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.
State laws to stop surprise ambulance bills face pushback from insurers
Policymakers agree patients shouldn't be stuck in the middle when an ambulance service charges more than what an insurer will pay. But they can't settle on what price is fair.
Baseline knowledge: Where tennis comes from and how the game has changed
Recent years have seen an upswing in people playing tennis (or at least dressing like it). But it's not just a phase. The sport — at least some version of it — has been around since medieval times.
After quitting antidepressants, some people suffer surprising, lingering symptoms
The symptoms can include nerve pain, emotional numbness and sexual dysfunction and can last for years after stopping the drugs. Patients are pushing for recognition and more research.
Canceled grants get the spotlight at a Capitol Hill ‘science fair’
On Tuesday, scientists held an event organized by House Democrats in which they stood in front of posters outlining their work — and the federal cuts that now threaten it.
In Texas, a major search effort is being led by the father of a flood victim
In Kerr County, Texas, Thad Heartfield is leading nearly 100 volunteers searching for flood victims. For him, this mission is personal. His son and three of his son's friends disappeared in the flood.
How a broken nose kickstarted Diego Luna’s star-making run with the USMNT
The 21-year-old Real Salt Lake midfielder, with his bleached hair and dozens of tattoos, stands out on the soccer field. But it's his attitude that has won praise from his coach, teammates and fans.
