Mobile City Officials Weigh Major Overhaul of Public Transportation System

Mobile, AL (BuzzReport) – City officials are considering significant changes to the public transportation system, including eliminating routes, replacing buses with smaller vehicles, and adopting a ride-booking model. The potential overhaul comes as the city prepares to decide on the future of The Wave Transit System.

The Mobile City Council will vote next week on a request to extend the city’s contract with Transdev, the operator of The Wave buses, by three months. The extension would give the city time to explore options for revamping the transit system.

“We need more time to examine the best next steps,” said Scott Collins, Mobile’s executive director of finance. The city aims to have a long-term plan in place by October.

However, not everyone is on board with the proposed changes. Antonie Maiben, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 770, expressed concerns about eliminating fixed routes and relying on ride-hailing services. “Rideshare is not the solution,” he said.

Maiben also disagreed with the idea of giving up federal funding, which accounts for about $2 million of the system’s $12 million annual budget. Collins argued that federal support comes with strings attached, including the requirement to use union drivers. “We want to maximize every dollar,” he said.

Maiben countered that without federal funding, the city would struggle to maintain the public transit system. The debate highlights the challenges facing Mobile’s public transportation system as officials weigh the best course of action.