Jacksonville Transportation Authority named Fla.'s 'Outstanding System'
Agency was judged on safety, operations, maintenance, access, customer service, financial management, sustainability, workforce development, attendance and employee costs, minority and women advancement, marketing, and community relations.
(L to R) Cleveland Ferguson (JTA Vice President of Administration); Jacquie Gibbs (JTA Vice President of External Affairs); Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. (JTA Chief Executive Officer); Lisa Darnall (JTA Vice President of Transit Operations); and Brad Miller (FPTA Chairman and CEO of Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority).
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(L to R) Cleveland Ferguson (JTA Vice President of Administration); Jacquie Gibbs (JTA Vice President of External Affairs); Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. (JTA Chief Executive Officer); Lisa Darnall (JTA Vice President of Transit Operations); and Brad Miller (FPTA Chairman and CEO of Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority).
The Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA) recognized the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) with the 2016 “Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award” at their Annual Conference in Jacksonville, Fla.
More than 450 transportation representatives from around the state attended the conference, with JTA CEO Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. accepting the honor during the Awards Banquet.
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“This significant award is evidence of the vision and commitment of the authority’s dedicated employees,” said JTA Board Chairman Scott L. McCaleb. “On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to Nat Ford and his team for being recognized by the Florida Public Transportation Association.”
JTA was judged on safety, operations, maintenance, access, customer service, financial management, sustainability, workforce development, attendance and employee costs, minority and women advancement, marketing, and community relations. JTA was also judged on quantitative measures including riders per hour and total passenger miles.
“This award is a positive reflection of all the solid work by our great staff, the leadership of our visionary Board of Directors and our remarkable customers,” said Ford Sr. “We are honored to receive this impressive award.”
FPTA is a nonprofit association whose members include every major public transit agency in Florida as well as interested citizens and businesses. FPTA’s membership is composed of 40 urban and rural transit systems, including, two commuter railroads, a heavy-rail commuter system, and two people mover systems.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.