JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — JTA riders could soon see longer wait times as the authority prepares to shift many weekday bus routes to a Saturday schedule. Interim JTA CEO Cleveland Ferguson says the change is part of cost cutting measures meant to address JTA’s financial problems.
JTA has already made cuts across the agency, including employees, executives, Navi, and the Skyway. Now riders may feel the impact through reduced weekday frequency.
Patrick Colas rides JTA several times a week.
“I’m normally about three, four times a week,” Colas said.
He worries that the changes will affect families.
“You have to think about the moms and the kids too,” Colas said.
For example, route 14 for Normandy Boulevard currently comes every 30 minutes Monday through Friday. Under the Saturday schedule, it comes every 50 minutes. The change nearly doubles the wait time.
“Now with the delay, they kind of change the temperament of everyone’s day lives,” Colas said.
Ferguson says JTA will keep regular frequency for routes with the highest ridership. The First Coast Flyer will continue running every 20 minutes. Routes serving North Main Street, Moncrief, the Beaches, Town Center, Atlantic Boulevard and Arlington will still come every 30 minutes. Twelve remaining routes will run every hour.
He says staffing cuts are also part of the financial strain.
“It could be in addition to bus operators, maintenance technicians, utility workers,” Ferguson said.
The route time changes are expected to begin November 2.
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