The Jacksonville Transportation Authority has announced a new service that will build on public transportation options in Clay County called Clay Community Transportation.
Starting Monday, passengers will be able to access the new service through the Red or Blue lines.
Combined, the service will provide transportation to 11 different locations, including the Clay County Library, Orange Park Mall, Orange Park Medical Center and Clay County Courthouse.
Vice President and Chief Transportation Office, Lisa Darnall said they worked to find major destinations for people to board the bus.
“We do have a route deviation on these routes,” Darnall said. “So (if) somebody is not able to get to a bus stop, we can deviate the bus to pick them up.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Clay County has been seeing a steady increase in population for decades. From 2016 to 2017, the county had a population increase of nearly 5,000 people.
As the county continues to grow, residents said the new public transportation options were needed for the community.
“The growth is good,” resident Cameron Vancleer said. “I mean, it’s been needed for a while. I understand budgets and stuff like that and the fact that Orange Park didn’t have a lot to offer before, but now that it’s expanding and more and more people are moving into the area, It’s required.”
The new service will run Monday through Friday, starting at 5:45 a.m. and ending at 7:15 p.m. Find more information here: www.jtafla.com/clay-community-transportation.