The Jacksonville Transportation Authority has put five very different futures for the downtown Skyway on the table, from rehabbing the aging automated trams to converting the elevated guideway into a dedicated roadway for driverless shuttles or even turning the structure into a public trail, and it wants residents to weigh in at public sessions next Tuesday and next Thursday. The options are part of Phase II of JTA’s Ultimate Urban Circulator (U²C) study, which is focused on modernizing downtown mobility and expanding service across the urban core. What people say during these open houses could help decide whether the Skyway keeps running as a transit system, becomes a route for autonomous shuttles, or is repurposed for people on foot and bike.
According to JTA, the U²C Phase II Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study includes a No Build option plus five build alternatives that look at rehabbing existing vehicles, adding new automated people movers, converting the elevated guideway for autonomous vehicles, fully removing the structure, or turning it into a multiuse trail. The study covers the Skyway’s full 2.5‑mile corridor and will use public feedback to help identify a preferred alternative that staff will recommend to the JTA board.
Meetings and where to go
Open houses are scheduled at two downtown venues, with sessions from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. and 5 p.m.–7 p.m. The FSCJ Advanced Technology Center and the DoubleTree Jacksonville Riverfront will host the meetings next Tuesday and next Thursday. As reported by News4Jax, anyone who needs ADA accommodations or free translation services should contact Tsopie Trottie at 904‑630‑3107 at least seven days before a meeting.
What the five alternatives would do
The menu of options runs from a simple No Build, paired with vehicle rehabilitation, to replacing the current system with modern automated people‑mover trains, converting the elevated guideway into a dedicated AV roadway for NAVI/Holon shuttles, removing the elevated structure and operating AVs at street level, or turning the Skyway into a pedestrian and bicycle trail while shifting autonomous service to city streets. Each alternative comes with tradeoffs, including construction impacts, the frequency and reliability of service, connectivity beyond downtown, and long‑term maintenance questions. JTA outlines those pros and cons in its PD&E materials.
Price tags and federal strings
Some of the possible futures carry serious price tags and potential funding strings. Local reporting shows that conversion of the guideway for autonomous vehicles was presented with an estimated capital need of about $240.08 million from the local option gas tax and roughly $6.77 million for the U²C fleet. Jax Daily Record also notes that certain choices, particularly those that move away from the Skyway’s original transit purpose, could force repayment of historic federal grants, adding a big complication for the agency.
Holon shuttles and a live demo
JTA has already taken steps to reserve autonomous shuttles as part of U²C, and industry coverage reports that Holon plans a U.S. manufacturing presence in Jacksonville to build those vehicles. MotorTrend reported that the Holon facility in Jacksonville is slated to come online in 2026, a detail JTA is folding into its U²C rollout. The agency’s short video, posted to its social channels, also says a next‑generation Holon urban shuttle will be on display at the FSCJ meeting next Tuesday, and the clip is available on JTA.
How to weigh in
JTA is collecting input online through its engagement hub and survey tools, and the project’s public input page is hosted on PublicInput, where meeting materials and comment forms are posted. Local outlets report that JTA plans additional meetings in May to present analysis and recommendations after this first round of open houses. News4Jax has details on specific locations, times, and accommodation contacts.
Whatever Jacksonville decides for the Skyway will ripple through downtown planning and transit access, and these next two meetings give residents a direct say in which tradeoffs JTA should prioritize. The agency is expected to narrow the alternatives in May and bring a recommended path to its board later this year.
