Huntsville Transit holding public input meetings on route changes

HUNTSVILLE – There’s little doubt riders on Huntsville Transit’s Orbit buses have an opinion they’d like to share regarding the routes they take on a daily or occasional basis.

If Route 3, 7, 8 or 9 is the path you travel, now is the time for backseat drivers to be heard. Transit patrons are invited to upcoming public meetings to provide comments about proposed modifications to four Orbit shuttle routes.

The meeting will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Transfer Station Platform, 500B Church St., Huntsville. A second meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Dec. 13, at the same location.

The public can view maps, learn more about the proposed changes and provide feedback to Huntsville Transit officials.

“We appreciate all those who came out and provided feedback at our last meetings in October,” Quisha Bryant, director of Huntsville’s Parking and Public Transportation Department, said. “Public comments help guide our efforts to make Huntsville Transit a safe and efficient service for all, no matter where you live or where you’re heading.”

The proposed changes will go into effect Jan. 15 and only affect Orbit shuttles. The proposed modifications are:

• Route 3
  Route 3 will no longer drive through the parking lots at Clearview Cancer Institute and the Huntsville VA Clinic off Markaview Road. Instead, ADA-accessible bus stops will be created (both northbound and southbound) on Markaview Road. Access paratransit will continue to provide door-to-door service.

 

• Route 7
  Buses will no longer turn around in the parking lot of the County Health Department on Max Luther Drive. Instead, an ADA-accessible bus stop will be created on Meridian Street South at Max Luther Drive. The proposed new stop location is within a quarter-mile of the Heath Department. This change will not affect Access paratransit service. Orbit Route 7 will be realigned to serve residents on Winchester Road in both directions from Blue Spring Road to Meridian Street. The proposal will eliminate service on a short segment of Medaris Road. This change will result in bus stops along Medaris Road and Norwood Drive being served by Route 8.

• Route 8
  Route 8 will no longer serve the segment of Sparkman Drive from North Memorial Parkway to Blue Spring Road. Instead, Sparkman Drive will be served by the realigned Route 9 (proposed changed below). Route 8’s outbound pattern from the Downtown Transfer Station will be North on Church Street, East on Pratt Avenue, North on Washington Street, West on Oakwood Avenue, North on Blue Spring Road, East on Medaris Road to Norwood Circle, then back to Medaris Road and South on Blue Spring Road to the Dr. Richard Showers, Sr. Center. Inbound Route 8 service is proposed to match the same streets and turns as described above for the outbound service.
  
• Route 9
  Route 9 will replace the service segment east and west on Oakwood Avenue from Pulaski Pike to Jordan Lane with service on Sparkman Drive.  The new service along Sparkman Drive is proposed to travel both directions from Washington Street to University Drive serving Walmart and the North Huntsville Library in both directions. This change will provide convenient service for students, faculty and staff traveling to and from Oakwood University.  The Downtown Rescue Mission (1400 Evangel Drive) will be served by Route 9. Proposed changes to Route 9 will eliminate the current route segment that travels south on Wynn Drive to west on Research Drive to Corporate Drive to Old Monrovia Road. Access will continue to provide door-to-door service to elderly and disabled individuals who need a ride to the Social Security Office.

For more on transit routes, visit https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/residents/streets/public-transportation/huntsvilletransit/