Jacksonville, Fla. (March 1, 2024) – The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) will begin a phased bus stop upgrade project to enhance 111 bus stops across Northwest Jacksonville, including 17 key stops along Soutel Drive.
The bus stop upgrades will include the installation of improved shelters, enhanced lighting for safety, bike racks, real-time messaging systems to facilitate easier trip planning and art elements that will celebrate the identity of each neighborhood.
The first phase of improvements will replace 60 of the concrete bus pads, bring them up to ADA compliance and enlarge them when feasible to accommodate upgraded amenities. The subsequent phases of improvements will be implemented over several years with input from the communities.
Additionally, the project will employ local resources and talent, promising to create new job opportunities within Jacksonville. The JTA will collaborate with Elton Alan, a certified Local Small Business Enterprise (LSBE), to support LSBE contractors. According to a UNF planning study, the initiative is estimated to produce a local economic benefit of $23,600,000.
“We’re excited to put shovels in the ground and get to work on the first of our MobilityWorks 2.0 projects,” said JTA CEO Nat Ford. “Beyond providing top-notch amenities to our patrons at these bus stops, we hope that by partnering with local small businesses and incorporating artscapes into the design, these bus stops will provide local economic benefits and become a part of the community identity.”
The project is backed by $13,876,500 from the Local Option Gas Tax II (LOGTII) and is a part of the larger MobilityWorks 2.0 program, which will invest in Northeast Florida’s mobility infrastructure over the next 30 years.
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About the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA)
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) is a state agency and an independent special district serving Jacksonville, Florida, and Northeast Florida with multi-modal responsibilities. The JTA provides varied mass public transit services and builds roads, bridges, and other infrastructure to enhance mobility in Jacksonville. Public transportation services include bus-rapid transit (BRT) and regular bus service, paratransit, the St. Johns River Ferry, Skyway APM, and other mobility and on-demand services in Duval, Clay, Baker, Nassau, and St. Johns counties. To learn more, visit www.jtafla.com.
About MobilityWorks 2.0
The JTA recently launched a new website, https://jtamobilityworks2.com, to enhance transparency and accountability and provide regular updates on the MobilityWorks 2.0 program. It features a dashboard that provides a detailed look at jobs created and expenditures to date, an interactive project map, and updates on contracting opportunities and job fairs.