Transportation corridor with driverless shuttles may come to downtown Jacksonville

A proposed public transportation project could soon bring driverless shuttles to downtown Jacksonville.

“The Bay Street Innovation Corridor” is expected to cost just under $63 million.

Existing elevated skyway lanes would ramp down to the street level and skyway shuttles would be replaced by driverless vehicles.

Fifteen driverless vehicles would be able to transport passengers. The transit network would end at the Sports Complex at the east end of Bay Street.

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority and other partnering agencies have applied for a $25 million federal grant to help pay for the project. The rest would be covered by JTA and the Jacksonville Electric Authority, the state and private money.

Action News Jax learned the federal BUILD Grant is the same one the city has applied for in order to take down the Hart Bridge ramps.

JTA is testing different autonomous vehicles. Transportation leaders have long been interested in bringing them downtown.

Cox Media Group