Regional rail for a more connected Jacksonville

Like most midsize major American cities, Jacksonville once had the ambition to enhance transit with bold ideas. But, also like most American cities, it struggled to make these projects come to life.

After almost two decades of planning and studies, the city’s First Coast Commuter Rail (FCCR) initiative has made little progress toward actually becoming a reality. According to my hours of deep research—and my conversation with a plugged-in transit advocate from the Jacksonville area—it’s pretty clear that regional rail is not happening anytime soon, as there have been no public updates on FCCR since the end of 2023. Further, JTA is focusing on other flashy projects that serve no real purpose and are an expensive alternative to adding a few new bus routes.

But still, as a frequent visitor, I wanted to look more into JTA’s plans and the potential for a great system.