Jacksonville transforms its transit network with innovative shelter designs, solar lighting and digital signage
Ongoing partnership and transit amenity progress
For over 20 years, Tolar Manufacturing has been a trusted partner of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), providing community-centered transit shelters and rider amenities that combine durability with design. Through JTA’s contract with Tolar, co-operative use language ensures other Florida agencies can easily access these solutions, streamlining transit improvement projects across the state.
In 2014, Tolar’s collaboration with Urban Solar brought a new level of innovation to JTA’s shelters by integrating solar-powered lighting to enhance safety. By 2024, this partnership expanded to include lighting for unsheltered stops and digital signage solutions to provide real-time information.
Scalable solutions for an expanding transit network
As JTA’s transit continues to grow, the need for effective lighting, streamlined maintenance and adaptable shelter designs is a key focus. Managing the lighting systems across numerous shelters required a new level of efficiency. JTA also aimed to create recognizable and community-reflective designs for its stops.
Tolar took on the challenge, with Urban Solar providing the solar-powered lighting, digital e-paper displays and monitoring solutions to complement Tolar’s customized shelter and transit amenity designs. JTA was one of the first to demo the PV Stop+. The PV Stop MAX was developed based on hands-on experience to meet their needs, increasing the overall lighting coverage and ensuring well-lit stops that enhance rider safety and visibility.
Community-centric shelters with solar lighting and real-time information
With Tolar’s renowned custom shelter designs, supported by Urban Solar’s technology, JTA continues to boost the rider experience throughout its network and better connect the communities they serve.
Tolar Products
Signature Sunset Shelters:
Customizable 10-foot and 15-foot shelters feature all-aluminum construction, a welded radius roof, perforated aluminum panels and custom aluminum posts with adjustable leveling shoes to match JTA’s brand aesthetic.
First Coast Flyer BRT Shelters:
15-foot shelters with aluminum roofs, back-to-back media kiosks and custom branding. Includes 10-foot kiosks with 32" LCD screens and backlit LED map cases.
Digital Totems:
Digital totems with real-time updates that support JTA’s autonomous vehicle initiative and contribute to Jacksonville’s innovative approach to transit amenities.
Urban Solar Products
RMS100 and RMS170 Shelter Lighting:
Contained solar-powered shelter lighting that provides reliable, eco-friendly illumination, improving rider safety and visibility without relying on grid power.
PV Stop+:
Initial deployments used solar-powered PV Stop+ lighting systems to improve rider safety and reduce rider pass-bys, the top complaint reported by transit agencies.
PV Stop MAX:
Developed in collaboration with JTA, the PV Stop MAX provides brighter, more extensive lighting coverage and was designed to illuminate a larger area around bus shelters.
E-Paper Displays:
Ultra-low power draw, ADA-compliant battery-powered displays that make real-time transit information accessible for all riders at any stop.
Sustainable results for the campus and student ridership
The ongoing project has shown positive impacts including:
Increased rider satisfaction: Enhanced commuter experience with real-time transit information.
Improved security: Better-lit bus stops provide a greater sense of safety and ensure riders are safe and seen at nighttime.
Energy savings: Reduction in energy costs with custom solar solutions that don’t utilize traditional, costly grid power.
Reduced maintenance costs: Remote monitoring eliminates need of drive-by checks of healthy systems, providing real-time alerts to staff for units that need attention.
Innovative collaboration: This student-led initiative demonstrates the impact of engagement and hands-on learning. The students’ involvement showcases how universities can leverage student talent to drive meaningful and sustainable change.
About Urban Solar
Urban Solar is the North American market leader in off-grid lighting and amenities for bus stops. Since 2008, Urban Solar solutions have enhanced safety and rider experience at over 20,000 bus stops across North America.