Press Releases
JTA, City of Jacksonville Launch Door to Store Program
JACKSONVILLE, FL – The City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) will launch the “Door to Store” pilot program on Feb. 1, to provide complimentary rides to grocery stores for residents living in the JTA’s Northside ReadiRide zone.
The year-long pilot is intended to provide access for residents living in what are considered food deserts, areas where access to fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats are not as easily available within a close proximity of their homes.
The program is a partnership with the City of Jacksonville and funded through the city’s Northwest Economic Development Fund. Jacksonville City Council Members approved funding through Ordinance 2019-812 in December.
“I am grateful for the JTA’s efforts and excited to see this wonderful program take flight,” said Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry. “There are still other areas in our community that lack easy access to the healthy foods, so my team and I will continue to look for solutions to meet these important community needs.”
“As the public transportation provider of bus service and our on-demand shuttle service in this area, the JTA saw an opportunity to expand the boundary of ReadiRide to provide greater access to fresh food,” said JTA CEO Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. “I am grateful to the Mayor and City Council for leading this effort and partnering with us to help eliminate barriers to grocery stores in our community.”
Saturday, officials announced the new program in front of the future Winn-Dixie store location at the Gateway Town Center.
“The collaboration at work in this community is outstanding. When the previous tenant announced their departure last year, putting this historic community at risk of losing vital access to fresh produce and nutrition, Councilman Gaffney and City Hall sprang into action to find a new partner that would avoid the creation of another food desert,” said Curry.
The service is provided through ReadiRide, the JTA’s on-demand neighborhood shuttle service which provides short trips to customers living in 11 Jacksonville neighborhood zones. For the pilot program, Door to Store will only operate in the Northside ReadiRide Zone, (map provided).
Through Door to Store, the JTA will provide complimentary rides to and from seven grocery store locations within the Northside ReadiRide zone including:
- Jacksonville Farmers Market - located at 1810 W Beaver St., Jacksonville, FL 32209
- Harveys Supermarket stores located at:
- 2261 Edgewood Ave. West, Jacksonville, FL 32209
- 201 West 48th, Jacksonville, FL 32208
- 777 Market St., Jacksonville, FL 32202
- Save-A-Lot grocery stores located at:
- 8000 Lem Turner Road, Jacksonville, FL 32208
- 5751 Main St. North, Jacksonville, FL 32208
- Winn-Dixie - Future location (opening Feb. 12) at 5210 Norwood Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32208
- Price Rite - 3528 Moncrief Road, Jacksonville, FL 32209
Reservations can be made for pick-up and drop-off rides up to two hours in advance by selecting the Door to Store option when customers call ReadiRide at (904) 515-2458. Specific return and departure times need to be made at the time of the reservation in order to be eligible for the complimentary rides.
