Mobile’s overhauled public transportation system remains on schedule to debut by the end of the month, city officials say. The rollout will formally rebrand Wave Transit as Second Line Transit, bringing updated fixed bus routes, expanded microtransit coverage and new branding across the system.
Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis said the city spent recent weeks working to address rider concerns before rolling out the new system. “We wanted to make sure that we were absolutely addressing all the concerns that we heard from citizens,” Cheriogotis said.
Among the most significant changes is an expanded microtransit network launching alongside the updated fixed routes, which Cheriogotis said will extend coverage to more riders than the current system reaches. City leaders have also floated a longer-term vision of eventually replacing traditional buses with trolleys, though Cheriogotis acknowledged that shift would take time given the constraints tied to federal funding for the current bus fleet.
In the meantime, riders will get a preview of that vision: the city currently operates one trolley that is expected to receive a new wrap in the near future. Cheriogotis said the city’s capital budget going forward will prioritize practical needs, including new and upgraded bus stops and updated vehicles, over other spending.