Jacksonville’s public‑transit agency, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), disclosed a $39 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2027. Interim CEO Cleveland Ferguson III said the agency will need to lay off up to 194 employees, trim bus schedules and pause two key services – the downtown Skyway and the Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation (NAVI) shuttle – to bring expenses back in line.
Layoffs and cost‑saving measures
Ferguson, who took over the agency on Aug. 27 after the departure of longtime CEO Nathaniel Ford, told reporters at the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center that the agency has already cut $24.9 million in contractual services and eliminated 44 administrative positions, yet the deficit remains.
“We had to look at our frontline operations personnel to be able to make up that shortfall,” Ferguson said. He indicated that up to 150 operational staff – including bus operators, maintenance workers and control‑center personnel – could be let go, with the first 18 layoffs expected this week. The agency will work with the union to provide severance packages as required by state law.
Bus service reductions
Effective Nov. 2, JTA will shift most routes to a Saturday schedule Monday‑through‑Friday. Routes with the highest ridership – First Coast Flyer, and routes 1, 3, 8, 10 and 19 – will retain 20‑ or 30‑minute intervals, while the remaining 12 routes will continue on an hourly basis.
Paratransit Connexion and on‑demand Connexion Plus services for people certified as disabled under the ADA or Transportation Disadvantaged program will remain unchanged.
Skyway suspension
Also on Nov. 2, the elevated Skyway train will cease operations, saving an estimated $10 million next year in operator wages, maintenance, parts and escalator costs. Ferguson emphasized that the pause will not trigger a federal clawback of the roughly $90 million in grant funding used to build the system. JTA has already written to the Federal Department of Transportation to discuss the Skyway’s remaining useful life.
The agency will continue community conversations about the Skyway’s future, exploring options to repurpose or remove the infrastructure.
NAVI autonomous shuttle shutdown
The NAVI program will stop service on Jan. 1 when its software license expires. The software designer, Oxa, announced earlier this year that it will no longer support the platform, and JTA’s partner Beep has no replacement. The shutdown will save about $487,000 per month.
Financing and the gas‑tax agreement
JTA is seeking to use part of the local‑option gas‑tax revenue – originally earmarked for capital projects such as the Ultimate Urban Circulator, the Emerald Trail and road work – to cover severance costs and repay a $40 million line of credit taken out this year.
Ferguson said discussions with the city about expanding the use of gas‑tax dollars are ongoing, but the agency will not cancel construction of the Emerald Trail, a 32‑mile multi‑use path planned by Groundwork Jacksonville.
Next steps
The agency’s revised $139 million budget for FY 2027, down from $178 million in 2026, must be approved by the Jacksonville City Council at a final vote on Tuesday. Ferguson stressed that the tough decisions are intended to stabilize JTA’s finances so the agency can restore full service levels as soon as possible.
Community members are encouraged to attend upcoming public meetings to voice concerns and suggestions regarding the Skyway, bus service changes and the future of autonomous transit in Jacksonville.
Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.
