BJCTA Cancels Bus Service to Fairfield Over Significant Back Payment

Esther Ciammachilli | May 26, 2016

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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.