Purchase of 15 buses pushes Birmingham Xpress forward

Birmingham Xpress

The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday, Aug. 13, approved the $9 million purchase of 15 buses for the city's new bus rapid transit system, the Birmingham Xpress. (city of Birmingham).

The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved a $9 million deal with the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority to buy 15 buses for the city’s bus rapid transit system, Birmingham Xpress.

The new system is still in the works, but city officials say it will provide faster transportation to the city’s most popular areas.

The 10-mile route will travel from Woodlawn Transit Center on First Avenue North between 56th and 57th Street to the Crossplex Transit Center at the intersection of Avenue W and 47th Street Ensley. City officials say it will connect 25 neighborhoods.

The $9,037,500 deal with the BJCTA pays for 15 buses, $602,500 each.

“It’s just not about getting to work, it’s about getting to work on time,” Mayor Randall Woodfin said of the system in a Facebook post. “The Birmingham Xpress BRT project puts an emphasis on speed, timeliness and convenience for commuters as well as technological upgrades to make traveling both easy and safe for riders.”

When asked about a “Plan B” for Birmingham Express during his presentation to the BJCTA board Wednesday, CEO Frank Martin said there isn’t one.

“There is no Plan B. Failure is not an option for this project. The BRT is a very important project for city and the authority, so collaboratively we are working together to make sure the project comes in on time,” he said.

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