Florida’s Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), together with the Balfour Beatty Vision 2 Reality (V2R) team, including Beep Inc., launched the Autonomous Innovation Center (AIC) at LaVilla — a vibrant hub centered around an advanced command-and-control center that will store, service, monitor, and maintain the city’s electric, autonomous mobility system.

The AIC is an integral part of the upcoming Bay Street Innovation Corridor (BSIC), Phase I of the Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C) program — a comprehensive initiative to modernize and expand transportation options in the Downtown Jacksonville area and introduce autonomous vehicles (AVs) into JTA’s transportation system.

Establishing an innovative mobility network to connect a rapidly developing downtown with neighborhoods on both sides of the St. Johns River is a critical cornerstone to revitalizing the area.

“The groundbreaking of the AIC is a culmination of hard work alongside the V2R team to provide the Jacksonville community with at-scale autonomous mobility,” said JTA CEO Nat Ford. “Throughout this project, JTA has leveraged its partners’ experience and expertise, and this groundbreaking is a visible symbol of our collective, forward-thinking progress. Today, we are one step closer in realizing our shared goal of providing a passenger service that is sustainable and adaptable and places Jacksonville as a city at the forefront of modernization.”

How The Partnership Works

As lead of the V2R team, Balfour Beatty will build the two-story AIC on an existing parking lot with a secure perimeter.

The facility’s top floor will feature the command-and-control center. The first floor includes maintenance bays for vehicle service and covered AV parking with charging stations. Balfour Beatty’s full V2R team includes Superior Construction Company Southeast, Beep, WGI Inc., Urban SDK, Miller Electric, and Grayline to deliver the AIC project.

Shared autonomous mobility solutions provider, Beep, is providing insights around the command-and-control center and design as it relates to managing autonomous vehicle systems to ensure the JTA and its community are planning for key features across safety, sustainability, and efficiency.

Additional Benefits of JTA’s AIC

Built for the community, the AIC also includes an open terrace that allows for guided tours and educational opportunities that showcase the program in-action with an optimal viewing area of the AVs arriving and departing the facility.

Additionally, in partnership with LaVilla Heritage Trail & Gateways, an area outside of the secure perimeter will be provided along Bay Street for food trucks.