Our city and our region are growing — and growing fast.
According to a recent University of Florida study, Duval County’s population is projected to increase from about 1.1 million residents today to more than 1.4 million by 2050. That’s nearly 250,000 more people calling Jacksonville home over the next 25 years. And this growth isn’t limited to Duval County. From Nassau County to St. Johns County, Northeast Florida is expanding at one of the fastest rates in the state. St. Johns County alone is expected to grow by more than 52 percent and surpass 600,000 residents by mid-century.
But there’s another trend that we at the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) are watching — our growing senior population. By 2050, the number of older adults in our community is expected to increase by nearly 47 percent. That growth brings opportunity, and responsibility. It means we must think differently about how we design transportation systems so that seniors can remain independent, active, and connected to the people and places that matter most.
One of the many things I’m proud of at the JTA is that seniors ride for FREE on our fixed routes buses. We realize seniors are on fixed incomes and that they rely on us to get to doctors appointments, social gatherings, and grocery stores.
We also understand that for many older adults, mobility equals independence. For the JTA, reliable transportation is about maintaining your quality of life.
That’s why long-term planning matters. The JTA is looking ahead — not just to the next year, but to the next generation. Our Mobility Visioning Planning 2050 initiative, or MVP 2050, is our commitment to building a transportation system that works for everyone, at every stage of life. It’s a promise that by 2050,Jacksonville will be a city where every person, in every neighborhood, has the freedom to move, connect, and live their life to the fullest.
MVP 2050 will take a comprehensive look at how people travel across Northeast Florida — by bus, paratransit, car, bicycle, sidewalk, road, bridge, and emerging technologies like autonomous vehicles. It recognizes that as our population grows and ages, transportation must be more accessible, more reliable, and easier to use.
Technology will play an important role in that future. The interconnectivity of American society is accelerating rapidly, and advancements like autonomous vehicle technology offer exciting ways to improve safety and expand mobility options. But innovation alone is not the goal. Our goal is to use technology thoughtfully — to support independence, improve reliability, reduce travel times and ensure seniors can remain active members of their communities.
The JTA is not just building the transportation system of the future. We are building a city for the future — one that respects the needs of older adults and understands that mobility is a cornerstone of healthy, connected living.
As Jacksonville and Northeast Florida continue to grow, our challenge is clear: we must ensure that progress works for everyone. When seniors can move freely and confidently, our entire community benefits. And when mobility supports independence, it strengthens families, neighborhoods, and the region we all call home.
