Councilors press transit authority, city staff over sudden route cutoffs and stop signage

Councilor Abbott said signs recently went up in her district announcing that transit service had been discontinued and asked whether the council or mayor’s office had been notified in advance. "I noticed signs went up in my district saying that transit service was being cut off," Councilor Abbott said during the May 27 Birmingham City Council meeting, adding that residents and elected officials should be told in advance when routes are changed.

Chief Mitchell, speaking for city staff, said the mayor’s office and council will coordinate with the transit authority and with Charlotte Shaw and other board members so council members get better notice when routes are changed. "We will work with them to make sure that you're better informed about decisions that they make that we don't have control over," Chief Mitchell said.

Councilors and staff discussed two practical concerns: whether the transit authority had removed physical bus-stop equipment and how the city’s zoning rules that grant reduced parking near transit would apply when a fixed route is discontinued. Councilor Abbott warned that parking relief tied to proximity to transit could become invalid if routes are eliminated: "Our zoning ordinance gives grace to people on their parking if they're near transit. So if transit has been discontinued, then we've allowed people to have less parking than is normally required because they're near a transit route which has disappeared." That point led staff to say they would inquire about the parking/zoning implications.

Several councilors expressed frustration that some route changes appeared to have been implemented with only signage at stops and little other public notice. A council member identified in the record as Glenaris said, "They've already cut off service," indicating at least some changes were already in effect.

The council did not vote on an ordinance or directive during the discussion. City staff committed to (1) follow up with the Birmingham‑Jefferson County Transit Authority on the communication plan for route changes, (2) ask whether physical stop signs or equipment will be removed and (3) report back on zoning/parking implications where transit service was removed.

The exchange occurred during the mayor's communications and early general business portion of the May 27 meeting and ended with staff agreeing to investigate and report to council members.