Jacksonville Skyway — Map, Lines, Route, Hours, Tickets

The Jacksonville Skyway, known as the Jacksonville Metro, is a fully automated system that traverses the city centre on a 4km elevated route. It has eight stations and two lines. The service is completely free. It operates from 6am to 9pm, Monday to Friday. Although there isn’t a direct connection from the Skyway to Jacksonville Airport, the journey can be made by bus.

This transit system, known as the Skyway, does not provide data on average daily ridership. Interestingly, the system has a fare of $0, suggesting that it may be free. The Skyway does not operate 24 hours a day and does not have air conditioning. It is also important to note that passengers are not allowed to walk between platforms. However, the Skyway has been operating driverless trains in the form of a downtown monorail people mover since 1989. The platforms do not have screen doors.

The Skyway travels at an average speed of 56 km/h and is operated by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. The fare is $1.

Metro Map of Jacksonville

Map of Jacksonville Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Jacksonville Metro map in PDF format.

US Metro Systems: Jacksonville Skyway

Located in the state of Florida, Jacksonville is an American city with a metropolitan population of over one million. It once gained popularity as a luxury tourist destination in the early 20th century.

Several disasters in the 1900s destroyed parts of the city. However, Jacksonville was rebuilt over the following decades and has grown to become the largest metropolitan area in the United States, covering approximately 2260 square kilometres.

The arrival of major financial firms in the city centre led to frequent traffic jams. As a solution, the construction of a mass transit system was proposed in 1972, and finally came to life with the implementation of the Jacksonville Skyway.

Operated by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), the Jacksonville Skyway is a monorail system that serves downtown Jacksonville. It consists of eight stations, 4 km of track and serves approximately 5,000 riders per day.

History

Although the project was proposed in 1972 and approved in 1976, construction didn’t begin until 1987. Two years later, three stations were opened on the east-west route through the city centre. From 1992 to 1995, a north-south route was added and the existing line was upgraded with more modern monorails. In 1996, the Jacksonville Skyway was temporarily closed for further upgrades and reopened in December 1997. In 2000, three more lines were added, further expanding the southern section.

Routes and Stations

Despite its modest size, the Jacksonville Skyway monorail has two tracks over its entire 4km length. It operates on an elevated track in both directions. One track serves the Downtown Core and La Villa areas, while the other serves Johns River Avenue on the south bank.

Trains consist of two automated cars, although they can accommodate up to six cars. They travel at speeds of up to 56 km/h and are powered by a third electrified track that serves both lines – the Northbank Line and the Southbank Line.

The main stations on the system include:

Rosa Parks Transit Station

Built in 1997, this station serves as a bus station and a stop for the Jacksonville Skyway, for both the Northbank and Southbank lines. It is part of the monorail’s north-south route. Located between Hogan Street and State Street, it provides direct access to the State University.

Hemming Park Station

Opened in December 1997, this station also serves the north-south route. Both lines of the monorail operate from here. It is located on Hogan Street and has a convenient connection to Hemming Park just outside the main exit. City Hall is just a few metres from the station.

Central Station

Opened in 1989, it was one of the first three stations on the Jacksonville Skyway. It was designed to accommodate future north-south and east-west expansion, as it serves both lines. Located on Bay Street between Pearl and Julia Streets, in the heart of downtown, it is connected to bus routes and Jacksonville’s water taxi service, Jacksonville Water Taxi.

Jefferson Station

Established in 1989, it was one of the first three stations on the Jacksonville Skyway system. It’s located on Bay Street west of Jefferson Street and is only served by the Northbank line.

Convention Center Station

Another of the city’s original three monorail stations, it opened in 1989. Its original name was Terminal Station, as it was built on the site of an old train station. Located on Bay Street, west of Jefferson Street, in the La Villa neighbourhood, it is only served by the Northbank line.

San Marco Station

Opened in 1998, it is located at the junction of San Marco Boulevard and Mary Street in the Southbank district. The station provides convenient access to the Museum of Science and History and the beautiful Friendship Fountain Park. It also connects to Jacksonville’s water taxis and is only served by the Southbank line.

Riverplace Station

It opened in November 2000, five years after its construction. It is named for its location next to the Riverplace Tower, on the corner of Mary Street and Flagler Avenue, in the Southbank neighbourhood. It connects to the Jacksonville Water Taxi service and is only served by the Southbank line.

Kings Avenue Station

Opened in 2000, it’s located on Onyx Street between Prudential Drive and Louisa Street. It is close to several bus lines that serve the entire city. The area has a wide range of hotels for tourists. It is only served by the Southbank line.

Fares and Tickets

The Jacksonville Skyway Monorail is free to use. As a system subsidised by the city government, it does not charge riders. Its primary source of funding comes from two parking garages, located at the Convention Center Station and the Kings Avenue Station, which provide secure parking for both locals and visitors. Monthly parking passes are also available for individuals without a residential parking space.

Schedule

The Skyway operates Monday through Friday from 6am to 9pm. However, there may be occasions when the Jacksonville Skyway operates over the weekend for special events organised by either City Hall or private companies. This is known as the Extended Hours Policy, which allows for a request for monorail service at specific times during the weekend.

Policy for Extended Hours

This service can be provided for medium-sized tourist events, executive conferences, various presentations and other planned events that require this service. In order to use this service, the following information must be provided

Description and specific location of the event in question.
Period during which the service is required.
A summary of the event, including places to be visited.
Provide an estimate of the number of people who will use the monorail service. Include the number of people attending the event.
Names of hotels where participants can stay after the event.
Contact person. Include name, address, telephone, fax and e-mail.
Briefly describe how the organisers will promote the use of the Jacksonville Skyway to attendees.

This information must be sent to:
Manager of Skyway Operations
P.O. Drawer “O”
Jacksonville, FL 32203

It’s also important to specify the hours during which large groups will be travelling through the system, so that the service operators can anticipate average traffic at that time. Note that the Jacksonville Skyway operates until midnight at the latest, and the concession will not be granted if the number of potential users is less than one thousand people.

Connection to the Airport

Unfortunately, the Jacksonville Skyway monorail does not have a direct connection to the city’s airport, Jacksonville International Airport. However, it does connect to a bus line that serves the terminal. At the final station, Rosa Parks Transit Station, which is served by both the Northbank and Southbank lines, there are several bus lines that serve the entire city (18 in total). These include Route 1 North Main, which runs through most of the northern part of the city, past Florida State College, and terminates at the airport, dropping passengers off at the entrance.

In the opposite direction, from Jacksonville International Airport to the city centre, commuters should head for the main entrance, where they will find car rental services (particularly recommended for visitors who need to move around the city frequently, given its size and limited public transport). Taxis and buses are also available. For buses, passengers should look out for the 1 North Main line, as several routes serve the airport stops. It takes approximately 30 minutes from the airport to the Rosa Parks Transit Station. The fare is $1. There are also other bus routes at the monorail station that run throughout the city.

SkyWay Rules

Be aware of the gap between the car and the platform to avoid injury.
Avoid jumping the queue when arriving at the monorail. Respect the queue and allow those who arrived first to board first.
When the train arrives, wait for passengers to disembark before boarding to avoid delays.
Keep a safe distance from the platform safety line.
Do not get on or off the train when the doors are closing.
Do not attempt to disembark while the monorail is in motion.
If you are inside the cars, prepare for your destination stop in advance by positioning yourself near the doors to facilitate smooth
passenger entry and exit.
Access to areas reserved for technical or service personnel is prohibited without prior authorisation.
Passengers under the influence of alcohol or other drugs are not permitted on the monorail as they may endanger other passengers.
Roller skates are not allowed on the monorail.
It is not allowed to enter the monorail without shoes.
It is forbidden to carry deadly objects without appropriate safety measures.
It is forbidden to carry large objects that obstruct the passage of passengers.
Earphones are required to listen to music on the monorail cars. The use of music players without earphones is not permitted.
It is not permitted to shout in the facilities without a valid reason as it disturbs other passengers.
It is strictly forbidden to harass, annoy or disturb passengers in any way.
It is not permitted to distribute leaflets in the facilities, either in the stations or in the cars of the monorail, without prior authorisation.
Emergency equipment must only be used in the event of imminent danger.
It is not allowed to use more than one seat in the carriages, unless your physical condition requires it.
Begging is forbidden in the stations and in the carriages.
Smoking is not permitted in the system’s facilities or on the monorail cars.
Dogs must be kept on a lead and harnessed at all times.
Under no circumstances are pets allowed on the seats of the cars.
Pet owners will be held responsible for any damage or problems caused by their pets.
The pets you choose to bring with you must not pose a danger to other users or disturb other passengers in any way.

Tips and Fun Facts About the Jacksonville Skyway

The names of the stations on the system refer to the nearest point of interest.
Unfortunately, you can’t take bicycles on the monorail, so make sure you find a place to park your bike in advance.
The system used to charge a fare until February 2012, when the City Council decided to make it temporarily free. This measure is still in force.
When the system was upgraded in 1996, along with a change in the company providing the service, the monorail was completely shut down until 1997: a whole year without service.
The monorails are fully automated and operated from a control centre.
As there’s no conductor, the front and rear windows offer panoramic views of the city during the ride.

Future Expansions

In December 2015, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) announced plans to overhaul the entire system due to functionality issues. According to www.jacksonville.com, a news website run by the Florida Times-Union, the person in charge of the Jacksonville Skyway stated: “The current vehicles serving the monorail are too old, their components and spare parts are no longer available… four of the ten vehicles are out of service”. This led to the green light for the replacement of rolling stock, the acquisition of new vehicles, the expansion of the system and the demolition of old infrastructure. In December 2016, the replacement of the vehicles with fully autonomous vehicles was prioritised. In 2017, the Jacksonville Skyway continued to operate for at least another five years, despite widespread criticism since its opening.

Critics of the System

From the outset, the Jacksonville Skyway has been widely criticised for its lacklustre performance. The JTA projected a monthly ridership of 100,000, but ridership has never reached one-third of that estimate. This shortfall has been largely attributed to a decline in downtown workers, a lack of service to outlying neighbourhoods, and poor connections with other transit systems. The monorail has been a recurring issue in city politics, with critics calling it a wasteful and unnecessary service. In 2010, the Florida Times-Union called it “Jacksonville’s joke for a generation” after 20 years of poor performance.

On the other hand, the monorail’s defenders argue that expanding the service to other neighbourhoods and investing in making the service more attractive in downtown Jacksonville will lead to success.

When the Jacksonville Skyway became temporarily free in February 2012 to implement a new, more modern fare system, ridership suddenly increased by 61%. By 2013, the monorail was carrying an average of 4,000 people a day thanks to the free pass, proving a resounding success for its supporters. This success led to the policy being maintained in 2017. Encouraged by the increase in ridership, the director of the JTA requested funds from City Hall to build a new station in the rapidly expanding Brooklyn neighbourhood.

Points of Interest Near the Monorail

At Hemming Park Station, riders can enjoy the iconic Hemming Park. Located in the heart of downtown Jacksonville, directly across from City Hall, this park was originally named Village Green. Established in 1857 by the city’s founder, Isaiah Hart, it is Jacksonville’s oldest park. Despite its small size, it hosts a variety of activities throughout the year. There’s a farmers’ market every Friday from 10am to 2pm, and on the first Wednesday of every month it becomes the hub of the Jacksonville Downtown Art Walk, which promotes urban art. There’s also a night market on the third Thursday of every month, known as the Jacksons Night Market.

Nearby is the Convention Center Station, which connects directly to the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, a 260,000-square-foot convention centre. It hosts a wide range of events throughout the year, some private and some open to the public.

Jacksonville Landing is located at the Central Station. Opened in 1987, it hosts up to 300 events a year, including the annual Christmas tree lighting, New Year’s Eve fireworks, children’s parties, St Patrick’s Day celebrations, the Jacksonville Jazz Festival and the Fourth of July celebration. Concerts are held every weekend in a variety of genres including classic rock, oldies, contemporary, jazz and top 40. Nearby is the Jacksonville Maritime Museum, a nautical museum housed in empty storefronts and featuring a collection of model ships.