The Florida Times-Union Editorial Board| Florida Times-Union

Three Jacksonville hospitals ranked in the Top 20 of U.S. News & World Reports Best Hospital rankings released last week.

Mayo Clinic Jacksonville tied for first place in the state, while Baptist Health Jacksonville ranked 11th and Ascension St. Vincents Riverside was 19th.

This is just more evidence that Jacksonville is coming into its own as a health care hub.

All eyes are on the coronavirus, and many companies are stepping back from an uncertain economy, but Ascension is looking ahead.

Ascension St. Vincents has bought more than 33 acres at Interstate 95 and County Road 210 West for a 56-bed hospital in Nocatee. Construction on the $115 million hospital is expected to begin this fall and be completed by 2022.

It will create 600 jobs and offer emergency services, general surgery, short-term care, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and musculoskeletal care as well as lab and imaging services.

The hospital is expected to grow with Nocatee and could be expanded to 300 beds.

And Ascension also has an orthopedic specialty hospital on the drawing boards for the Ascension St. Vincents Southside campus Ascension Florida, Gulf Coast and Phoenix-based Healthcare Outcomes Performance Company, a partner with Southeast Orthopedic Specialists, which will provide the physicians.

It would be the first orthopedic specialty hospital in the region, and the project includes ambulatory surgical centers.

Ascension St. Vincents also has opened two emergency care centers recently, one near Collins Road on the Westside and another near Monument Road in Arlington.

Walmart is expanding its health care services to Florida, with a health center at one of its Jacksonville stores, though the location has not been announced. It will offer primary care, urgent care, imaging, labs, counseling, hearing and optical services.

And the University of North Florida is priming the pump as well, offering coaching for aspiring health care entrepreneurs. It will help them develop business plans, network and receive professional support to get their idea off the ground.

All of this means health care is becoming more accessible in Jacksonville. And it also means more career and business opportunities in health care.

Other areas of Jacksonville are becoming more accessible as well.

Better accessibility

A new shuttle service is available in Downtown, LaVilla, Brooklyn, Riverside and Avondale. It is a partnership between Jacksonville Transportation Authority and Go Tukn, a locally owned tour, private event and urban transportation company.

The pay-to-ride service began last month. Tukn Ride will use JTAs bus stops to pick up riders who reserve and pay through a mobile app. Rides start at $2.

The distinctive green and white vehicles are European, ecofriendly Tuk Tuks and a Tukn Bus for larger groups.

The Downtown-to-Avondale corridor is all about walkability and this new service will help residents and visitors explore the business districts and restaurants and reduce vehicular traffic.

Merchants are supporting the new service by offering discounts to riders.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the 14-passenger Tukn Bus has a lift for passengers in wheelchairs along with two specially designated areas. The Tukn Ride mobile app indicates which stop-to-stop rides are with the Tukn Bus.

All drivers complete thorough background screenings and must have a clean driving record. Due to the COVID-19 situation, drivers will wear face coverings and be responsible for enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures; hand sanitizer will be available on all Tukn Ride vehicles.

At Go Tukn we strongly believe if we help other businesses grow and prosper in the community we love, it will help drive innovation, bring more tourism to the area, and create a vibrant, thriving Urban Core, said owner Stephanie Dale in a news release.

Also, Jacksonville Arboretum and Botanical Gardens now has a new ADA-accessible path along the lake. The South Loop Ravine Overlook is over 1,000 feet long and 10- feetwide covered in asphalt.

The project was made possible by donations that were matched by the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund.

Its great that more people will be able to explore this iconic urban forest and trail system

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Health care options are expanding in Jacksonville area - The Florida Times-Union