Transit Board Approves Fare Increase and Service Cuts
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.
You asked, we listened! Here is a modified proposal for fare increases effective September 23, 2019 based on feedback from riders. pic.twitter.com/NwFcnVjlbf
— MAX Transit (@BJCTAMAX) August 22, 2019
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.
A Stradivarius violin sells for $11.3 million at auction, falling short of record
The violin, made over 300 years ago by a legendary luthier, had been expected to sell for a higher price. The proceeds will go toward a scholarship program at the New England Conservatory.
It’s not all fur and games. Here’s how the Puppy Bowl works
The Puppy Bowl may look like lawless fun. But there are rules to the annual competition, now in its 21st year. Here's what to know as Team Ruff and Team Fluff hit the turf on Sunday.
What to know about presidents and security clearances
Both former President Joe Biden and President Trump have barred their predecessor access to classified information. But historically, it wasn't like that.
Buffy Sainte-Marie stripped of prestigious Canadian honor
The Canadian government did not share its reasons for the decision, but it follows an investigation that shed doubt on the Oscar-winning singer's claims of Indigenous roots.
The American tailgate: Why strangers recreate their living rooms in a parking lot
There's nothing quite like a tailgate, where fans serve food to strangers who share the same passion. We went to a Philadelphia Eagles tailgate to learn what drives this uniquely American tradition.
NIH announces new funding policy that rattles medical researchers
The National Institutes of Health has dramatically changed its grant-making terms by limiting how much it will disperse for costs such as equipment and administration.