The First Coast Flyer is a
bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit (BRT), also called a busway or transitway, is a bus-based public transport system designed to have much more capacity, reliability and other quality features than a conventional bus system. Typically, a BRT system includes ...
(BRT) system in
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the seat of Duval County, with which the ...
, owned and operated by the
Jacksonville Transportation Authority
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) is the independent agency responsible for public transit in the city of Jacksonville, Florida, and roadway infrastructure that connects northeast Florida. However, they do not maintain any roadways. ...
(JTA). It currently consists of four radial routes running north, southwest, southeast, and east from the
Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...
in
Downtown Jacksonville
Downtown Jacksonville is the historic core and central business district (CBD) of Jacksonville, Florida USA. It comprises the earliest area of the city to be developed and is located in its geographic center along the narrowing point of the St. ...
, where it connects to the
Jacksonville Skyway
The Jacksonville Skyway is an automated people mover in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, operated by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA). Opening in 1989 with three stations in Downtown Jacksonville, the Skyway was extended in 19 ...
. The first phase, including stations in Downtown Jacksonville and the northbound
Green Line, opened in December 2015, with the southbound
Blue Line opening in 2016. Additional phases, including the eastbound
Red Line and southwestern
Orange Line opened in 2018 and 2021, respectively.
History and planning
The
Jacksonville Transportation Authority
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) is the independent agency responsible for public transit in the city of Jacksonville, Florida, and roadway infrastructure that connects northeast Florida. However, they do not maintain any roadways. ...
began studying building a
rapid transit
Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT), also known as heavy rail or metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport generally found in urban areas. A rapid transit system that primarily or traditionally runs below the surface may be c ...
system for Jacksonville in 2000, and identified
bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit (BRT), also called a busway or transitway, is a bus-based public transport system designed to have much more capacity, reliability and other quality features than a conventional bus system. Typically, a BRT system includes ...
as the best fit for some corridors. The North Florida Transportation Planning Organization added the BRT system to the city's long-range plan. After years of planning, the system, named the First Coast Flyer, broke ground in 2014 with transit improvements in
Downtown Jacksonville
Downtown Jacksonville is the historic core and central business district (CBD) of Jacksonville, Florida USA. It comprises the earliest area of the city to be developed and is located in its geographic center along the narrowing point of the St. ...
. The system opened on December 7, 2015, with service Downtown and on the Green Line, running north to
Interstate 295. About a year after the system opened, the Blue Line opened for service, running south to
The Avenues at the intersection of
U.S. 1 (Philips Highway) and
Southside Boulevard
State Road 115 (SR 115) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Florida.
History
SR 115 was built in separately named segments by the Jacksonville Expressway Authority. The land for the southern section, south of Beach Boulevard, was donated by ...
near
Interstate 95
Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from U.S. Route 1, US Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Miami, Florida, to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between M ...
.
Routes
Currently, the First Coast Flyer serves stations in
Downtown Jacksonville
Downtown Jacksonville is the historic core and central business district (CBD) of Jacksonville, Florida USA. It comprises the earliest area of the city to be developed and is located in its geographic center along the narrowing point of the St. ...
and along the Green, Blue, Red, and Orange Lines.
Downtown service runs on Northbound and Southbound routes, and features twelve stations and dedicated lanes for its buses. Downtown service runs from the
Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...
(next to the
Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center), north to the
Rosa Parks Transit Station
Rosa Parks Transit Station is an intermodal transit station in Downtown Jacksonville, Florida. It is operated by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and previously served as Jacksonville's main city bus station as well as a station for the ...
, and south to a station at Kings Avenue on the
Southbank.
Green Line
The North Corridor/Green Line Route 102 runs 9.39 miles north through the
Springfield
Springfield may refer to:
* Springfield (toponym), the place name in general
Places and locations Australia
* Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast)
* Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council)
* Springfield, Queenslan ...
and
Northside
Northside or North Side may refer to:
Music
* Northside (band), a musical group from Manchester, England
* NorthSide, an American record label
* NorthSide Festival (Denmark), a music festival in Aarhus, Denmark
* "Norf Norf", a 2015 song by Vinc ...
areas. It runs from the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center to
Interstate 295 at Lem Turner Road. It serves 11 stations.
Blue Line
The Southeast Corridor/Blue Line Route 107 runs south through the
LaVilla
LaVilla is a historic African American neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida and a was formerly an independent city. It developed after the American Civil War and was eventually annexed to the city of Jacksonville in 1887 and is now considered pa ...
,
Southbank,
San Marco
San Marco is one of the six sestiere (Venice), sestieri of Venice, lying in the heart of the city as the main place of Venice. San Marco also includes the island of San Giorgio Maggiore. Although the district includes Piazza San Marco, Saint ...
, and
Southside Southside or South Side may refer to:
Places
Australia
* Southside, Queensland, a semi-rural locality in the Gympie Region
Canada
* South Side, Newfoundland and Labrador, a community in the St. George's Bay area on the southwest coast of New ...
areas. It runs from the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center to
The Avenues at the intersection of
U.S. 1 (Philips Highway) and
Southside Boulevard
State Road 115 (SR 115) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Florida.
History
SR 115 was built in separately named segments by the Jacksonville Expressway Authority. The land for the southern section, south of Beach Boulevard, was donated by ...
near
Interstate 95
Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from U.S. Route 1, US Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Miami, Florida, to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between M ...
. It serves 12 stations.
Red Line
The Southeast Corridor/Red Line Route 109 runs east from Downtown to
Jacksonville Beach
Jacksonville Beach is a coastal resort city in Duval County, Florida, United States. It was incorporated on May 22, 1907, as Pablo Beach, and would later change its name to Jacksonville Beach in 1925. The city is part of group of communities col ...
along
Arlington Expressway
The Arlington Expressway, which carries the unsigned State Road 10A (SR 10A) and mostly also the signed State Road 115 in Jacksonville, Florida, is a freeway that heads east from Downtown Jacksonville over the Mathews Bridge to Atlantic Bouleva ...
,
Southside Boulevard
State Road 115 (SR 115) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Florida.
History
SR 115 was built in separately named segments by the Jacksonville Expressway Authority. The land for the southern section, south of Beach Boulevard, was donated by ...
and
Beach Boulevard. It serves 17 stations.
Orange Line
The Southwest Corridor/Orange Line runs south from the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center through
Riverside and Avondale
Riverside and Avondale are two adjacent and closely associated neighborhoods, alternatively considered one continuous neighborhood, of Jacksonville, Florida. The area is primarily residential, but includes some commercial districts, including Fi ...
to
Orange Park along
Blanding Boulevard
State Road 21 (SR 21) runs mostly in a southwest-to-northeast direction in the US state of Florida from McMeekin to Jacksonville. It is also known as Blanding Boulevard for much of its length.
SR 21 is one of three routes, along with ...
. It serves 13 stations.
References
{{USBRT
Bus rapid transit in Florida
Transportation in Jacksonville, Florida
2015 establishments in Florida