Nathaniel Ford, the incoming chief executive of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), remains under investigation in Florida over spending at the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), where an autonomous shuttle scheme launched during his tenure is now being suspended amid a $39 million budget shortfall.
JTA has announced that its Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation (NAVI) service will pause operations on December 31. The authority has also said Jacksonville’s elevated Skyway system will be suspended from November 2 as part of a wider programme of cuts. ([jtafla.com](https://jtafla.com/media-center/press-release/jacksonville-transportation-authority-announces-budget-reductions-and-service-changes/))
The decisions come as JTA attempts to reduce costs after projecting expenses of $178 million against revenue of about $139 million for the financial year beginning on October 1. The authority says it is ending contracts, cutting up to 194 jobs and restructuring bus services to address the deficit. ([jtafla.com](https://jtafla.com/media-center/press-release/jacksonville-transportation-authority-announces-budget-reductions-and-service-changes/))
Ford led JTA for almost 14 years before being chosen to run DART in Texas. He is due to take up the post later this month, despite a criminal investigation by the Florida Attorney General’s Office into spending and financial decisions made while he was in charge.
The investigation is examining matters including executive travel, hotel stays, tuition reimbursements, contracts and spending on services such as massages. A second subpoena issued to JTA on October 13 requested records relating to travel by Ford and other executives, as well as communications involving the authority and Jacksonville officials. ([fox4news.com](https://www.fox4news.com/news/incoming-dart-ceo-under-criminal-investigation-over-spending-previous-job/))
JTA has said the financial crisis was linked in part to underestimated revenue and higher-than-expected costs associated with NAVI, the Skyway and other services. Jacksonville City Council is considering allowing the authority to use up to $30 million in unspent local gas-tax funds to help pay down debt. ([news4jax.com](https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2026/10/13/jacksonville-city-council-to-vote-on-30m-emergency-gas-tax-plan-for-jta-amid-financial-crisis/))
Ford has not publicly responded to questions about the Florida investigation. DART’s board has also faced questions over whether it should reconsider his appointment after selecting him by a 9-6 vote in July. ([fox4news.com](https://www.fox4news.com/news/incoming-dart-ceo-under-criminal-investigation-over-spending-previous-job/))
