Pictured: Former Administrator for the Federal Transit Administration K. Jane Williams, JTA CEO Nat Ford, JTA Board Vice Chair Patricia Gillum Sams, JTA Board Chair Aundra Wallace.

(Jacksonville, FL – January 22, 2026) Yesterday, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority held it’s annual State of the Authority event where CEO Nat Ford announced the Mobility Visioning Plan 2050 (MVP 2050), a 25-year conceptual vision for the future of mobility in Northeast Florida.

Nat Ford’s address offered a look at some of the highlights from 2025, with a focus on the future and some of the innovative ways that the JTA is shaping mobility in Northeast Florida.

“Public transportation is critical to every community, and the JTA’s focus on innovation — serving today’s customers while building the mobility of the future — along with the economic development it drives, is what makes us a national leader and such an important partner for the Jacksonville region,” said JTA Board Chair Aundra Wallace.

MVP 2050 will serve as a comprehensive roadmap to meeting tomorrow’s mobility needs as Jacksonville’s population is expected to grow by approximately 20%, to over 1.4 million people in the year 2050, according to the University of Florida’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research.

More than 200 people attended, including industry experts from across the state and country, as well as local elected officials and community leaders.

The Mobility Visioning Plan 2050 will also include a series of public meetings to talk to residents and outline the plan to the community. This will include the next phases of the Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C), traditional bus and transit services and other ways to move people around our community.

“MVP 2050 is a forward-looking plan that integrates technology, resiliency, and smart growth — advancing everything from rail to autonomous vehicles, expanding pedestrian and bike safety, improving transit access, and ensuring every investment strengthens our neighborhoods and grows our economy,” said JTA CEO Nat Ford.

The Mobility Visioning Plan 2050 is co-led by the JTA and the City of Jacksonville, in collaboration with the Florida Department of Transportation, the North Florida TPO, the JAX Chamber, Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA), JAXPORT, the Jacksonville Airport Authority, and over a dozen community partners and organizations.

K. Jane Williams, former Administrator for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) from August 2017 until January 2021, delivered the keynote address. As FTA Administrator, Williams managed some of the largest formula and competitive grant programs within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) representing more than $80 billion in economic investment in transportation infrastructure across the United States.

Williams shared how, under the leadership of CEO Nat Ford, the JTA became a “trusted partner” of the federal government and how the JTA “won multiple grants under almost every single FTA competitive program we had,” Williams said.

“More than $100 million in investment he brought back from the federal government to the JTA and the City of Jacksonville,” she said. “Congratulations on the launch of your NAVI service. The U2C project is paving the way for the future of mobility in America,” stated Williams.

Joining live from Washington, D.C., surprise guest Seval Oz, Senior Advisor for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, U.S. Department of Transportation, gave brief remarks. The JTA represents “one of the most innovative and accomplished transportation networks in America,” Oz said. “I applaud, commend, and highly value the work that you’ve done in Jacksonville. We’re behind you,” stated Oz.

For more information and to view the State of the Authority Address, please visit the JTA’s YouTube channel here.

Gallery of photos from the day: https://brandfolder.com/s/52fph49vrqtbmfg2354prt

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About the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA)
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) is an independent state agency 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 BRT and regular bus service, Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation (NAVI), paratransit, the St. Johns River Ferry, Skyway APM, and other mobility and on-demand services in Duval, Clay, Nassau, and St. Johns counties. To learn more, visit www.jtafla.com.

Media Contact:
For media inquiries, please contact:

Taniel Koushakjian
Director of Communications
Jacksonville Transportation Authority
tk@jtafla.com
(904) 632-5237