Mobile, Ala.'s Wave Transit System is comprised of 12 routes and carries more than one million passengers annually. Photo: First Transit
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Mobile, Ala.'s Wave Transit System is comprised of 12 routes and carries more than one million passengers annually. Photo: First Transit
First Transit was awarded the transit management contract for Mobile, Ala.'s Wave Transit System.
First Transit will provide transit management including day-to-day operations and oversight for 37 fixed-route buses and 29 paratransit vehicles, employing 125. Mobile’s Wave Transit System is comprised of 12 routes and carries more than one million passengers annually.
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First Transit is responsible for staffing and maintenance for Mobile’s Wave Transit System operations at the Gulf, Mobile, and Ohio Passenger Terminal. The company will assist with transit planning, route scheduling, equipment selection, and maintenance consulting.
“We are proud to become a part of the community,” said Jarod Varner, region VP of First Transit. “Providing such a vital service to the citizens of Mobile traveling to and from work, school and other activities.”
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.