Transit Board Approves Fare Increase and Service Cuts

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2019/09/IMG_3395-e1568841500887.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:4032;s:6:"height";i:2268;s:4:"file";s:35:"2019/09/IMG_3395-e1568841500887.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_3395-e1568841500887-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_3395-e1568841500887-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_3395-e1568841500887-771x434.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:434;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:33:"IMG_3395-e1568841500887-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_3395-e1568841500887-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_3395-e1568841500887-300x300.jpg";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:300;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_3395-e1568841500887-553x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:553;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_3395-e1568841500887-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:35:"IMG_3395-e1568841500887-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:11:{s:8:"aperture";d:1.8;s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:8:"iPhone 8";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";i:1565257539;s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:4:"3.99";s:3:"iso";s:2:"20";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:7:"0.00025";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";i:0;}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Sherrel Wheeler Stewart
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] =>  WBHM 
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_wp_attachment_backup_sizes] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:10:{s:9:"full-orig";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:4032;s:6:"height";i:3024;s:4:"file";s:12:"IMG_3395.jpg";}s:14:"thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_3395-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:11:"medium-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_3395-336x252.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:252;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:10:"large-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_3395-771x578.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:578;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"wbhm-icon-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"IMG_3395-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_3395-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"wbhm-featured-square-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_3395-300x300.jpg";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:300;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:23:"wbhm-featured-home-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_3395-415x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:415;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:27:"wbhm-featured-carousel-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_3395-353x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:353;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:19:"post-thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"IMG_3395-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => error
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:1:{s:4:"full";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:52:"Backup failed: The backup directory is not writable.";}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:0;s:14:"optimized_size";i:0;s:7:"percent";i:0;}}
        )

)
1654563954 
1568832994

Bus riders in Birmingham and Jefferson County will see an increase in their fares and reduced service times beginning this November.

After weeks of debate, the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA) approved its $34 million budget Wednesday. This includes setting one-way fares at $1.50 — an increase of 25 cents. And some MAX bus routes that run late into the evening will now end at 7 p.m.

Transit leaders say they had to make changes because the City of Birmingham doesn’t pay enough to cover the cost of its current service.

Several riders who spoke at the transit board meeting say the cuts will make it difficult for them to get to work.

BJCTA Executive Director Frank Martin says the transit authority “will try to minimize the impact of the service modifications to affect as few of our passengers as possible.”

Martin says one option could be a digital app that allows people to schedule rides on smaller buses or vans. The transit system will begin testing that service in Mountain Brook in a few weeks, he says.

Greg Roddy, president of the local transit union, asked the board to try again to negotiate for more money from Birmingham.

“They’re forgetting about the people in public transit,” Roddy says.

 

Supreme Court grants DOGE access to confidential Social Security records

The order, for now, overturns actions that limited DOGE's access to sensitive private information. In a separate case, the court said DOGE did not have to share internal records with a watchdog group.

Trump admin asks SCOTUS to intervene and allow Ed Dept cuts

In an emergency appeal, the administration is asking the Supreme Court to lift a lower-court order blocking mass staffing cuts at the Education Department.

Sea turtle Dilly Dally released into the ocean with three flippers after undergoing amputation

Dilly Dally, a loggerhead turtle who survived a run-in with a predator that ultimately cost her a flipper, has been rereleased into the wild.

He led George W. Bush’s PEPFAR program to stop AIDS. Now he fears for its future

Dr. Mark Dybul was an architect of PEPFAR, a program credited with saving 26 million lives. Now its future could be in jeopardy as Congress reviews the Trump administration's funding rescission memo.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, wrongly deported to El Salvador, is back in the U.S. to face smuggling charges

Abrego Garcia will face criminal charges for allegedly transporting migrants without legal status around the country, according to a Justice Department indictment.

With an eye to the World Cup, Trump signs executive order on drone risks

The risks of drones have been underscored by Russia's drone strikes in Ukraine, and Ukraine's surprise drone strikes that destroyed some aircraft deep within Russia, the White House said.

More Front Page Coverage