Jacksonville, FL (February 4, 2019) — Jacksonville Transportation Authority has a new ride-sharing service for users to be picked and dropped off almost anywhere they’d like – ReadiRide. JTA sums up the new transportation as an affordable service “that puts customers in control of when and where one would want to be picked up and dropped off.”
ReadiRide’s service became available to customers in December of 2018. The process is simple and similar to the well-known transportation alternatives, Uber and Lyft. A rider would contact a ReadiRide reservationist at the designated number (904) 679-4555 to schedule a pick-up. During the phone call the rider would give JTA’s reservationist the following information: date, pick up time, pick-up and drop-off locations, number of passengers, and any special accommodations necessary.
“Public transportation is changing with the times,” Councilman Becton explained. “No longer is a 50+ seat bus the answer for how residents will move through-out our city,” added Councilman Becton. “ReadiRide will provide transportation in replace of the larger bus services, providing door to door accommodation while connecting riders with the larger public transportation network or for a nominal fee more, directly to one’s destination”.
JTA spokeswoman, Leigh Ann Rassler said in a News4Jax Interview back in November that ReadiRide fits the times and what customers these days prefers as a transportation option. “Over the past few years, [customers’] wants and needs are changing, and we realize we need to embrace all of these options and work collaboratively to make sure we take care of our customers,” said Rassler.
The service is offered 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, and currently available in designated communities, which includes the Beaches, Highlands, Northside, Southeast, and Southwest of Jacksonville.
Click an area below to view the service map.
Beaches I Highlands I Northside I Southeast I Southwest
According to the ReadiRide brochure, “curb-to-curb service must be in the same designated zone”. For example, if you are picked up within the Beaches zone, you must be dropped off within the Beaches zone. Call at least two hours in advance to request an arrival time to your destination.”
District 11’s, ReadiRide Southeast service replaces JTA’s former Community Shuttle service. Its current footprint encompasses the same area the shuttle used to cover, which is defined within the US-1 corridor from about I-295 to the North, to 9B from the South, and I-95 as a western edge. Councilman Becton stated “that he hopes to see that area expand in the near future”.
“This service is a great solution to encourages residents to use the First Coast Flyer network because it enables riders to go anywhere within in our city.” Councilman Becton stated. “Getting to the local bus stop or Park-n-Ride location is sometimes challenging.” Councilman Becton added.
The fares for this exclusive ridership aren’t expensive. In order for a passenger to be picked up and dropped off at a non-JTA location, a customer would pay $2.00; transportation to or from a JTA bus stop would only cost a customer a discounted price of 50¢. Customers can pay these fees on the MyJTA app, or by cash only, exact change is required.
Click the Button to learn more about the ReadiRide service and JTA’s additional transportation options.