BJCTA provides update on Birmingham’s rapid transit system

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – The city of Birmingham is just months away from speeding commuters around the Magic City.

City leaders are hoping people can ride the big orange bus this summer, but like so many other big projects, the pandemic has thrown a wrench in the works.

City leaders hope Birmingham’s rapid transit system will be ready in time for the World Games, running east to west from Woodlawn to Five Points West.

“Most of the major construction has been completed in the west and that’s the Five Points West transit station and now we’re continuing to do the construction work for the platforms between the west throughout the central- city,” said the Executive Director and CEO of BJCTA. , Charlotte Shaw.

She said that overall the project is around 70% complete with East Woodlawn station around 50% and finishes on the platforms.

“This month actually you should start to see the shelters set up on top of the platforms all over the city right now going east to west which are pretty empty, but they won’t be for long because you’ll start to see it coming together now,” Shaw explained.

She said she was pleased with the progress made so far, but said the schedule had changed due to the pandemic.

The City of Birmingham received a $20 million federal grant to fund the project, and the city matched the amount.

But the budget has increased to $60 million to meet workers’ demands.

“We have been impacted by the pandemic like any other industry and any other transit agency, but what has hurt us in terms of delivery are supply chain issues and construction companies are busy. They have so many options and so many companies they can choose from that they get the job done. So we also had to compete for the business to get a good company to come in and actually do the work,” Shaw said.

BJCTA is looking for drivers for the Rapid Transit System.

To apply, visit maxtransit.org

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