Jacksonville Transportation Authority Named APTA’s 2016 Outstanding Public Transportation System

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) is the recipient of the 2016 “Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award” from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

JTA is an independent agency of the State of Florida governed by a seven-member board of directors. JTA operates Jacksonville’s public bus service, downtown automated Skyway and paratransit service. The Authority also plans, designs and builds roads and bridges.

“It is great news that our transportation system is the recipient of the 2016 Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award," said Mayor Lenny Curry. “This national recognition demonstrates the innovative and high-quality services JTA commits to citizens and business practices."

JTA will receive the Outstanding Public Transportation System Award during APTA’s Annual Meeting, which will be held September 11-14 in Los Angeles, California.

Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jim Boxold said, “The Florida Department of Transportation has great appreciation for the excellent work of Florida’s transit agencies whose partnership is critical to the overall success of our transportation system. We congratulate Nat Ford and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority for this prestigious and well-deserved recognition.”

The award is considered the most distinguished of all honors to be handed out at APTA’s national convention. It is bestowed on public transportation systems that have demonstrated “achievement in efficiency and effectiveness” in the last three years. There are three awards based on the size of the transit system. JTA won in the mid-size category, for systems providing more than 4 million but fewer than 20 million annual passenger trips. There are 326 APTA member transit agencies.

JTA was judged on safety, operations, maintenance, access, customer service, financial management, sustainability, workforce development, attendance and employee costs, minority and women advancement, marketing, and community relations. JTA was also judged on quantitative measures including riders per hour and total passenger miles.

“This significant award is a testament to the hard work, enthusiasm and innovation of the Authority’s dedicated employees,” said JTA Board Chairman Scott L. McCaleb. “On behalf of the Board of Directors I would like to extend my deepest congratulations to the entire JTA team led by CEO Nat Ford.”

From the onset, the JTA has played a pivotal role in Jacksonville’s growth and economic development by providing critical service to thousands of public transit dependent residents in Florida’s largest city by population. With a total of 874 square miles, Jacksonville has the distinction of being the largest city by land mass in the United States.

The JTA encompasses 850 employees, 200 buses and trolleys, 26 community shuttles, 97 paratransit vehicles, and an automated people-mover with an annual $230 million budget.

“This is a great honor and validates our journey to transform transportation in Jacksonville and deliver world class service to Northeast Florida,” said JTA Chief Executive Officer Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. “I am so proud of our staff who deliver exceptional customer service and are dedicated to fulfilling our mission to improve Northeast Florida’s economy, environment and quality of life by providing safe, reliable and efficient multimodal transportation services and facilities. The award also recognizes the leadership of our visionary Board of Directors and our amazing customers.”