The plan for the future of transportation in Jacksonville

Giving you an inside look at some of the big projects underway for transportation in Jacksonville.

The Jacksonville transportation Authority is hosting a public forum where you can talk one-on-one with the people managing different projects right now and see the vision for future projects.

Strategic Planning Director Brad Thoburn says they are always looking for input from the public, especially when looking at where transportation planning is moving in the future.

“Northeast Florida is growing still and the growth is happening outside of Jacksonville, transportation issues are regional in nature,” he says.

Because of that, some of the projects are regional as well.  One idea in the long term vision is a commuter rail system.  More immediately, JTA officials are working on bus rapid transit, park-and-ride opportunities, and other ways to boost accessibility throughout Jacksonville.

JTA Spokesman John Finotti says there will be about 10 stations at the forum today, each staffed with projects managers who can answer your questions on these projects.  They also welcome feedback and concerns you have.

Both say planning a larger vision like this can be difficult with so many funding questions, but they work with all the resources they have.  The most steady source of the past few years, a gas tax, is no longer a reliable stream.

“Because of the higher gas prices and more fuel efficient cars, those dollars have been shrinking,” Finotti says.

But there are still other opportunities to pursue to make these plans happen.

The forum will take place in two sessions Thursday- one from 11am-1pm and one from 4pm-7pm.  Both session are held at the Prime F. Osborn Convention Center.

If you cannot attend, Thoburn says they still welcome your input year-round.  You can find the strategic vision outlined on JTA's website.