CUSTOM BUS SHELTERS SUPPORT JACKSONVILLE’S FIRST AUTONOMOUS TRANSIT SERVICE AND NORTHWEST CORRIDOR
LOCATION
Jacksonville, Florida is home to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, which serves residents across the region with fixed-route, paratransit, and express services. Jacksonville is the largest city by area in the continental United States, covering approximately 840 square miles, and serves as the economic driver for a seven-county Northeast Florida region of approximately 1.7 million residents.
JTA’s Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C) program is a three-phase investment in transit-oriented development designed to establish mixed-use communities anchored by walking and public transit increasing connectivity within Jacksonville’s urban core. At the center of that initiative is NAVI, the Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation service, the first public transportation service powered by autonomous vehicles in the United States.
PROJECT SCOPE
Tolar Manufacturing has partnered with JTA on two significant projects, delivering custom transit infrastructure that serves riders across the city.
For JTA’s NAVI service, Tolar was contracted by design-build partner Balfour-Beatty US to produce 12 custom bus shelters and 12 custom UTC totem kiosks.
Tolar’s custom NAVI shelters feature custom-patterned frosted glass wall panels with NAVI branding and ride details, and a distinctive custom red arrow-shaped roof glass. Each shelter is built on a steel frame with a fully welded structure, finished in Sparkle Silver super durable polyester powder coat with an anti-graffiti clear coat. Amenities include integrated LED lighting across the roof, electrical access in the center column, and a custom steel bench for rider comfort.
Each NAVI stop is also equipped with a 7-foot custom UTC totem kiosk featuring an all-aluminum blade design finished in matching Sparkle Silver powder coat, dual-sided 32-inch high-bright outdoor LCD displays, and a flush-mount intercom for rider information and accessibility needs.
Tolar also fabricated and installed 115 Sunset bus shelters as part of the nearly $14 million Northwest Jacksonville Corridor Improvements Project, projected to create 85 direct and 50 indirect jobs. Shelters feature solar-powered security lighting, real-time E-Paper displays, benches, trash receptacles, and bike racks. Fourteen shelters feature custom community art developed through JTA’s Northwest Corridor Public Art Initiative, alongside 60 PV Stop MAX solar pole units with JTA agency branding.
