Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA)

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) is an independent state agency responsible for public transit in Jacksonville and for planning and financing roadway infrastructure in Northeast Florida, together with the City of Jacksonville and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). JTA does not maintain roadways. Its transit services cover Duval, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties. In 2025, the system carried 7,342,300 riders.

Mission
To improve Northeast Florida's economy, environment and quality of life by providing safe, reliable, efficient and sustainable multimodal transportation services and facilities.

History
JTA traces its origins to the Jacksonville Expressway Authority, established by the Florida Legislature in 1955, which owned and maintained roads and toll bridges in Duval County, mostly across the St. Johns River. In 1971, the Expressway Authority merged with City Coach Company and several smaller private bus companies to form the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. Tolls were removed in 1988, and FDOT now maintains the bridges and freeways.

Projects built by the Expressway Authority or JTA include the Mathews Bridge, the Fuller Warren Bridge, the Trout River Bridge, the Hart Bridge, the Dames Point Bridge, sections of I-95 and I-10, the Arlington, Roosevelt, Haines Street, 20th Street, Hart Bridge and Emerson expressways, Southside Boulevard, J. Turner Butler Boulevard and the Skyway.

More recent milestones include the first First Coast Flyer bus rapid transit line in 2016, operation of the St. Johns River Ferry since 2016, the opening of the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center at LaVilla in 2020, and the launch of NAVI autonomous vehicle service in 2025.

Governance
JTA is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors. Under 2025 state legislation, the Governor of Florida appoints four members — one from Duval County and the others from St. Johns, Clay or Nassau counties — and the Mayor of Jacksonville appoints three.