The 4th Circuit State Attorney’s Office has formally subpoenaed the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), intensifying an ongoing investigation into the agency’s financial management. The subpoena, covering records from Oct. 1, 2023 to the present, seeks detailed information on JTA projects such as the Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation (NAVI) service, the Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C), the Skyway, and the Bay Street Innovation Corridor.

Key Documents Requested

Investigators are demanding communications and data concerning budget shortfalls, financial disclosures, vendor procurement, ridership statistics, audit findings, and public statements about the agency’s finances. Specific finance and accounting records—including budgets, cash‑flow forecasts, and documentation of shortfalls—are also part of the request.

The subpoena lists a number of vendors whose contracts and procurement processes must be disclosed. These include Mason Nye Murals, Dream Builders Communications, Team Pegine Inc., the GEMS Initiative, Gannett Fleming, TranSystems, Jones‑Worley Designs, Jacobs Project Management Company, KL2 Connects, LLC, WSP USA, and any wellness services provided to JTA employees or board members. For each vendor, the state attorney seeks bid documents, purchase orders, deliverables, and the agency’s procurement policies.

Executive Records and Operational Data

Records related to JTA’s top executives are also under scrutiny. The subpoena calls for employment agreements, corporate card statements, travel records, and other documents for former CEO Nat Ford, interim CEO Cleveland Ferguson, and senior officials Jeffrey Smith, Randall Barnes, Jessica Shepler, and Richard Clark.

Additionally, the state attorney demands ridership and transit performance data for all modes of service—bus, NAVI, and Skyway—since Jan. 1, 2023. JTA recently suspended Skyway service on Nov. 2 and announced a pause to NAVI service beginning Jan. 1, 2027.

Broader Context and Prior Subpoenas

This latest subpoena follows three earlier subpoenas issued by the Florida Attorney General’s Office. In early October, the attorney general’s office issued a criminal investigative subpoena requesting contracts, salary information, business‑trip documentation, and sponsorship data. A subsequent subpoena sought text and email communications among interim CEO Cleveland Ferguson, former CEO Nat Ford, and Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, as well as communications concerning audits and the agency’s financial health.

JTA has already released some of the requested records, including contract details, specific salary figures, and travel documentation. However, the agency has not yet provided the email and text communications sought by investigators. News4JAX has reached out to JTA for an update on the status of those records.

Financial Challenges Facing JTA

The subpoenas arrive as JTA confronts an estimated $39 million budget shortfall. City officials are exploring measures to stabilize the agency’s finances, including potential service reductions and workforce adjustments. The state attorney’s request for sponsorship data, service‑reduction records, layoff information, governance minutes, audit reports, and any warnings from current or former board members underscores the seriousness of the fiscal crisis.

JTA has been directed to produce the requested documents by Nov. 20. The agency’s cooperation with both the state attorney and the attorney general’s offices will be critical in restoring public confidence and ensuring that Jacksonville’s transit system remains a reliable backbone for families, workers, and faith communities alike.

What This Means for Jacksonville Residents

For commuters and families who rely on JTA’s services, transparency and accountability are essential. By scrutinizing budgeting practices, vendor contracts, and executive expenses, the investigation aims to protect taxpayer dollars and preserve essential transit options for the community. Residents are encouraged to stay informed as the story develops and to participate in any public hearings or comment periods that may follow.

Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.