Jacksonville is the largest city by total area (land and water combined) in the contiguous United States, and it feels like it — this is a car-first city, and a single bus agency, JTA, can’t cover all of it on its own. But downtown, the Southbank, and the beaches corridor are genuinely workable without a car, with buses, a bus-rapid-transit network, and a small passenger ferry across the St. Johns River.
The basics
JTA (Jacksonville Transportation Authority) runs everything: more than 30 local bus routes, the First Coast Flyer — four bus-rapid-transit lines (Green, Orange, Blue, Red) with branded stations and signal priority — the St. Johns River Ferry, and Connexion paratransit. JTA also runs the Skyway, a free elevated monorail that has linked downtown and the Southbank since the 1990s — but as of November 2, 2026, JTA is pausing Skyway service while it holds community talks on whether to repurpose or remove it. Until that’s resolved, the First Coast Flyer and a few local routes cover the same ground downtown.
JTA is in the middle of a genuine budget crunch — layoffs, service reductions, and a $40 million line of credit to cover unpaid bills have all made local news this year — so if you’re visiting, double-check routes and hours in the MyJTA app rather than assuming last year’s schedule still holds.
How to pay
- Cash on board: $1.75 for a regular bus or First Coast Flyer ride, 75¢ reduced fare. Bring exact change — drivers can’t make change.
- MyJTA app: Buy a single ride or a multi-day pass, then board by scanning a QR code — no cash needed. The app’s Best Fare Policy automatically caps what you pay: if your single rides in a day add up to more than a day pass would cost, it refunds the difference.
- Token Transit: JTA’s mobile ticketing also runs through the Token Transit app — buy a single ride or pass and board the same way, with a QR code.
- STAR Card: A reloadable card for riders with disabilities or Medicare, which unlocks the reduced fare.
There’s no fare gate to tap through — you pay or show your pass as you board.
Fares
| Cash fare | 1-Day Pass | 3-Day | 7-Day | 31-Day | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | $1.75 | $4.50 | $12 | $20 | $65 |
| Reduced (disability / Medicare) | 75¢ | $1.50 | — | — | $32 |
| Seniors 65+ | Free (with FL ID or Senior STAR Card) | — | — | — | — |
Each cash fare covers one ride. If you’re making several trips in a day, the $4.50 Day Pass is the simpler option and breaks even after about three rides.
The St. Johns River Ferry, out at Mayport, is priced separately: $1 for a walk-on passenger or bicycle (50¢ with a Senior or Reduced Fare STAR Card), $7 for a car on weekdays ($8 weekends).
Getting from the airport
JTA Route 1 (North Main) is the public bus link between Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) and downtown’s Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center (JRTC), where you can connect to other bus routes and the First Coast Flyer. It’s a regular, standard-fare city bus route — not a premium airport express — running about every 30 minutes as of the November 2026 schedule cuts (it was more frequent before). The fare is the same $1.75 base fare as any other JTA bus ride. Check current departure times in the MyJTA app or Transit app before you plan around it.
Apps to download
- MyJTA — the official app for buying fares, boarding with a QR scan, and trip planning with real-time arrivals.
- Transit — a solid third-party option for real-time arrivals and turn-by-turn directions.
- Google Maps — fine for general trip planning; it has JTA’s route data built in.
When it runs
The First Coast Flyer BRT lines run every 20 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends — the most frequent, most predictable service JTA offers. Regular bus route frequency varies a lot line to line, so check the MyJTA app for your specific route rather than assuming turn-up-and-go service.
The St. Johns River Ferry departs every half hour, roughly 6am to 6:45pm on weekdays and 8am to 8:45pm on weekends, with a crossing of about five minutes.
Accessibility
Connexion is JTA’s ADA and Transportation Disadvantaged (TD) paratransit service: shared, door-to-door rides anywhere in Duval County, daily from 5am to 11pm. Book one to seven days ahead; fares are $3 for ADA-certified riders and $3.50 for TD riders, with exact fare required at boarding. Visitors who are ADA-certified in another city can also qualify — call ahead to arrange it.
Connexion Plus is the same-day version: door-to-door within Duval County, booked at least two hours ahead, with a $10 base fare for trips up to 12 miles (plus $2.50 per mile beyond that). Its personal care attendants ride free. On regular Connexion, an ADA-certified rider’s attendant also rides free, but a TD rider’s attendant pays the $3.50 TD fare.
Etiquette & local quirks
- Have your fare or mobile ticket ready before boarding — drivers don’t carry change, so fumbling for exact cash holds up the bus.
- Front seats are reserved for riders with disabilities. Offer yours up if someone needs it.
- No eating, drinking, smoking, or vaping on board, including e-cigarettes.
- Keep your headphones in. Phones and music players are fine, but only with earphones.
- Exit through the rear door, and fold strollers before boarding so they don’t block the aisle.
- Pets ride only as service animals.
Good to know
- Seniors ride free. Anyone 65 or older rides fixed-route JTA buses at no cost with a Florida driver’s license, Florida ID, or Senior STAR Card — out-of-state ID doesn’t qualify.
- JTA is mid-overhaul. Between the Skyway pause, a 2026 budget shortfall, layoffs, and a $40 million line of credit to cover unpaid bills, service details are shifting faster than usual this year. The MyJTA app’s service alerts are the most current source.
- This is a big, spread-out city. Jacksonville’s consolidated city-county limits cover about 874 square miles of land and water — the largest total area of any city in the contiguous US. JTA covers downtown, the Southbank, and a handful of corridors well; for the beaches, Mayport, or most suburban stops, budget extra time and expect infrequent service.