JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) is facing intense backlash following the announcement of a massive $39 million budget shortfall, a crisis that will result in the layoffs of approximately 150 employees and the suspension of the city’s iconic Skyway service this November.
As the agency scrambles to stabilize its finances, critics are sounding the alarm, alleging that the collapse was a predictable disaster caused by mismanagement and ignored warnings. Among the most vocal critics is Megan Hayward, a former JTA board member who claims she was ousted after repeatedly questioning the agency’s heavy spending on the NAVI autonomous vehicle program.
“I looked at Mayor Donna Deegan before I left, and I said, if you guys do not take this seriously, this is going to be your JEA scandal,” Hayward said, referencing the city’s infamous failed utility sale. “It could have been avoided if the NAVI project had been shut down sooner.”
Hayward contends that the NAVI project ballooned by more than $20 million beyond its original $250 million budget, characterizing the spending as a manifestation of “complete ego and hubris” by the executive team. She is now calling for a formal criminal investigation into the management of agency funds, particularly given the involvement of federal grants.
City Council member Rory Diamond echoed these concerns, slamming the mayor’s administration for its lack of oversight. Taking to social media, Diamond wrote, “Never forget, Mayor Deegan cheered as JTA was driven into a ditch.” Diamond noted that he and other city leaders had been “screaming from the mountaintops” about the agency’s financial instability for years, yet those warnings were dismissed.
In a statement, the Mayor’s Office pushed back against the criticism, claiming the administration was kept in the dark regarding the “dire nature” of the JTA’s finances until the agency provided notification Thursday morning. The Mayor’s Office emphasized that it is now focused on finding solutions and assisting the roughly 150 impacted workers through the City’s Employee Services Division.
“Hyperpartisan finger-pointing about decisions made by an independent agency won’t move us forward,” the statement read, adding that the city remains committed to long-term transparency and the restoration of reliable transit.
For the Jacksonville residents who depend on the bus system, the fallout is already creating anxiety. Shacara Miller, a daily commuter, expressed disbelief at the announcement. “Because of how late I get back and forth to the terminal, it’s going to be kind of hard with all the budget cuts,” she said.
Hayward voiced particular concern for those on the front lines—mechanics and drivers—who are bearing the brunt of the cuts while, in her view, high-level executives avoided accountability. As the JTA moves toward a January 1 halt for its autonomous vehicle program, the debate over how the city’s transportation infrastructure reached this point continues to intensify.
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