Once again, it will be a free ride up and down Bay Street in a self-driving van.
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority approved fare reductions for several of its service routes at a Dec. 11 board meeting, including cutting all fees for the new Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation service, effective Dec. 15.
The NAVI service, a set of self-driving vans that service a 3.5-mile route mostly along Bay Street, represents the first phase of JTA’s Ultimate Urban Connector, also called U2C, program.
Fare reductions are part of a JTA pilot program that will last six months. NAVI service was free during the first several months of operation Downtown.
The U2C program, and JTA, came under fire from the Jacksonville City Council Special Committee on Duval DOGE after the authority reported the NAVI service had drawn an average of 76 passengers per day. That was less than a third of the 280 per day that JTA projected by 2035.
In addition to the NAVI fare cuts, JTA reduced fares for 10 fixed-fare options and both Connexion fare options. Rates were cut as little as 6% and as much as 55%, and fare reductions for non-NAVI service are scheduled to take effect Feb. 1, 2026.
“This fare decrease pilot reflects our commitment to putting our community first,” JTA CEO Nat Ford said at the board meeting.
“By lowering fares, we’re removing barriers to mobility and making it easier for people across Jacksonville to access jobs, education, healthcare, and opportunity.”
