JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 For thousands of seniors and people with disabilities in Jacksonville, a ride isn\u2019t just a ride. It\u2019s how they get to work, see their doctors, and stay independent.<\/p>\n
Action News Jax reported Wednesday on the Jacksonville Transportation Authority\u2019s plan to roll its Connexion Plus door-to-door service into its broader shared paratransit system, called Connexion, starting next month to cut costs.<\/p>\n
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Dr. Emily Townsend is a mom, a marathon runner, and a blind physical therapist. She relies on Connexion Plus every day to get to her clinic and treat patients.<\/p>\n \u201cMy patients often use it to come to their physical therapy appointments. Those who use the current Connexion model \u2014 where you\u2019re doing the shared ride \u2014 are often late. So Connexion Plus is something most people use when they need to be on time,\u201d Townsend said.<\/p>\n Townsend says the change could put her patients and her own livelihood at risk. \u201cThese services that not only provide the basic \u2014 bare minimum \u2014 allow us to be efficient, employed, [and] contribute to society,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n She says shared rides don\u2019t work for everyone. \u201cI don\u2019t know about taking Connexion to work because I cannot be late. I have patients. I refuse to make them run behind,\u201d Townsend said.<\/p>\n Townsend also says the decision was communicated too late for riders to make alternate plans. \u201cThe fact that it was never communicated in a timely way so people could make these life changes speaks to the devaluing of our disability community,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The impact could be significant. In fiscal year 2025, JTA logged more than 284,000 Connexion trips and nearly 203,000 Connexion Plus trips \u2014 nearly half a million rides for people who depend on them.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are taking away independence, employment, access to medical care, and other essential services that allow us to be active community members,\u201d Townsend said.<\/p>\n JTA told Action News Jax that paratransit customers who have relied on Connexion Plus will continue to have many of the same transportation options, including some same-day service.<\/p>\n Dr. Townsend is still trying to figure out her transportation options once Connexion Plus is discontinued on February 1.<\/p>\n [DOWNLOAD: <\/b>Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks<\/b><\/a>]<\/b><\/p>\n