In 2026, Jacksonville's public transportation is generally considered below average for a city of its size, primarily because the city is the largest by land area in the contiguous U.S., making comprehensive coverage difficult. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) operates the bus system, which suffers from long headways (wait times) in suburban areas. However, there are "bright spots": the Skyway is a free automated monorail that serves the downtown core, and the St. Johns River Taxi provides a scenic transit option. The JTA has also launched the U2C (Ultimate Urban Circulator), an autonomous shuttle network aimed at modernizing the downtown. For most residents and tourists in 2026, a car remains a necessity, as the "First Coast" infrastructure is still heavily prioritized toward highway travel rather than a truly interconnected, high-frequency transit network.