Jacksonville Transportation Authority CEO Nathaniel Ford Sr. received the 2019 Eno Thought Leader Award from the Eno Center for Transportation, Thursday night in Washington, D.C. Ford has served as JTA CEO since 2012 and receives this award following his tenure as Chairman of the American Public Transportation Association in 2018.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by Eno and my peers,” said Ford. “It’s a testament to the hard work that’s occurring within the JTA to make mobility easier for our region.”

Many of Ford’s endeavors during his chairmanship center upon what he calls the New Mobility Paradigm. His mission in launching the Mobility Innovation Hub and the 2018 Mobility Summit is to create a school of thought that inspires public transportation agencies to evolve and become better integrators of mobility.

Along with his mobility innovation, he also focuses on the development of the Ultimate Urban Circulator program in Downtown Jacksonville. The program acts as a new transit network powered by a fleet of autonomous vehicles that are deployed along the Bay Street Innovation Corridor.

Through Ford’s leadership, the JTA is constantly working to cultivate new and innovative approaches to enhancing and fulfilling the transportation needs of Northeast Florida. 

The Eno Center for Transportation is a neutral, non-partisan think-tank that promotes policy innovation and provides professional development opportunities for transportation employees. The Eno Thought Leader Award is given to leaders in public transportation who are visionary and innovative in their approach to transit solution.

During the award ceremony Dr. Patricia Hendren, executive director for the I-95 Corridor Coalition, was also honored for her exemplary public service and contributions to the field.