The Jacksonville Transportation Authority will eliminate four bus routes, restructure others and reduce weekday service starting Monday, Nov. 2, as it works to close a $39 million budget shortfall.

Routes 18, 25, 32 and 82 will be discontinued, while a new Route 34 will begin operating, according to a JTA service alert.

Most weekday buses will shift to schedules comparable to Saturday service, potentially increasing wait times for passengers.

Which bus routes change

JTA identified Routes 10, 23, 24, 28, 31 and 105 Orange Line for changes to their paths, along with the newly introduced Route 34.

The agency also listed schedule adjustments for 23 routes: 1, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 53, 81, 105 Orange Line and 202 Mayport Express.

Route 32 appears on both JTA's elimination and schedule-change lists. The agency has not explained the discrepancy.

According to a Sept. 17 JTA announcement, the First Coast Flyer bus rapid transit system will maintain 20-minute service.

Routes 1, 3, 8, 10 and 19 will operate every 30 minutes on weekdays. Seven routes currently running every 30 minutes will shift to hourly service, while 12 others will retain their existing hourly schedules.

City approves $30 million loan amid budget cuts

The Jacksonville City Council voted unanimously among members present Oct. 13 to approve a $30 million interest-free loan funded through local-option gas tax revenue, according to Jacksonville Today. JTA must repay the loan by 2037.

The agency's financial challenges stem from a gap between $178 million in operating expenses for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30 and $139 million in projected revenue for the new fiscal year.

JTA plans to eliminate 44 administrative positions and up to 150 operations jobs.

City Council member Ron Salem, who represents At-Large Group 2, told Action News Jax that restoring reliable bus service should be a priority.

"That should be the first priority to get these bus routes back in line," Salem said.

Interim CEO Cleveland Ferguson III, who took over in August following Nathaniel Ford's departure, has said the agency needs long-term financial changes beyond immediate spending cuts.

Skyway suspension and updated schedules

Skyway operations will pause Nov. 2, while NAVI autonomous shuttle service is scheduled to stop Dec. 31.

Paratransit services, including Connexion and Connexion Plus, will continue without changes.

Passengers can obtain updated schedules at the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center at LaVilla, Duval County public libraries, Tax Collector's offices and CareerSource Northeast Florida locations.

JTA recommends checking individual routes before Nov. 2, particularly for passengers who rely on transfers. Schedules are available on JTA's website, or riders can call 904-630-3100.