(Jacksonville, FL – November 5, 2025) On Monday, October 27th, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), hosted a 13-member delegation of transportation professionals from Tokyo, Japan representing the Highway Industry Development Organization (HIDO). The visit focused on the JTA’s Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C) and Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation (NAVI) program.
The day-long program kicked-off with remarks and presentations by JTA CEO Nat Ford and the JTA’s leadership team from across the agency, as well as Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan and Chris Miller, Jacksonville City Council member and District Director for U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, who welcomed the Japanese delegation. She provided an overview of the City’s downtown revitalization effort and how the U2C system fits into the City Council’s plan to bring more people, businesses, and entertainment options to Bay Street, specifically, and Downtown Jacksonville, generally.
“It was an honor to welcome the Japanese transportation delegation to Jacksonville and show them what the JTA is doing with autonomous vehicle technology, and the impact it will have on our city, on our economy, and in the lives of Jacksonville residents and tourists,” stated JTA CEO Nat Ford.
The program featured a robust dialogue about how the JTA launched the first permanent, public autonomous vehicle (AV) mobility service in the United States. The exchange covered a range of topics, such as infrastructure development, applied technologies, funding resources, public education campaigns, and transit-oriented development, to name a few. Delegates also toured the JTA’s Autonomous Innovation Center (AIC) and rode on the NAVI through downtown to experience the service first-hand.
“I’m here to learn from you, which we understand that you are the foremost and the most advanced leading community for the public transportation to AV,” stated Mr. Watanabe, head of the HIDO delegation from Japan, at the JTA’s Board of Directors meeting. “I am very happy to see that there will be a private and official relationship as a collaborative party of public transportation needs in Japan to be more automated,” Watanabe said.
The Japanese delegation’s visit was timely, as the JTA held their monthly Board of Directors meeting and witnessed the signing of two agreements with German AV manufacturer HOLON, which will begin constructing America’s first AV production facility in Jacksonville, FL.
“We are grateful for the visit from Director Watanabe and his esteemed delegation from Japan. Their interest in NAVI speaks to the JTA’s global leadership in autonomous vehicles and the future of public transportation. It also represents that vast economic impact that this project is bringing to Jacksonville.” stated Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan.
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, Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation (NAVI), 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.