JTA Eliminates 4 Bus Routes, Changes 20-Plus Schedules and Pauses the Skyway as It Works to Close a $39 Million Gap

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville Transportation Authority eliminated four bus routes and changed schedules on more than 20 others on Monday, Nov. 2, the same day its downtown Skyway was scheduled to pause, as the agency works to close a roughly $39 million budget gap. The eliminated routes are 18, 25, 32 and 82, according to News4JAX and Action News Jax. The changes took effect one day before Election Day, a timing that drew questions from at least one rider.

JTA's board approved the changes in August after a budget shortfall became public earlier this year. JTA says it started telling the public about proposed changes in July. Riders who have not yet checked their route should look at the JTA app, website or bus signage, since several routes now run on different schedules or to different stops.

What Changed on Nov. 2

Routes 18, 25, 32 and 82 no longer operate, according to News4JAX. Route 18 had served Regency Square Mall, the Walmart on Monument Road and the Monument Post Office, the station reported. The reports did not describe the service areas of the other three routes.

Action News Jax reported that seven routes were modified: 10, 23, 24, 28, 31, 34 and 105, which is the Orange Line. The station said Route 34 is a new route split off from Route 23. A rider quoted by Action News Jax said her route used to be the 32 but is now the 34, and she learned of the change on Monday.

Action News Jax said wait times on some remaining routes could grow by up to 30 minutes. News4JAX said the schedule changes touch routes serving Kings Road, Atlantic Boulevard and Riverside, along with the Orange Line and the Mayport Express. Paratransit services Connexion and Connexion Plus were not affected, according to Jacksonville Today's September report.

Layoffs and the Skyway Pause

JTA announced in September that it could lay off up to 194 employees, including up to 150 operations staff. Action News Jax reported that 57 employees had been laid off as of Nov. 2, including 33 mechanics, 19 bus operators, four control center operators and one engineer. Other outlets have described the cuts as nearly 200 layoffs, so the figure appears to reflect the authorized total rather than the number reported so far.

JTA's Skyway was set to stop running Nov. 2, a pause Jacksonville Today said would save about $10 million next year. News4JAX reported that it shut down unexpectedly early the prior Friday because of staffing shortages, leaving riders at the LaVilla platform to find the entrance fenced off. Interim CEO Cleveland Ferguson III said in September that the pause would not trigger a clawback of roughly $90 million in federal grants.

The Money Behind the Cuts

JTA's board approved a $139 million budget for fiscal 2027, down from $178 million in fiscal 2026, according to Jacksonville Today. The City Council approved letting JTA borrow up to $30 million from city local option gas tax revenue, which Action News Jax said carries no interest and would not need to be repaid until 2037. Jacksonville Today reported that the city loan was used to pay off a line of credit tied to past-due bills.

City Council Questions

A City Council oversight committee met Monday on JTA's finances, according to Jacksonville Today. Council member Rory Diamond said former JTA CEO Nat Ford, who resigned in July and now leads Dallas Area Rapid Transit, has agreed to comply with a subpoena and is expected to appear before the Finance Committee in January. No date has been set, and Ford may testify in person or virtually.

Former chief financial officer Greg Hayes told the committee JTA had seven years of surplus and $187 million in cash when he left in 2023. Former CFO Heather Obora said reserves were depleted by more than $20 million and that the capital projects fund held only $11,000. She also said the NAVI project's cost rose from about $44 million to $67.5 million.

Questions About Timing

Rider Matt Finefrock told News4JAX his daughter learned her route was cut when she told him, and he asked why the changes did not take effect on a Friday. He also raised concern about voters who depend on buses to reach polling places, saying, "I think we all have the right to get to the polls." JTA said it began notifying the public in July, held eight community meetings, and used app notifications, its website, bus signage, social media and direct outreach.

The agency said alternate routes and connections are available and that customer service can help riders plan trips. JTA also said it had not received complaints from anyone who said they could not vote because of the service changes. Riders can check route and schedule details at jtafla.com or in the JTA app.