Council member seeks answers on JTA's Ultimate Urban Circulator; JTA to brief committee Nov. 4

Council Member Rory Diamond told the City Council's DOGE special committee on Oct. 21 that he has submitted a set of 17 questions to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) seeking cost, ridership and governance details for the proposed Ultimate Urban Circulator (UTC).

Diamond said he remains skeptical about UTC’s value and cited reporting that a Navi pilot had only 11 riders per hour while the project’s budgeted cost he discussed was $65 million. He said he shared the questions with JTA leadership and requested a substantive response and a committee briefing.

Miss Busby, a JTA representative, confirmed the authority had received the questions and said staff are working through answers. Busby proposed the committee reconvene on Nov. 4 at 11:00 a.m. to review responses and invited subject-matter staff to attend; she said she would provide a run-of-show and try to circulate answers at least two to three days in advance of the meeting.

Council members asked that the answers be distributed before the meeting so members could prepare follow-up questions. Council Member Peluso and others raised funding questions tied to the local option gas tax and asked for clarity on what funds remain available for the project and what discretion the council retains.

Diamond said his intent is to get detailed responses and to allow committee members and the committee’s health consultant to review technical materials ahead of a robust discussion. The committee scheduled the Nov. 4 session and asked JTA staff to circulate written answers in advance.

No formal committee action or vote was recorded at the Oct. 21 meeting; the matter was set for follow-up and additional briefing.