Huntsville mayor, city officials cut ribbon on state-of-the-art Transit Center

HUNTSVILLE – Arriving at 521 Pratt Avenue by Orbit bus, Huntsville officials cut the ribbon on a downtown Transit Center that expands services and amenities to passengers.

The facility’s 14 bus bays ensure capacity for the fleet and plenty of space for riders, the city said in a news release. The bays are 45 feet long, allowing bus arrivals and departures in a more convenient setting.

“This state-of-the-art Transit Center is going to be a game changer for public transportation in Huntsville and a quality-of-life enhancement,” Mayor Tommy Battle said. “Having just stepped off a bus, I can tell you that our transit system is one of Huntsville’s hidden gems and we encourage everyone to take a ride and experience the ease of moving about the city.”

The ADA-accessible center includes more room for wheelchair customers and audio announcements of departures, in addition to large platform display monitors.

“From the convenient ticket counter and larger waiting area to the airport-like arrival and departure screens, the upgrades at the Transit Facility are transformational,” said Quisha Bryant, director of Parking & Public Transportation. “We are excited that the overall customer experience will be greatly improved.”

The center will open for business Tuesday and a new route to south Huntsville begins the same day.

“As a member of City Council, I frequently hear from our community about the critical issues of growth and infrastructure, and expanding public transportation is a common theme in these conversations,” Council President David Little said. “This new center, along with the expanded service, represents a significant step forward in our efforts to build a robust and inclusive public transportation system.”

Another feature is a greenway developed by Fuqua & Partners Architects that will funnel rainwater to irrigate the landscaped area. A 3,880-square-foot lobby building includes a ticket counter and comfortable waiting area.

“When we were first doing the design process, we thought about, ‘What can we do to capture the sense of speed and efficiency of a transit system like Huntsville has, a transit system that is expanding and growing and there to meet the needs for our citizens?’” said Les Tillery of Fuqua & Partners Architects. “We came up with this concept of wings, which is really easy to associate with flight. But we thought if we could represent speed and efficiency and through bus transit, that would be an appropriate metaphor. So that’s the inspiration for the structure that you see behind us.”