Fla.'s JTA approves transportation center design contract
Pond/Michael Baker will design a multimodal hub, located in Downtown Jacksonville that will integrate key local, regional and intercity service in one location.
Fla.'s Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) board of directors approved a contract with Pond/Michael Baker to perform design services for the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center (JRTC).
The JRTC will be a multimodal hub, located in Downtown Jacksonville that will integrate key local, regional and intercity service in one location. The key benefits include improved connectivity between modes, such as local bus; First Coast Flyer Bus Rapid Transit; Skyway; Greyhound and potential future commuter rail service.
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“Many of the world’s great cities have bustling transit stations through which trains, buses, taxis, pedestrians and bicycles all come together in an urban center,” said JTA CEO Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. “We are excited to see the economic development that will result from having a robust transportation center in the heart of Lavilla.”
A design competition was held between the top three architects. To share the conceptual designs and obtain public input, a showcase was held with more than 50 stakeholders in attendance.
“The JRTC will help to make Jacksonville more livable, economically competitive, and environmentally sustainable and friendly,” said JTA Chairman Scott L. McCaleb. “It has the potential to be an iconic gateway facility and bring renewed energy and revitalization to downtown.”
Construction will begin in January 2017 on the Greyhound bus facility. The entire project is expected to be completed by September 2019.
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.
