JTA eliminates four bus routes, reduces weekday service amid $39 million budget cuts

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) eliminated four bus routes and reduced weekday service across much of its system Nov. 2, part of a $39 million reduction in its operating budget that could affect St. Johns County residents who connect through Jacksonville.

Routes 18, 25, 32 and 82 were eliminated. Six existing routes were realigned, and a new Route 34 was added, according to a JTA service notice posted Oct. 30. More than 20 routes also received schedule changes.

The biggest shift: weekday buses on most lines now run on Saturday-level schedules. Twelve local routes generally operate at 60-minute intervals, while five higher-ridership routes retain 30-minute service, according to The Florida Press. The First Coast Flyer bus rapid transit service generally runs every 20 minutes. Actual arrival times vary by route and service day.

Wait times on some routes could increase by up to 30 minutes, Action News Jax reported.

Rider Charles Briley told News4Jax the changes upended his commute.

"The buses used to run every 15-30 minutes and now it's every hour or hour and 30 minutes," Briley said.

Why JTA is cutting

The JTA board approved a $139 million operating budget for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, down from $178 million the year before, according to News4Jax. The $39 million difference represents a year-over-year reduction in the agency's operating budget.

Chief Financial Officer Randall Barnes told the board the agency exceeded its labor budget by $13.7 million and spent $20.9 million more than planned on services during fiscal year 2026, according to First Coast News.

JTA also laid off 57 employees, including 33 mechanics, 19 bus operators, four control center operators and one engineer, Action News Jax reported. Broader workforce reductions have affected close to 200 positions through layoffs and furloughs, according to local reporting, although the precise breakdown between those categories remains unclear.

The downtown Skyway was scheduled to suspend passenger service Nov. 2, but staffing shortages prompted an earlier shutdown Oct. 30, according to News4Jax.

JTA's autonomous NAVI shuttle is scheduled to pause Jan. 1, 2027. The base bus fare is also scheduled to rise 25 cents to $2 per ride on that date, according to The Florida Press.

Leadership in flux

Interim CEO Cleveland Ferguson III, who took over in August after CEO Nat Ford departed, announced he will not seek the permanent position so he can focus on the budget crisis, according to First Coast News.

Board member Daniel Vallencourt had called for Ferguson's resignation, arguing that Ford's leadership team misled the board about JTA's finances.

Board member Alan Hopkins said he felt the board was kept in the dark.

"Personally, I feel betrayed that we did not have this information," Hopkins said, according to First Coast News.

The board voted to hire an outside auditing firm to examine how JTA reached its financial position.

Jacksonville City Council previously approved a $30 million interest-free loan from gas tax revenue to help the agency cover debt and past-due vendor invoices, according to First Coast News.

What St. Johns County riders should know

JTA's service area is centered on Jacksonville, and the available reports do not identify specific routes crossing into St. Johns County communities.

Residents of Julington Creek, Durbin Crossing, Fruit Cove, Switzerland and other St. Johns County communities who travel into Jacksonville to use JTA buses may need to adjust their commutes. Whether they face longer waits depends on the routes they use and where they transfer.

Riders should check their specific route before traveling, particularly if they previously relied on weekday service that ran more frequently than Saturday schedules.

Updated timetables are available on JTA's website. Riders can also pick up printed schedules at the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center at LaVilla or call JTA customer service at (904) 630-3100.