BJCTA Cancels Bus Service to Fairfield Over Significant Back Payment
Birmingham City Council members want to restore bus service to Fairfield following a vote this week by the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority to stop service to the area on July 5.
The BJCTA board says they made the decision to shut down the route 41 bus line to Fairfield because the city owes them back payment of more than $500,000. The route is said to service thousands of people per month and includes stops at downtown Fairfield, Miles College, Crossplex and Fairfield High School.
“Though Fairfield is neighboring municipality in Central Alabama, the success of their city is just as important to the success of this entire region,” Birmingham City Council President Johnathan Austin says. “Further, the citizens of Fairfield that rely on transit are going to jobs, some of which are in the City of Birmingham on a daily basis. With the elimination of over 10,000 rides a month, this certainly will have a ripple effect on the jobs and revenue that I believe Birmingham would incur.”
In a letter to Mayor William Bell, Councilman Austin suggested providing financial support to restore at least a minimal bus service to Fairfield. He recommends discussing a possible negotiated payment amount with BJCTA as well as looking for additional resources.
This story has been corrected. It previously said service will stop June 1.
Alabama governor signs shark bite alert system into law named after teen who survived attack
The system will issue a public notice to cellphones when there's been a shark attack nearby. The law is named after Mountain Brook teenager Lulu Gribbin, who was one of three people bitten by a shark during a string of attacks off the Florida Panhandle last year.
Word of the Week: Before the Birdman of Alcatraz, the island was known for its birds
The origin story of Alcatraz's name is a complicated mix of language, a history that dates back to the first Europeans to explore the coast of California, and, a flock of seabirds.
More states are allowing community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees
Diminishing access to four-year universities and majors has been holding rural students back. Community colleges say they can bridge the gap.
Kari Lake says OAN’s far-right coverage will fuel Voice of America
Senior presidential adviser Kari Lake says Voice of America will rely on coverage from the far-right OAN network. OAN has offered unwavering support of President Trump.
The Fed will likely hold interest rates steady as Trump’s tariffs spark uncertainty
The Federal Reserve will likely hold interest rates steady Wednesday as President Trump's tariffs threaten to raise prices and drag down economic growth.
Fighting loneliness in rural Maine, one casserole at a time
What happens when people put their phones down and eat together?
