e-Transit vans to take over if necessary.<\/p>\n Ford said the service will see a boost when the University of Florida starts programs at its new graduate campus<\/a> in the Lavilla area. <\/p>\n NAVI will benefit further as transit officials from other cities come to learn about NAVI \u2014 and when Holon begins to manufacture autonomous vehicles<\/a> in Jacksonville, partly for the U2C system.<\/p>\n K. Jane Williams, a former Federal Transit Administration administrator, praised the U2C project during Wednesday\u2019s State of the Authority presentation. She said the U2C was one of three innovative transit-oriented programs to get federal funding.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the key reasons for their success was JTA\u2019s attention to the fact that we had written in innovation as a factor in selections, and they paid attention to that, and that was a big part of their success in all of our funding programs,\u201d Williams said. \u201cSo when JTA brought the U2C project to our attention, we listened \u2014 we were interested, and we wanted to collaborate with our trusted partner and support them in taking on this bold and innovative step because we wanted them to succeed. JTA had delivered, so we looked for ways to help them get this off the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n The U2C\u2019s second phase will convert the existing 2.5-mile Skyway system in Downtown and San Marco into an elevated roadway for the Holon people movers. Ramps will allow them to travel from Bay Street to the overhead roadways, including stops at the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center at LaVilla and across the Acosta Bridge to the Southbank.<\/p>\n The $246 million second phase will be funded through the extension of the local option gas tax. No construction date is set yet.<\/p>\n The U2C\u2019s third phase will put the shuttles on streets in the Brooklyn and Riverside areas, with an estimated $100 million price tag. No funding source has been identified.<\/p>\n JTA\u2019s future<\/p>\n Ford also announced Mobility Visioning Plan 2050, a roadmap for Jacksonville\u2019s transportation future, which will include rail, biking and other modes. He said the plan is in its early stages, with no specifics yet as JTA prepares to hold public meetings to learn what residents want from JTA in the future.<\/p>\n The authority just held six regional town meetings<\/a> to hear any concerns about its service.<\/p>\n![\"JTA](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/20260121_123030.webp.webp\")
CEO Nat Ford presents JTA\u2019s 2026 State of the Authority report on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, at WJCT Studios. | Dan Scanlan, Jacksonville Today<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-21-122129.webp.webp\")
K. Jane Williams, a former Federal Transit Administration administrator, speaks during the JTA meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. | Jacksonville Transit Authority<\/p>\n