Huntsville Transit Plan Q & A

$900,000 pays for the additional operating cost to implement the Phase 1 expansion for 12 months. The City of Huntsville pays approximately one-half of this cost, split between Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants and the City’s General Fund and farebox revenues.

The changes are the result of a 2018 comprehensive study of Huntsville’s transit system performed by Nelson Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc.

Recommendations and decisions were focused on;

• simplifying the route network
• reducing rider travel times
• increasing frequency on busy corridors
• improving access to employment, educational opportunities, and recreational destinations.

The recommendations made by Nelson Nygaard were data based on the following factors:

• Evaluation of demographic characteristics such as the origin/destinations of the general population, population density, seniors, young adults, and individuals with disabilities.
• Socio-economic characteristics such as zero-vehicle households, low-income households, and renter households.
• Employment characteristics.
• Over 900 Rider and Non-Rider Surveys
• Existing Ridership data

Entire bus routes were not eliminated.  However, the study recommended that 37 low ridership route “segments,” or pieces of routes, be eliminated July 1.  These changes were made to make bus routes more direct, reduce trip times, and reduce transfers.

The Dr. Richard Showers Jr. Center in North Huntsville is a vibrant community center featuring a library, gymnasium, indoor pool, instructional kitchen, classrooms, meeting spaces, splash pad, outdoor basketball courts, soccer field, baseball fields, outdoor pavilions, and outdoor walking track. The service plan recommends increasing transit access at the Showers Center by having it serve as a hub for three Huntsville Shuttle, now named Orbit, routes: Route 7, Route 8, and Route 10.

Creating a transit hub at the Showers Center will increase the number of Huntsville residents who have access to the community center, as well as create a safe and inviting transfer point, where riders can engage their neighbors and switch routes in a well-lit location with plenty of ‘eyes on the street’.

The consultants did not find sufficient demand in their analysis for Sunday service at this time.  This could change as the City grows in the future.

Buses do not have public Wi-Fi at this time.  This is an amenity the City hopes to add in Phase 5 of the Transit Plan.

The 5-Phase Transit Expansion plan improves service frequency from 60 minutes to 30 minutes or better throughout the entire fixed-route network.  The first phase of these improvements began July 1, 2019.

The City anticipates moving to fast lanes – or Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service in the coming years. Phase 5 of the transit plan will offer service every 15-minutes on Route 4, University Drive. This sets the stage for future BRT implementation. Typical attributes of BRT service include:

• Frequent service
• Increased stop spacing and speed
• Off-board fare payment
• Transit priority lanes
• Enhanced stops and stations
• Unique vehicles and branding

Increasing corridor ridership to 3,000 average daily boardings and adding Sunday service would greatly improve the chances of securing federal funding for BRT. A feasibility study would be necessary to examine the potential for upgrading Route 4 to a BRT corridor.

Seniors and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply for paratransit service, which is a door-to-door transportation service.  This service is available Monday through Saturday.

Other South Huntsville residents continue to connect to the new Route 5 at Byrd Spring Road SW at the bus stop across from Rosie’s Mexican Food restaurant; and Route 6 at Valley Bend on 4-Mile Post across from the Target. Both Route 5 and Route 6 connect to the Parkway Place Mall and L&N Walmart in less than 15 minutes from these two connecting points. It is anticipated that the new Route 6 will be extended to serve the new Sandra Moon Community Center (located at the old Grissom High School) once completed.

All COH Public Transit buses are equipped with bicycle racks.  South Huntsville residents living in and around the Bailey Cove corridor and bicycling up and down the Aldridge Creek Greenway can transfer to a bus at Valley Bend if desired to go downtown or other locations throughout the city.

For residents commuting to work from South Huntsville may choose to check out the Enterprise Van Pool or CommuteSmart websites.  See link below:

Ride-sharing

Paratransit service for individuals with disabilities is also extended to same days and hours to match the new fixed-route bus service