AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – When it comes to the planned removal of dozens of trees on Telfair Street, the mayor is getting an earful. 

“Certainly hearing a lot of concern from our citizens you know Telfair Street is one of our most historic streets in all of our city. I also have concerns about some of the mature trees designated to be cut down,” said Mayor Garnett Johnson.   

Dozens of trees are branded with an X slated for removal, the mayor so concerned he is added to Wednesday’s meeting allowing project opponents like the Riverkeeper the chance to air their concerns. 

“You’re talking about a historic community we have very strong ordinances to protect that, there are trees that should be protected now all of them are now being axed,” said Savannah Riverkeeper Tonya Bonitatibus.  

One on the chopping block is a Crepe Myrtle designated as a state champion due to its size and age, but even as a state champion it could be cut.  

“It’s not protected by law, the legislature could protect it if someone had taken the effort to get it protected,” said Roy Simkins, Chair of the Augusta Tree Commission.  

City Engineers say the project’s landscape architect is looking into whether some old trees can be saved, something supporters say needs to happen.  

“A shame that you would cut down a champion designated tree.” 

“Not only a shame it’s embarrassing to see a pink X on a champion Crepe Myrtle hopefully we got that resolved,” said Mayor Johnson.  

“The commission should be aware of that and should know and go into  changing this before it’s too late because I like to know who’s going to want to live Olde Town when it’s a barren landscape. trees don’t just grow over night,” said Bonitatibus.  

As the opposition grows to removing so many old trees downtown.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – New electric buses are coming to Augusta.

The transit received $12 million for six new clean-energy battery electric buses, charging equipment and even a bus simulator to train the drivers.

The old diesel bus fleet may be heading back to the garage. The Augusta Transit is making a change and going green.

Mary Farrer has been riding Augusta Transit for years. She plans her day around the bus.

“I have to get up early and try to get there in time and call the bus line and find out what’s going on with the buses and everything at least an hour ahead of time,” she said.

It takes that kind of planning, and she’s not the only one.

Deputy Director of Augusta Transit Dr. Oliver Page said: “Everyone is asking why we don’t have more buses on the road, one bus every 30 minutes. But to have that, we have to have more physical buses.”

And that’s about to happen.

Page says they’re going green too.

“We are responsive to our riders’ needs. The $12 million grant will be going to purchase six buses, a bus simulator, as well as having some additional charging points outside and workforce development,” said Page.

Augusta Transit has been adding buses — six diesel buses were delivered last year. The five electric buses will arrive next year, but it’s not happening often enough.

“We haven’t been replacing buses, like once every two years. The last batch of buses we received was in 2023. Before that, it was 2016. So, with these gaps in bus replenishment, that’s why we have buses on the road past their useful life,” said Page.

Compared to other cities, Augusta has some ground to cover.

“When we look at places like Macon and Athens, they’re smaller cities than we are, they have bus fleet of 20, 25, 30 buses, we only have 18. So, we have to catch up,” said Page.

It means riders like Farrer won’t have quite as much planning to do.

2025 is when the first set of electric buses will arrive, and by 2027, six more will be here.

Page says once the old buses are replaced with new ones, you could see new routes coming to South Augusta and the Augusta Regional Airport.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The Rotary Club of Augusta announced that Surendra Gupta has been officially installed as president for the 2024-2025 term.

Gupta was officially installed on June 24 by Bill Keogh, the outgoing president. His term is July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.

Gupta joined the Rotary Club of Augusta back in 2018. He is a licensed professional engineer and holds a Project Management Professional certification.

In the past 25 years, Gupta has volunteered and held various leaderships positions at the following locations: American Red Cross, Springlakes Homeowners Association, AARP Tax Aide Foundation, Toastmasters International, Project Management Institute, National Management Association, Easter Seals and Creative Value Creation International.