BJCTA responds to Max bus drivers on strike in Birmingham due to COVID-19 concerns

SHOULD BE RUNNING THIS MORNING, BUT DRIVE HAVE GONE ON STRIKE BECAUSE THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY. THEY SAY THAT THE B.J.C.C. A HAS NOT PROVIDED THEM WITH MASKS TO KEEP THEM SAFE DURING THE CORONA VIRUS OUTBREAK, SO THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE OPERATING BUSES UNTIL SOMETIME -- SOME TYPE OF MEASURES TAKEN. I DID REACH OUT AND THEY TELL US THEY ARE WORKING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. LIKE MANY OTHERS IN THE AREA, THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND THESE MASKS. THEY HAVE REACHED OUT TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET SOME OF THESE FOR THE DRIVERS, BUT UNTIL THEN, THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE CERTAIN MEASURES, THEY’RE GOING TO WORK ON MAKING THESE BUSES ONLY ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE BACK PASSENGERS AND THEY ARE GOING TO BLOCK OFF SOME OF THE FRONT SEATING TO GIVE DRIVERS SPACE FROM PASSENGERS AND UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, THEY SAY ALL RIDES ON MAX US IS OUR FREE

UPDATE 3/23: The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority responded to protests from MAX transit operators Monday after some drivers refused to work scheduled routes due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns. A statement from the BJCTA said no routes will be canceled and all MAX operators are to return to scheduled routes Tuesday. While the organization is not canceling any routes, changes are being implemented to align with social distancing standards.The BJCTA said all 20 buses in service will only allow 15 to 19 passengers to board depending on bus size. Each bus will have blocked off seats to allow social distancing for passengers and drivers.Passengers have been asked to use the rear door when entering and exiting buses. The only exception for passengers in wheelchairs. Bus fares are still free for the time being.Note from BJCTA: Since the capacity of the buses has been restricted to maintain social distancing guidelines, some customers may have to wait on the next bus to arrive while waiting at Central Station and on route stops. Should an operator reach a designated stop and their bus is at capacity, they will inform all waiting passengers another bus is in route to service them.-----Several Max Transit bus drivers are not driving Monday morning over COVID-19 concerns, according to the BJCTA. The BJCTA said they are working on a solution.All rides on Max buses are currently free. Learn more in the video above.As of 11 a.m. Monday, there were 167 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Alabama, including 79 in Jefferson County.Get the WVTM 13 News app or go to wvtm13.com/coronavirus for the latest updates on COVID-19 pandemic and its impact in Alabama.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —

A statement from the BJCTA said no routes will be canceled and all MAX operators are to return to scheduled routes Tuesday. While the organization is not canceling any routes, changes are being implemented to align with social distancing standards.

The BJCTA said all 20 buses in service will only allow 15 to 19 passengers to board depending on bus size. Each bus will have blocked off seats to allow social distancing for passengers and drivers.

Passengers have been asked to use the rear door when entering and exiting buses. The only exception for passengers in wheelchairs.

Bus fares are still free for the time being.

Note from BJCTA: Since the capacity of the buses has been restricted to maintain social distancing guidelines, some customers may have to wait on the next bus to arrive while waiting at Central Station and on route stops. Should an operator reach a designated stop and their bus is at capacity, they will inform all waiting passengers another bus is in route to service them.

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Several Max Transit bus drivers are not driving Monday morning over COVID-19 concerns, according to the BJCTA. The BJCTA said they are working on a solution.

All rides on Max buses are currently free.

Learn more in the video above.

As of 11 a.m. Monday, there were 167 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Alabama, including 79 in Jefferson County.

Get the WVTM 13 News app or go to wvtm13.com/coronavirus for the latest updates on COVID-19 pandemic and its impact in Alabama.

BJCTA responds to Max bus drivers on strike in Birmingham due to COVID-19 concerns

TRACKING THE COVID-19 VACCINE

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