After complaints from riders who faced delays last Saturday, the JTA has adjusted its Gameday Xpress service for this weekend's AFC wild-card round matchup between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Chargers.
The biggest change extends the shuttle hours to accommodate post-season crowds after the shuttles carried a record 3,200 passengers to and from the game Saturday, JTA said.
Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. Saturday at TIAA Bank Field Downtown, as parking lots around the stadium open at 4 p.m. and gates open at 6 p.m. Football fans are encouraged to arrive early.
The JTA says its Gameday Xpress service will now begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday at its Park-n-Ride lots at the Kings Avenue Parking Garage, Wingate Park in Jacksonville Beach, the Butler Boulevard lot on Philips Highway and the Armsdale Road site. Gameday Xpress service will continue for an hour and a half after the game end, JTA said.
During previous games, the Xpress started two hours before kickoff and stopped one hour after the end of the games.
Round-trip Gameday Xpress prices are $10 from the Kings Avenue Parking Garage and $15 from the other lots.
JTA's advice: Buy tickets in advance of the game, and make sure you are in the correct line when leaving the game since there are specific ones for buses heading to each individual Gameday Xpress lot.
The JTA's Skyway also will be open from 5 p.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday. All rides are free.
Busy Downtown
The football game is not the only event that will add traffic and people downtown, according to the Florida Times-Union, a WJCT News partner.
- Comedian Katt Williams will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, the audience using many of the same gameday parking lots.
- The Jacksonville Fairgrounds next to the stadium will host a home and garden show from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday.
- The Broadway musical "Aladdin" is at the Moran Theater at 300 Water St. at 2 and 8 p.m.
- Jacksonville metal band Haxprocess will have an album release party at at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at 1904 Music Hall at 19 N. Ocean St.
- The Jacksonville Symphony will perform a salute to Duke Ellington at 7:30 p.m. in the Jacoby Symphony Hall.
- Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons play a show at 8 p.m. the Florida Theatre at 128 E. Forsyth St.
Other JTA news
The JTA will begin its next round of service enhancements on Jan. 23, after recommendations and customer feedback. Those enhancements include improvements to on-time performance and timing updates on select fixed and First Coast Flyer routes, done to minimize the effect on customers, the JTA said.
Multiple routes will have adjustments in frequency spread throughout the schedule, now available for customers to review on board routes that are being adjusted as well as at the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center at LaVilla. For more information, reach out to JTA Customer Service or call (904) 630-3100.
