Jacksonville's Ford named one of Northeast Fla.'s Ultimate CEOs
This highly prestigious award is in recognition of Nathaniel P. Ford’s consistent high level of leadership, setting a standard amongst local executives and making a difference in the business community and community at large.
The Jacksonville Business Journal named Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) CEO Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. as one of five individuals in the medium company category in the Northeast Florida’s Ultimate CEOs for 2015.
This highly prestigious award is in recognition of Ford’s consistent high level of leadership, setting a standard amongst local executives and making a difference in the business community and community at large. The award recognizes his accomplishments at the authority since being hired in December 2012 and his three-decade long career in the public transportation industry.
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“I am honored and grateful to be recognized by the Jacksonville Business Journal with this prestigious award,” said Ford. “However, this award belongs to the entire JTA team of professionals that I have the honor of working with. I want to thank the JTA Board of Directors, our staff and our customers.”
Since Ford’s arrival, the organization solidified its reputation as a leader in the transportation industry. Ridership is on the rise and the authority’s relationship with the business community and elected officials continues to improve.
Under Ford’s leadership, JTA experienced a significant achievement when the authority implemented the Route Optimization Initiative (ROI) in December 2014. The comprehensive overhaul of the bus and community shuttle routes is the most dramatic change to Jacksonville’s public transit in the last 30 years.
In the coming months, JTA plans to introduce the First Coast Flyer bus rapid transit system, open a compressed natural gas fueling facility with public access and complete the transition of the St. Johns River Ferry.
Ford will receive his award in September at the Jacksonville Business Journal’s Ultimate CEO Awards luncheon.
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.
