Jacksonville Transportation Authority CEO's Toll Mention Sparks Opposition from Residents and Mayor
A recent discussion by Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) interim CEO Cleveland Ferguson regarding the agency's tolling authority has generated significant pushback from Jacksonville residents and Mayor Donna Deegan. During a City Council's Financial Oversight and Audit Select Committee meeting, Ferguson mentioned JTA's statutory authority to collect tolls, referencing a hypothetical project involving a private partner and an existing JTA asset like the Skyway to generate revenue. This statement comes amidst JTA's efforts to address a nearly $40 million budget shortfall and recent layoffs of almost 200 employees. Despite the CEO's remarks, JTA has clarified that there is no active proposal or recommendation to reinstate tolls. The topic is particularly sensitive in Jacksonville, where tolls were used to fund bridge construction from the 1950s until their abolition in 1987, when voters opted for a half-cent sales tax instead.
