Clay County bus riders will keep their service through Dec. 31 after commissioners voted to end the county's contract with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority.

The Clay County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to begin terminating the agreement, which had provided JTA roughly $1.4 million a year to run local transit, First Coast News reported. The county cut $500,000 from that funding, forcing the change.

The deal, renewed in 2025, was originally set to run through September 2028. The county invoked a "termination for convenience" clause that requires 90 days' written notice.

Routes, fares and schedules unchanged for now

Existing JTA services will not change before the contract expires, according to a Clay County press release. That includes Clay Community Transportation, or CCT, which runs shuttle routes on the Red, Blue, Magenta and Green lines Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., for a $1 standard fare. The Blue Line serves Fleming Island, Orange Park Mall, Orange Park Medical Center and St. Johns River State College. The Red Line stops at Ascension St. Vincent's, Orange Park Library and Orange Park Senior Center.

Clay Express Select, which carries commuters to the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center at LaVilla, also continues through year's end. The Transportation Disadvantaged Program, which serves residents older than 60, people with disabilities and riders with incomes at or below 150% of federal poverty guidelines, is protected under Florida law and cannot be cut, said Karen Smith, the county's administrative and contractual services director.

Falling ridership, uncertain replacement weigh on commissioners

Commissioners cited falling ridership as a key reason. About 20,000 people have used CCT so far in 2026, according to a county spokesperson. In 2025, CCT and Clay Express Select combined carried nearly 29,000 riders.

Commissioner Jim Renninger voiced concern about ending the contract before lining up a replacement. "There are people that depend on these lines of transportation. I get a little antsy when we're gonna cancel something without knowing any alternative for replacement," Renninger said at Tuesday's meeting, according to First Coast News.

CCT rider Mike Jackson told First Coast News the service helped him get to work after his vehicle broke down and he lost a previous job.

Smith said the county will spend the next 90 days either renegotiating with JTA or pursuing other options that fit the budget. County staff plan to bring a new transit funding agreement to the board by Dec. 31.

JTA cuts $39 million, suspends Skyway service

The decision comes as JTA is cutting $39 million from its fiscal year 2027 budget, which begins Oct. 1. The agency's board approved a $139 million budget, down from $178 million in the current fiscal year, News4Jax reported. JTA plans to suspend Skyway passenger service Nov. 2 and pause its Navi autonomous vehicle program Jan. 1, 2027.

The agency has coordinated Clay County transit since 2019.

Riders with questions can call Clay Community Transportation at 904-284-5977. The Clay County Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board meets next at 2 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Clay County Administration Building, 477 Houston St., Green Cove Springs.