(Jacksonville, FL – April 15, 2025) Today, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) Board of Directors unanimously approved Resolution 2025-07, authorizing the JTA CEO to execute a Letter of Intent to reserve purpose-built autonomous shuttles for the continued development of the Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C) program.
The resolution authorizes the CEO to negotiate and execute the purchase of the initial 14 autonomous shuttles, the HOLON Mover, for deployment along the Bay Street Innovation Corridor, Phase 1 of the U2C program. As future phases advance, the CEO is authorized to negotiate purchase orders for up to an additional 86 vehicles. This resolution is alignment with under the State of Florida Automated Transit Vehicle Procurement (P-24-019).
HOLON recently selected Jacksonville for its first U.S.-based large-scale manufacturing facility, a major economic win for the region projected to create over 800 jobs and generate nearly $300 million in local economic impact over the next four years.
“This is a major step forward for the Ultimate Urban Circulator program and for HOLON’s presence in Jacksonville,” said CEO Nat Ford. “It is a testament to our commitment to reimagining mobility in a way that fuels economic growth and fosters innovation. We are not merely modernizing mobility solutions; we are shaping the future of urban life in Jacksonville.”
Aundra Wallace, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors commented, “This is a critical next step forward for an innovative project that puts our community on the map as a leader in autonomous vehicle technology and manufacturing.”
The U2C program will transform transit in Downtown Jacksonville and better connect the urban core with key destinations in surrounding neighborhoods such as Springfield, Brooklyn, Riverside and San Marco. The effort began in 2015 with a commitment to modernize and expand the Skyway system. This initiative builds on a decade of stakeholder engagement, collaborative planning, and is supported by federal, state, and local funding.
Key Components of Resolution 2025-07:
For more information about the U2C program, visit u2c.jtafla.com
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About the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA)
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) is an independent state agency serving Jacksonville, Florida, and Northeast Florida with multi-modal responsibilities. The JTA provides varied mass public transit services and builds roads, bridges, and other infrastructure to enhance mobility in Jacksonville. Public transportation services include BRT and regular bus service, paratransit, the St. Johns River Ferry, Skyway APM, and other mobility and on-demand services in Duval, Clay, Nassau, and St. Johns counties. To learn more, visit www.jtafla.com.
About HOLON
HOLON is a subsidiary of the BENTELER Group. With well-founded know-how in automotive technology and industrialization as well as the continuous implementation of new technologies for electromobility, the company develops autonomous movers for the vehicle market of the future. To do this, HOLON works with technology companies, local public transport companies and mobility-as-a-service providers. For more information, visit www.driveholon.com.
Media contacts
For media enquiries, please contact:
Juliana Johnson
Director of Communications
Jacksonville Transportation Authority
jujohnson@jtafla.com
904-677-2153 (mobile)