The City of Jacksonville has been awarded a $1.25 million grant from the Build America Bureau, a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
 
This funding will support management of the LaVilla Transit Innovation and Equity Project, an effort to revitalize key transportation assets by transforming existing facilities into a cohesive, multifunctional transit hub in downtown Jacksonville. Specifically, the City of Jacksonville will explore restoring the Prime Osborn as the central rail station that it has served in the past, and nearby transit-oriented development options that bring new passenger rail connections to Jacksonville.
 
By undertaking this planning process with the Build America Bureau, the City of Jacksonville and private sector partners will be eligible for federally backed loans that finance future projects in the area with low interest rates and flexible payment terms.
 
Jacksonville is one of 45 communities to receive Innovative Finance and Asset Concession Grant Program funds, which were made available by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that was championed by President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris and remains a lynchpin of their Investing in America agenda.
 
“We’ve been working with the Build America Bureau for many months to take this idea from concept to the planning stage,” said Mayor Donna Deegan. “This is an exciting opportunity to restore the Prime Osborn to its glory as Jacksonville’s central rail station and create more passenger rail options for our citizens and visitors alike. The LaVilla Transit Innovation and Equity Project will transform our downtown and create new economic development opportunities.”
 
In a national announcement about the program, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said, “Through the bipartisan infrastructure package, the Biden-Harris Administration is helping cities, states and transit agencies develop projects on underused properties—including tens of thousands of housing units over the next decade.”
 
Build America Bureau Executive Director Morteza Farajian also noted that “the goal of this innovative program is to facilitate partnerships between private and public entities to deliver community benefits in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. The selected recipients represent a wide range of projects that are good candidates for public-private partnerships.”
 
This project will conduct asset scans and pre-development activities under a Technical Assistance Cooperative Agreement to prepare for future enhancements. The project focuses on integrating various transportation modes, enhancing intermodal connectivity, and improving community accessibility. The strategic goal is to enhance the existing infrastructure to support economic development, reduce carbon emissions and provide equitable transit solutions, leveraging the area's rich historical context and strategic geographic location.