The City of Mobile is continuing a rebranding and rejuvenation of the Mobile Transit System.
The Mobile City Council approved several measures on Tuesday during its regular meeting to transfer funds for new vehicles and renovations. Transit officials said the system must meet federal Americans with Disabilities Act regulations while maintaining a useful fleet.
Nearly $800,000 will go to the purchase of fleet vehicles and equipment. The funds were already in the budget for transit and 80% of the costs to replace vehicles will be reimbursed by the Federal Transit Administration.
Another $140,000 will be transferred to the Capital Project Fund for repairs and renovations to the restrooms and plumbing at the Mobile Metro Transit Facility.
A route study is in the preliminary review stage. In the meantime, Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis said the transit service has become more reliable since Via took over operations last October. Without increasing the transit budget, the service went from canceling approximately 20% of scheduled routes to canceling virtually none.
"Via has shown what’s possible when we combine better technology with smarter operations," said Cheriogotis. "I’m excited to continue this partnership as we build a modern, rider-focused transit system that works for all Mobilians."
The City is planning a July re-launch of the entire system with a new name and new routes.
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