Mobile Transit Ridership Rises 8% in First Weeks

Second Line Transit, which replaced The Wave, reported the gain as the city works to meet demand and resolve service concerns.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Civic Engagement

Mobile Transit Ridership Rises 8% in First Weeks

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Ridership on Mobile's public transportation system increased 8% during the first three weeks of Second Line Transit, the redesigned network that replaced The Wave. The city expected growth of about 2.5%, and officials said they are working with their transit provider on rising demand.

Why it matters

The redesign combines fixed routes with on-demand microtransit, and the early ridership gain exceeds the city's projection. Officials are also addressing a complaint from a dialysis provider about timely notice of service changes.

The city reported an 8% ridership increase in the first three weeks, compared with its projected growth of about 2.5%. A $230,950 contract to update graphics on 16 buses, 11 vans, 18 paratransit shuttles and one trolley was previously approved, but the extraction does not say whether the ridership figure has been independently verified.

The players

Second Line Transit

The redesigned public transportation system serving Mobile, which replaced The Wave and operates nine high-frequency fixed routes along with microtransit.

Via

The transit provider contracted by the city to operate Mobile's public transportation services, including microtransit booked through an app or by phone.

The details

Second Line Transit replaced The Wave as the name and brand of Mobile's public transportation system, with Via serving as the city's transit provider. The network includes nine high-frequency fixed routes and microtransit that riders can book through an app or by phone. The city is working with its provider to keep up with demand and address service concerns, including a complaint from a dialysis provider with three Mobile clinics about timely notice of service or schedule changes, which the administration forwarded to Second Line Transit.

Tuesday, November 3, 2026: City Council work session where the dialysis provider's complaint was raised.
First three weeks of the redesigned system: ridership increased 8%.

Civic Engagement Context

Mobile's redesign pairs fixed routes with app- and phone-booked microtransit, a model whose early ridership in the city is now being measured against the city's own growth projection. The city's outreach effort, a four-person community team, is the mechanism it is using to engage riders as the system adjusts.

Riders in Mobile can now book microtransit trips through an app or by phone alongside nine high-frequency fixed routes. Dialysis patients and other residents who depend on scheduled trips should watch for service notices as the system adjusts.

The takeaway

Riders can check schedule and service updates as Second Line Transit works through early demand and service issues. Booking microtransit trips in advance by app or phone may help with planning.

What happens next

The city expects its transit provider to hire about five additional drivers to keep up with demand, and the administration said it will follow up on the dialysis provider's complaint. If the city receives federal funding for new trolleys, it could sell some of its buses.