(Jacksonville, FL – February 26, 2025) The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ).
The agreement will result in new internships for FSCJ students pursuing degrees in the field of automotive technology and related areas. The agreement also enables the JTA and FSCJ staff to cooperate in the creation of a robust curriculum in the area of mass transit and in the development of new vehicle technologies including autonomous vehicle systems.
“We are thrilled to continue our work with FCSJ as they fortify their education curriculum to equip today’s employees with knowledge needed to be prepared for the jobs of the future,” said JTA Chief Executive Officer Nat Ford. “At the JTA, we are always looking for innovative ways to better serve the people of Northeast Florida. Today, we take another big step in the right direction by opening up the lines of communication and cooperation with an excellent educational institution like FSCJ, whose core values include innovation, and whose students benefit from the JTA’s services daily.”
"We are excited for the opportunity to continue our partnership with JTA in creating paid internship opportunities that set our students up for success in the workforce,” said FSCJ President Dr. John Avendano. “These bold learning experiences provide invaluable real-world engagement, equipping them with the skills and confidence they need to excel. I deeply appreciate the dedication of our community partners, faculty and staff in investing in our students and making these opportunities possible."
The MOU outlines the structure of the 6-month internships to be established as well as the process by which the JTA staff and FSCJ professors will work together to develop and improve FSCJ’s curriculum in the mass transportation field. It also establishes cooperative efforts related to the JTA’s deployment of new vehicle technologies and joint research on autonomous vehicle technology.
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About the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA)
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) is an independent state agency serving Jacksonville, Florida, and Northeast Florida with multi-modal responsibilities. The JTA provides varied mass public transit services and builds roads, bridges, and other infrastructure to enhance mobility in Jacksonville. Public transportation services include BRT and regular bus service, paratransit, the St. Johns River Ferry, Skyway APM, and other mobility and on-demand services in Duval, Clay, Nassau, and St. Johns counties. To learn more, visit www.jtafla.com.
About Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ)
Known as “the community’s college,” Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) exists to provide equitable, high quality, success-driven learning experiences for our diverse community of students. Serving more than 40,000 students and awarding 5,000 degrees and certificates on an annual basis, the College plays a significant role in supplying the region’s employers with a highly skilled, educated workforce.
Media contacts
For media enquiries, please contact:
Lynn Opperman
AVP – Marketing, Communication, and Customer Experience
Jacksonville Transportation Authority
lopperman@jtafla.com
904-676-7225