JACKSONVILLE, FL — The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) marked a milestone in modern mobility with the grand opening of its new Autonomous Innovation Center (AIC) and the unveiling of the city’s official autonomous vehicle (AV) service name—NAVI, short for Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation.

The ribbon-cutting event on April 17 at the AIC’s location in LaVilla brought together city leaders, transportation officials, and community members to witness firsthand how Jacksonville is preparing to integrate autonomous technology into its public transportation network.

The AIC will serve as the hub for Jacksonville’s expanding AV operations, housing, maintaining, and monitoring its autonomous fleet. The debut phase of the NAVI service will roll out this summer, offering AV service along a 3.5-mile route as part of the Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C) project. The corridor will connect major areas of Downtown Jacksonville, from the Central Business District to the Sports & Entertainment District.

Guests at the event were given tours of the facility and a close-up look at the AV shuttles, which feature designs inspired by the Jacksonville skyline—symbolizing the program’s goal of linking the city’s core with surrounding communities and contributing to downtown revitalization.

“The JTA’s AV program will be the first-of-its-kind, fully autonomous public transportation system network in the United States,” said JTA CEO Nat Ford. “The opening of the AIC is one of the final milestones before introducing NAVI to our transportation system. This state-of-the-art facility lays a strong foundation for the operation of the AV fleet and supports the vision of a better-connected, vibrant Downtown Jacksonville.”

The 18,798-square-foot AIC is designed with advanced infrastructure to support the operational needs of autonomous vehicles. The two-story building includes maintenance bays, AV charging stations, a vehicle observation deck, and a full-scale command center equipped with a high-tech display system to track vehicle performance, simulate scenarios, and manage the AV network in real time. Eventually, the building will be powered by 129 rooftop solar panels and a microgrid designed to offset 100% of its energy needs.

The project was brought to life by the Balfour Beatty Vision 2 Reality (V2R) team and key partners Beep, Superior Construction Company Southeast, WGI, Inc., Urban SDK, Miller Electric, and Grayline.

"We are excited to bring this innovative project to life by introducing cutting-edge technology and infrastructure in Jacksonville,” said Dave Campbell, Balfour Beatty operations director in Florida. “The V2R team's outstanding collaboration and expertise have delivered not just a hub of innovation, but also pioneering achievements in AV installation, cybersecurity integration, and data management systems, including over three miles of Intelligent Corridor Construction. Both the facility and our operational excellence approach will serve as models for cities across the country looking to develop similar solutions for years to come.”

As cities across the U.S. grapple with how to meet future transportation needs, Jacksonville’s NAVI program places it among the leaders redefining urban mobility. The AIC represents more than just a facility—it’s a launchpad for future transit possibilities.

Originally reported by Jacksonville Transportation Authority in Balfour Beatty.