Autonomous vehicle-based public transportation debuts in Jacksonville
Jacksonville Introduces First Autonomous Vehicle Public Transport Service
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) has made a significant stride in North America by launching its new autonomous vehicle service, NAVI. This project is a key component of a broader effort to make Jacksonville a leader in AV technology integration.
The NAVI project, which began operations on Monday, 30 June 2025, is not just a local endeavor but part of a wider effort to test and integrate AV technology into existing transport systems in a practical and publicly accessible way.
NAVI vehicles run along a 3.5-mile stretch of Bay Street in downtown Jacksonville, from Monday to Friday, from 7am to 7pm. The service corridor links Pearl Street and EverBank Stadium, stopping at 12 dedicated stations. These stations serve locations such as the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts, the Florida Theatre, the Naval Museum, hotels, restaurants, and venues.
Each vehicle accommodates up to nine passengers and is ADA-compliant. Initially, the fleet consists of 14 modified electric Ford e-Transit vans equipped with Oxa's automated driving system.
NAVI is described as the first autonomous vehicle public transport revenue service in the United States. The service will be fare-free until the end of September 2025.
The JTA's emphasis on the NAVI project underscores its role in testing and integrating AV technology into existing transport systems. The NAVI project is a part of a larger initiative, the Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C), which aims to upgrade Jacksonville's Skyway infrastructure for AV use over the next ten years.
The U2C initiative includes plans to link various neighborhoods within Jacksonville, including Springfield, Brooklyn, Riverside, and San Marco. The first phase of the U2C initiative, which includes the NAVI project, aims to help solve transportation challenges and build communities by maximizing independence and improving accessibility.
The first autonomous vehicle public transportation revenue service in the United States in 2025 began in Las Vegas with the launch of the robotaxi service by Amazon's subsidiary Zoox. Jacksonville's NAVI project follows suit, marking a significant step towards making Jacksonville a leader in AV technology integration and community development.
In future phases, the JTA plans to introduce HOLON autonomous shuttles, with availability expected from 2027. The U2C initiative, which links the downtown core with other neighbourhoods, is set to transform the way Jacksonville residents and visitors move around the city.
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