Jacksonville Transportation Authority officials are close to breaking ground on a $43.1 million project that will bring together the city’s bus system, Skyway rail system and Greyhound.

JTA CEO Nathaniel Ford expects the cost for the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center to total between $42 million and $44 million depending on the design, which he expects to be completed by early 2017 with groundbreaking planned for late January.

Along with being a hub for local, regional and national transportation, the center will include about 40,000 square feet for JTA administrative offices. JTA is currently leasing space in a Forsyth Street office building. Combining the various transportation modes is intended to increase connectivity between the different services.

"The design will provide for easy passenger circulation conditions, wayfinding, security, safety, convenience and the overall transit-rider experience," according to a memo from JTA vice president Brad Thoburn to the board of directors in April, when the board selected the design firm, Pond/Michael Baker.

Ford said $32 million in state and federal grants awarded for the transportation center sat unused for years.

When asked how JTA would fund the difference between the $32 million available now and the projected $43.1 million cost, Ford said JTA has about 100 real estate parcels the agency has been holding and plans to sell, bringing in $17 million to $20 million in revenue. He said a portion of those proceeds could fund the transportation center.

Ford said the design includes an additional floor, but they are unsure if that will be necessary in coming years: whether JTA will grow into it in 10 or 15 years or whether more people could be working from home in future years.

With changes in transportation including ride-sharing services and the likelihood of autonomous vehicles, Ford said they must also question whether it is a wise investment to spend millions on a parking garage.

JTA executives awarded a contract to a construction manager at risk, which Ford says means the contractor is responsible for any overruns once the price is set.

When completed, JTA would move the city’s bus hub from the Rosa Parks Station to the property adjacent to the Prime Osborn Convention Center in the LaVilla neighborhood. The center would incorporate the convention center Skyway station already at the site and the funding would include improvements to the station.

Ford said JTA is allowing the Downtown Investment Authority to deal with some related development, such as a possible park, and how that fits into the neighborhood.

The transportation center will incorporate Greyhound, which will be the first facet to open. He said the bus line administrators did not want to relocate until there was an assurance the project was moving forward.

"They were very adamant that we were part of that arrangement," Ford said.

Ford said the groundbreaking for Greyhound, which is already designed, is in January with the bus company expected to move in a year later. Greyhound will lease the space from JTA.

Megabus, Red Coach and other lines can also use the facility, he said.

He said the facility would be able to handle 60-foot buses and not just 40-foot ones.

The center would also include an enclosed waiting area, restrooms and a driver lounge. It could also accommodate bike share, taxis, car rental and other transportation options.

The entire project is scheduled to be operational by November 2019, according to a Dec. 8 presentation to the JTA board.

Ford said the Rosa Parks station is constrained. Also, he said, the Americans with Disabilities Act was not on the designer’s mind at the time that station was constructed.

"For a blind person, it’s a nightmare," Ford said. "The new facility is going to take all of that into account."

Ford said they are going to continue working on funding to relocate Amtrak. He said they were unsuccessful in an effort to secure a grant, but will continue those efforts. He said the track work would cost about $22 million and is a "precursor to a station if there is to be one."

Sebastian Kitchen: (904) 359-4161