Mobile council approves new contract for transit operations with employee protections, nine‑month transition

The Mobile City Council voted Sept. 16 to authorize a contract for Port City Transit (via Via) to operate the city's transit system, approving amendments that the council and administration said will protect frontline employees and delay major service changes. The move authorizes a multi-year operating agreement and includes council amendments that Collins said were intended to protect employees and promote cost savings while retaining service continuity. Council discussion and staff remarks emphasized three elements: (1) the contract term was revised to a three-year initial term with two potential renewals before a longer five-year extension (described in meeting documents as a "3,1,1,5" structure); (2) transition language requiring that "all service employees, absent of management, all service employees, will be transferred over" pending standard reviews; and (3) a commitment that the first nine months of the contract would operate the same routes and schedules as the Wave system does on the day the contract starts. Director Collins (administration representative) told the council that "during the 9 months, there are no changes," a point council members said was intended to give time for public hearings and technical reviews before any permanent service alterations. Collins also said the city budget sets aside $200,000 in fiscal year 2026 to match Mogo microtransit service during the transition. Unionized drivers and Wave employees who spoke during the meeting urged protections for existing benefits. Alfred Abrams, who identified himself as a Wave employee and a union member, asked the council to "take consideration and compassion" for employees and riders and requested that the contract preserve sick time, personal time, pension, insurance and other benefits. City and Via representatives answered during the public meeting that employees would retain paid sick days and insurance; when asked, Collins responded "They will not lose their sick days. They will be paid for their sick days," and meeting staff confirmed vacation balances would be honored. Council members framed the selection of Via as a move to bring additional operational expertise and technology to Mobile transit. Councilwoman Reynolds said the goal for the transition''including the nine-month interim period'was to "increase the ridership, make it more convenient for the people that are out there using the services," and to find efficiencies that could reduce taxpayer costs. Councilman Woods sponsored an amendment package the council adopted that Collins described as focused on cost savings, contract length and employee transition. The council also discussed limitations placed in the contract and in the budget documents: Woods noted a "not to exceed" amount in the budget language for payments to the operator, which he said constrained city spending. Council members and administration representatives said Via representatives were on site and would meet with employees and union representatives after the meeting to continue one-on-one discussions. The item appears on the agenda as 21-11-49, "authorize contract with Port City Transit for services to operate city's transit system." The motion and subsequent amendment carried and the council recorded the passage of the item. Questions and next steps: council members said they expect public hearings and an operational review during the nine-month period, after which Via and the administration would present a recommended long-term service plan to the council. In the meeting, council members encouraged the public to submit suggestions for stop improvements and interim measures that could make the system more convenient while the transition proceeds.