Huntsville Receives $12.5 Million Federal Grant for New Multimodal Transit Station

Huntsville, Ala. - The City of Huntsville learned today it will receive a $12.5 million grant from the Federal Transportation Administration to construct a new multimodal transit station downtown. Last year, the City applied for federal funding to move and expand its public transportation transfer facility and renovate its existing operating facility on Cleveland Avenue. (See renderings of the proposed project.) “This grant will provide a major upgrade in our transportation system,” said Mayor Tommy Battle. “When complete, we’ll be able to provide more services for those who want and need alternative methods of transit.” Transportation Director Tommy Brown says the new transfer station will be able to accommodate additional buses, taxis, Greyhound, and ride-share programs like Uber and Lyft. “As we look to add more routes and options to our transportation network, we’ll need an expanded facility for our central hub,” said Brown. “Our population and demand for service is growing and this puts us in a great position for the next 20 years to accommodate ridership and improve our reliability and efficiency.” The multimodal transit facility will be built on the site of the old Sherman Concrete plant just off of Church Street and Pratt Avenue. The City acquired the property to make room for the University Drive/Church Street roadway improvement project, now under construction. “Moving the transfer station will give us more room for waiting areas and public amenities like charging stations for cell phones, laptops and even electric vehicles,” said Brown. “Following this project, we’ll add a new building at our existing location with services for bus drivers such as a lunch room, break rooms, locker facilities, automated bus wash and employee parking.” Phase 1 of the project is expected to cost approximately $15.7 million. Phase II renovations on Cleveland are estimated at about $3.4 million. “We can’t start tomorrow because of the Church Street road project, but hopefully we’ll get started in 2021 and be open by 2022,” said Brown.