University Drive Transit Oriented Development Study

The City of Huntsville Planning Department is undertaking a study to analyze the best way to integrate public transportation and development along University Drive. As the City prepares to design and implement high-capacity transit on University Drive, the study will advise the City on tools to maximize development potential along the corridor as well as creating safer connections for everyone—no matter how they get around.

Public Input Opportunities

A kickoff for the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Study was held on June 24 at the UAH Charger Union Theater. View a recording of the presentation below:
[Presentation Recording]
Charette Week – August 18-22, 2025. More information coming soon.

About the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Study

The University-Medical TOD Planning Study will focus on three clusters along University Drive as the primary focus for quality,
transit-supportive development: Northwoods, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, and MidCity District. The clusters present unique opportunities for residential development, including housing for essential workers, students and families.

The study will also examine a variety of affordable housing policies for different needs and conceptualize designs of station areas and first/last mile connections to visualize how TOD might appear along the corridor and link to nearby areas.
The City of Huntsville was one of 20 communities in 16 states selected by the Federal Transit Administration for its FY 2023 Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning grant. This annual grant program provides funding to integrate land use and transportation planning with a new high-capacity transit project. The University-Medical TOD Planning Study is 100% Federally funded, with no local match required.

What is Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)?

Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs), conceived by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, are an approach to urban development designed to bringing people, services and activities together with quality public transit supported by walking and cycling conditions to facilitate shorter trips, better lifestyles and more efficient use of city resources.
[What is TOD board]

What is Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)?

BRT is a mode of high-capacity transit that has a lot of the benefits of rail but can be built at a fraction of the cost. BRT would include frequency improvements (service every 15 minutes or less during peak periods); unique branding; substantial stations with amenities such as level boarding platforms, next-bus information, and security improvements; and technology improvements such as signal prioritization that would allow the buses to bypass congested intersections.
[What is BRT board]

About the Corridor

The University-Medical Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor was identified in the Huntsville Area MPO’s 2022 High-Capacity Transit Study as the most viable and preferred corridor for enhanced transit service in the Huntsville region, due to the high existing transit ridership and population/jobs density along the corridor. The initial phase of the University-Medical BRT would run from Huntsville Hospital through Downtown, connect to the new Huntsville Transit central transfer station, and continue along University Dr. to the Village of Providence, with intermediate stops at locations such as UAH, Mid-City, and Northwoods.

Future extensions would include service to Madison Hospital and the commercial developments along the US 72 West corridor, which are currently not served by any fixed-route transit.

TOD Focus Area

Northwoods
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UAH
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MidCity District
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Project Timeline

The TOD Study began in Summer 2025 and will conclude in Summer 2026.
[Schedule board]

Read More

Huntsville to study bus rapid transit corridor along University Drive

Planning Department seeks public input for University Drive Transit Oriented Development study