JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Attorney General has served the Jacksonville Transportation Authority with a third subpoena as part of its investigation into the financial crisis at the agency.
The scope of the subpoena covers a wide array of JTA business, and some communications involving Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan.
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This includes text messages and emails between former CEO Nat Ford, interim CEO Cleveland Ferguson, and Deegan.
Plus, contracts between JTA and a consulting company called WSP.
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Ford’s wife Janet Walker Ford is a senior vice president with that company.
The firm had $1.6 million worth of contracts with JTA and sponsorship agreements for more than two dozen entities, including the Donna Foundation, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the University of North Florida.
Action News Jax first told you about two previous subpoenas in the JTA investigation. This includes vendor contracts and notes from a meeting between Deegan and former JTA board member Megan Hayward.
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We obtained those notes that show possible cost issues with the U2C autonomous vehicle program were discussed.
In response to the new subpoena, the Mayor’s Office said in part, “we reiterate that JTA is a regional state transportation agency with a majority of board members appointed by the Governor, and a budget that is reviewed an approved by the Jacksonville City Council.”
For its part, a JTA spokesperson said, “The JTA remains committed to transparency and accountability and will provide information as requested throughout this process.”
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