Comprehensive AV Testing In August 2024, the JTA launched the Brooklyn AV Circulator, a new pilot program in the Brooklyn neighborhood downtown that offered free rides to the curious public. The service, provided for two months, operated from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. weekdays during peak lunch hours which enabled riders to stop at one of the 14 restaurants in the Brooklyn area. Because of its expertise with AV technology and procurement, in November 2024, the JTA in partnership with the Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA) sponsored, negotiated, and awarded a five-year statewide contract to purchase autonomous vehicles. The three companies included in the contract are ADASTEC Corp, Beep, and May Mobility, which each meet the standards to manufacture AV’s for public use. With the launch of the U 2 C program less than 12 months away, the JTA worked overtime in 2025 to ensure the system was safe and ready to go. In February 2025, the Authority signed an agreement with FSCJ to create internships and a curriculum for students interested in pursuing degrees in the field of automotive technology and related areas. The program was designed to help prepare a new generation of transportation executives to work in mass transportation and with AV innovations. In March 2025, testing of U 2 C vehicles began in live traffic along the Bay Street corridor to ensure their safety and reliability. In April 2025, the JTA inched closer to introducing autonomous vehicles to Jacksonville and the country by opening the state-of-the-art Autonomous Innovation Center that will store, service, monitor, and maintain the JTA’s U 2 C fleet. A duo highlight of the AIC grand opening was the unveiling of the U 2 C’s service name, NAVI, which stands for Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation.
34 | ULTIMATE URBAN CIRCULATOR – A CASE STUDY
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