JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — While inflation has driven up costs for many goods and services in recent years, Jacksonville’s bus passengers will soon benefit from a fare cut. This February, the bus fare will decrease from $1.75 to $1.

This fare rollback takes the price back to its 2011 levels, offering a nostalgic twist for long-time commuters.

Additionally, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) will eliminate fares for the NAVI transit shuttles in the downtown area effective December 15, making those rides free once again.

The upcoming fare reduction is set to impact thousands of bus commuters. JTA anticipates that lowering the fare will draw in new riders and potentially increase overall revenue from fares. The agency will monitor the effects of this change during a pilot program running from February 1 to August 31.

JTA board members unanimously approved the fare reduction at their Dec. 11 meeting.

“It was out of the blue to even think of reducing fares,” JTA board member Elaine Brown said. “And in this time when we have so many people that are pinching pennies, it is certainly very timely for us to be giving — and I’m going to say this word — but I consider it a gift. This is a gift to Jacksonville.”

“There is no other metropolitan region in the state of Florida, let alone the Southeast that we know of, that’s proposing such an initiative,” JTA board member Aundra Wallace said.

He said the JTA staff put forward the idea for a fare cut without prompting from the board or anyone outside the agency. He said the amount of fare cut isn’t “25 cents or 50 cents” but is a substantial change at 75 cents.

“JTA is known for innovation and this is, I think, an innovative approach that we’ll be looking forward to seeing the results,” Wallace said.

Editor’s note: This story was first published by our news partners, The Florida Times-Union.