Jacksonville awarded grant for circulator system using AV tech
Will deploy a network of autonomous vehicles and incorporate smart technologies, such as pedestrian sensors.

Florida’s JTA Chairman Kevin Holzendorf and CEO Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., along with Mayor Lenny Curry and city leaders, joined with Secretary Elaine L. Chao in formally announcing the awarding of the US DOT’s $25 million BUILD Grant.

Florida’s JTA Chairman Kevin Holzendorf and CEO Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., along with Mayor Lenny Curry and city leaders, joined with Secretary Elaine L. Chao in formally announcing the awarding of the US DOT’s $25 million BUILD Grant.
The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a $25 million BUILD Grant to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) and the City of Jacksonville.
JTA will use its $12.5 million portion of the grant to implement the first phase of the Ultimate Urban Circulator or U2C program, called the Bay Street Innovation Corridor. The project will deploy a transportation network of autonomous vehicles and incorporate smart technologies, such as pedestrian sensors, dynamic traffic signaling, and an integrated data exchange; from the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center at LaVilla to the City’s Entertainment District along the Bay Street Corridor.
JTA is partnering with the Florida Department of Transportation, the City of Jacksonville, North Florida TPO, the JEA, and the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce on the Innovation Corridor project.
For its part, the city will undertake the Urban Core Riverfront Revitalization and Complete Streets project to bolster Jacksonville’s commitment to downtown development in and around the Jacksonville Sports and Entertainment Complex and shipyards.
More New Mobility

ENC Unveils ZAVIR Medium-Duty Electric Shuttle
The new ZAVIR brand targets shuttle and paratransit operations with battery-electric and range-extended electric vehicle options.
Read More →
Public Transit Conference Returning to GFX in 2027, Call for Papers Now Open
The Call for Papers is now open, allowing transit agency professionals and industry experts to help shape the PTC educational program by submitting session ideas for consideration.
Read More →
Everett Transit, Community Transit Outline Consolidation Agreement
The proposed agreement calls for a 50% increase in bus service in Everett, a new microtransit zone, continued paratransit service, and the transfer of Everett Transit operations to Community Transit.
Read More →
What Multimodal Data Can Tell Transit Agencies About Rider Demand
See how bike-on-bus data is giving transit agencies new insight into rider demand, capacity constraints, and gaps in first- and last-mile connections.
Read More →
From Hardware to Digital Partner: Luminator Charts Its Next Chapter
CEO Magnus Friberg discusses Luminator’s shift toward becoming a digital partner, the growing importance of software and interoperability, and how AI can help agencies improve operations and passenger experience.
Read More →
Biz Briefs: Alstom Lands Canadian Contract, LYT to Supply California TSP, and More
In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at recent news from Complete Coach Works, Beep, FlixBus, and more partnerships making headlines across the transportation sector.
Read More →
CharterUP’s Armir Harris on Technology, AI, and the Future of Group Mobility
In a recent episode of METROspectives, CharterUP Founder/CEO Armir Harris discussed the company’s evolution from an online charter bus marketplace into a technology platform supporting public- and private-sector mobility and much more.
Read More →
Jacksonville’s NAVI Project Charts a New Course for Autonomous Public Transportation
Through its NAVI program, JTA is showing how autonomous vehicles, intelligent infrastructure, and coordinated operations can work together to deliver everyday public transportation.
Read More →
Biz Briefs: Luminator Marks Milestone and More
From manufacturers and suppliers to transit agencies and motorcoach operators, these updates offer a snapshot of the projects, partnerships and business moves driving the industry forward.
Read More →
New Tricks for Old Bureaucracies: Joshua Schank on Making Transit Innovation Stick
Former LA Metro Chief Innovation Officer Joshua Schank discusses why good ideas aren't enough, how transit agencies can overcome resistance to change, and why today's challenges demand more innovation.
Read More →