Coal miners, crawfish offer, full-capacity Opry: News from around our 50 states From USA TODAY Network and wire reports
Alabama
Montgomery: Public health officials are urging people to get COVID-19 shots as soon as possible, after the White House informed governors last week that it might reallocate supply from states with decreasing demand. Distribution has been in steady decline for several weeks, according to Alabama Department of Public Health data. “Y’all, we want shots in the arms and off the shelf,” Gov. Kay Ivey said. “If you have not made it a priority to schedule a vaccine, I encourage you to go get the shot as soon as you are able. If you are hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine, please speak to a physician you trust and ask if he or she would recommend it for you. If we don’t use it, we could lose it. This is our ticket back to normal. The vaccine is free and could possibly save your life.” In the early stages of the vaccine rollout, the Al
The Progress-Index
PETERSBURG Petersburg Area Transit riders can expect free fares for at least the next year, says Charles Koonce Jr., transit general manager for PAT.
The influx of funding from the previous Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act in March of 2020 and other federal dollars, allows PAT to ensure free rides until the end of the 2021-2022 fiscal year. We ve already balanced our budget without the revenue from free fares, said Koonce.
Free bus fares have been intact since March of 2020. Ridership decreased about 40% since the start of the pandemic, according to Koonce.
Nearby localities have followed suit in providing free fares for its riders in efforts to protect everyone on board. Greater Richmond Transit Company will operate under free fares until the end of the next fiscal year and hold a board meeting to see whether or not to continue the free fares for the following year. Charlottesville promised its residents zero fares for the next thre
A version of this article first appeared in the Virginia Mercury.
When the General Assembly created the Transit Rider Incentive Program (TRIP) as part of Gov. Ralph Northam’s 2020 transportation omnibus, the lion’s share of the funding was allocated to support new regional bus routes. With COVID’s cancellation of much commuter service across the commonwealth, those dollars are now being dedicated to TRIP’s secondary goal: fare free transit pilot projects.
With large localities like Lynchburg, Roanoke, Alexandria, Richmond, Charlottesville, and Fairfax County now expressing interest in eliminating bus fares for at least three years, could the shift to zero fares in Virginia become permanent?
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