Groundbreaking held for JTA’s Autonomous Innovation Center
Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 29 for its Autonomous Innovation Center (AIC) at LaVilla, which will serve as the command-and-control center for the electric and autonomous vehicles (AVs) in Jacksonville, Fla.
The AIC is what could be described as an operations and maintenance facility. However, JTA says AIC is a better descriptor for the facility as it will be a hub where the authority’s electric and AV fleet will be stored, serviced, monitored and maintained, as well as where the Jacksonville community can gather. The AIC will be built with an open terrace that allows for guided tours and educational opportunities that showcase the program in-action with an optimal viewing area of the AVs arriving and departing the facility. Additionally, in partnership with LaVilla Heritage Trail & Gateways, an area outside of the secure perimeter will be provided along Bay Street for food trucks.
The AIC is a component of the first phase of JTA’s Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C) program, the Bay Street Innovation Corridor (BSIC). The BSIC project will introduce autonomous vehicles along a transportation corridor in downtown Jacksonville. JTA explains establishing an innovative mobility network to connect a rapidly developing downtown with neighborhoods on both sides of the St. Johns River is a critical cornerstone to revitalizing the area. The U2C represents a way to accomplish this through an initiative that will modernize and expand transportation options and introduce Avs to the system.
“The groundbreaking of the AIC is a culmination of hard work to provide the city of Jacksonville with enhanced connectivity through autonomous mobility at-scale,” said JTA CEO Nat Ford. “Throughout this project, JTA has leveraged its partners’ experience and expertise, and this groundbreaking is a visible symbol of our collective, forward-thinking progress. Today, we are one step closer in realizing our shared goal of providing a transportation network that is sustainable, adaptable and places Jacksonville as a city at the forefront of AV mobility.”
Balfour Beatty V2R team to deliver the AIC project includes:
- Superior Construction Company Southeast
- Beep
- WGI, Inc.
- Urban SDK
- Miller Electric
- Grayline
Among the partners on the project is the Balfour Beatty Vision 2 Reality (V2R) Team, which was awarded a contract by JTA to deliver the first phase of the authority’s U2C AV service with the BSIC. Balfour Beatty will build the two-story AIC on an existing parking lot with a secure perimeter. The facility’s top floor will feature the command-and-control center, while the first floor will include maintenance bays for vehicle service and covered AV parking with charging stations.
Beep, Inc., which is part of the Balfour Beatty V2R Team, is providing insights around the command-and-control center and design as it relates to managing AV systems to ensure JTA and the community are planning for key features across safety, sustainability and efficiency.
“The introduction of the AIC is a major milestone for this industry-leading program and a reflection of how the JTA, Beep and entire U2C team are revolutionizing the integration and management of autonomous mobility networks in our communities,” said Beep CEO Joe Moye. “Beep’s initial autonomous vehicles on the BSIC will be supervised and monitored through the AIC’s command-and-control operation, serving as a blueprint for providing a safe and reliable transportation solution for Jacksonville residents and visitors. In addition, the command center is designed for scale, enabling the orchestration of future mobility networks with over 100 vehicles to connect key areas of the city, such as Brooklyn, Springfield, San Marco and Riverside. We join the community in celebrating the future of transportation right here in Jacksonville.”
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
