Jacksonville City Council members are weighing a $30 million lifeline for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority as the agency confronts a $39 million budget shortfall that could affect Mandarin bus riders.

The council is weighing Ordinance 2026-0780, which would provide JTA access to up to $30 million from local option gas-tax funds. The JTA Board of Directors voted unanimously Sept. 23 to accept the agreement, and the measure advanced through City Council committees, News4Jax reported.

A full council vote is expected Tuesday, Oct. 13.

The gas-tax fund holds about $47 million in unspent JTA funds, according to Action News Jax. Providing JTA the full $30 million would leave roughly $17 million in the fund.

JTA faces $39 million budget shortfall

JTA struggled with vendor payments and payroll over the summer as its financial problems intensified.

The agency said in September that expenses for the budget year ending Sept. 30 totaled about $178 million, while projected revenue for the budget year beginning Oct. 1 was about $139 million, leaving a $39 million gap. Jtafla

JTA has responded by cutting contracts, reducing its workforce and scaling back transit services. The agency announced plans to eliminate 44 administrative positions and up to 150 operations positions. Jtafla

The agency also faced dwindling cash reserves as officials worked to stabilize its finances.

Mandarin riders face reduced service

JTA serves the Mandarin area through routes including Route 17, St. Augustine Road/San Jose, and Route 27, Philips Highway/Avenues, along with on-demand services in parts of the area.

Route 25, San Jose/University Hub, was eliminated beginning in October because of low ridership. JTA directed riders near Hendricks Avenue to St. Augustine Road and riders in other portions of the former route to alternative services. Jtafla

Beginning Nov. 2, fixed-route bus service will generally operate on a Saturday-level schedule Monday through Friday as part of JTA's broader cost-cutting plan.

First Coast Flyer routes will maintain 20-minute service, while routes 1, 3, 8, 10 and 19 will operate every 30 minutes on weekdays. Seven other routes that had been operating every 30 minutes will move to 60-minute frequencies, while 12 routes will remain at their existing 60-minute frequencies. Jtafla

Paratransit services are not among the service reductions JTA announced.

Skyway and NAVI also face cuts

The reductions extend beyond traditional bus service.

JTA plans to pause Downtown Skyway operations beginning Nov. 2. The agency also plans to pause NAVI, its autonomous vehicle service, after Dec. 31. Jtafla

The cuts come alongside reductions in professional-service and other contracts that JTA estimates will save about $25 million.

Council president calls for focus on core transit

Council President Nick Howland said the city should prioritize basic transportation services as officials reconsider JTA's spending.

"I personally believe it's going to be optimizing fixed-route busing and paratransit, and it's probably going to be de-optimizing and scaling down things such as NAVI, the Skyway, and even some of the longer unfunded parts of the Emerald Trail," Howland told News4Jax on Oct. 6. "We need to get back to the basics, back to the core, and we need to deliver optimal transportation to the people of Jacksonville." WJXT

Howland also reconvened the council's Financial Audit and Oversight Committee to investigate JTA's financial problems. The scrutiny comes as the Florida Attorney General's Office conducts a separate investigation involving the authority. Jax Today

The full City Council is expected to consider the $30 million proposal Oct. 13.