# MAX Transit > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/MAX_Transit > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/MAX_Transit.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAX_Transit > Source revision: 1344626586 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Birmingham, Fairfield, Homewood, Bessemer, Hoover, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills}}{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox bus company | name = MAX Transit | logo = Max-dark-logo-1.png | logo_size = | image = MAX Transit New Flyer 2131 on BX, 2026 cropped.jpg | image_caption = A [Birmingham Xpress](/source/Birmingham_Xpress) bus in downtown Birmingham | parent = | founded = 1972 | headquarters = | locale = [Birmingham, Alabama](/source/Birmingham%2C_Alabama) | service_area = [Jefferson County, Alabama](/source/Jefferson_County%2C_Alabama) | service_type = [Bus service](/source/Bus_service) | routes = 31 fixed routes | destinations = | hubs = | stations = | fleet = 56 standard buses | ridership = {{American transit ridership|AL Birmingham total daily}} ({{American transit ridership|dailydate}}){{American transit ridership|dailycitation}} | annual_ridership = {{American transit ridership|AL Birmingham total annual}} ({{American transit ridership|annualdate}}){{American transit ridership|annualcitation}} | fuel_type = [Compressed natural gas](/source/Compressed_natural_gas) | ceo =Charlotte Shaw | website = {{URL|maxtransit.org}} }} The '''Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority''' ('''BJCTA'''), branded as '''MAX Transit''', is the [public transportation](/source/public_transportation) operator in the city of [Birmingham, Alabama](/source/Birmingham%2C_Alabama) and surrounding areas. Created in 1972 to take over transit operations from private operators, it operates 109 [bus](/source/bus)es on 38 routes. It also operates [paratransit](/source/paratransit) services, as well as [micro transit](/source/Demand-responsive_transport) services.{{Cite web |title=MAX – DIRECT – MAX Transit – Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority |url=https://maxtransit.org/max-direct/ |access-date=2024-05-08 |language=en-US}} In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the system had {{American transit ridership|AL Birmingham total annual}} rides, or about {{American transit ridership|AL Birmingham total daily}} per weekday as of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}. Alabama does not provide state support for public transit, and so the funding for and service provided by BJCTA is less than other cities of equivalent size.{{Cite web |last=Lavelle |first=Marianne |date=2023-07-19 |title=Birmingham Public Transit Inches Forward With Federal Help, and No State Funding |url=https://insideclimatenews.org/news/19072023/alabama-mass-transit-funding/ |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=Inside Climate News |language=en-US}} This contributes to Alabama's status as the state with the highest per capita gasoline consumption. The service runs from 4:00 AM to 11:30 PM on Weekdays and from 4:00 AM to midnight on Saturdays and holidays. There is no service on Sundays. == History == left|thumb|Logo of the BJCTA The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA) was created in 1972 after the [state legislature](/source/Alabama_Legislature) passed a law permitting the creation of public transit agencies. In 1985, BJCTA adopted the MAX branding. MAX Transit began shifting to [compressed natural gas](/source/compressed_natural_gas) buses in the 2000s and opened the [Birmingham Xpress](/source/Birmingham_Xpress) service in 2022.{{Cite web |title=BJCTA History « BJCTA MAX |url=https://www.bjcta.org/about-us/bjcta-history/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107030409/https://www.bjcta.org/about-us/bjcta-history/ |archive-date=2017-01-07 |access-date=2026-03-21 |website=www.bjcta.org |language=en-US}} == Services == MAX Transit operates several bus routes as well as the [Birmingham Xpress](/source/Birmingham_Xpress) and on-demand zones. === Fixed routes === *1 South Bessemer/UAB Medical West/Wal-Mart *3 Jefferson/Wenonah *5 Ensley/Wylam *6 Pratt/Ensley *12 Highland Avenue *14 Palisades/Barbara Court *17 Century Plaza/Eastwood Mall *18 Fountain Heights *20 Zion City/Airport *22 Tarrant City/Inglenook *23 North Birmingham/Collegeville *25 Center Point/Jefferson State *26 Jefferson State *31 Hwy 31 Limited Stop *38 Graymont/Ensley *39 Homewood/Wildwood *45 Bessemer/Jonesboro *45 Express/Western Hills Mall *48 South Powderly *91 East/West Dart *95 Westend Shuttle *96 Titusville Shuttle *280 Hwy 280 Limited Stop ===Birmingham Xpress=== {{Main|Birmingham Xpress}} A [bus rapid transit](/source/bus_rapid_transit) line, named the [Birmingham Xpress](/source/Birmingham_Xpress), was opened on September 22, 2022, running from [Woodlawn](/source/Woodlawn_(Birmingham)) to [Five Points](/source/Five_Points%2C_Alabama).{{cite news|url=https://bhamnow.com/2022/09/22/new-birmingham-xpress-officially-begins-service-free-rides-for-30-days/|title=NEW Birmingham Xpress officially begins service; FREE rides for 30 days|date=September 22, 2022|author=Nathan Watson|newspaper=Bham Now|access-date=June 22, 2023}} The service will speed up journeys by offering dedicated lanes, [transit signal priority](/source/transit_signal_priority), off-board fare payment and level boarding.{{cite web|url=https://www.birminghamal.gov/brt|title=Birmingham Bus Rapid Transit|access-date=June 22, 2023|website=www.birminghamal.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609161557/https://www.birminghamal.gov/brt|url-status=|archive-date=June 9, 2023}} The Birmingham Xpress was set up with funds from the federal government under the [Presidency of Joe Biden](/source/Presidency_of_Joe_Biden). It did not receive state funds, because Alabama does not provide state funds for public transit. It has 32 stops across an east-west corridor across the city. After starting service, it quickly became the most utilized route in the BJCTA system. === On-Demand === In 2019, MAX Transit launched an [on-demand service](/source/on-demand_service), serving downtown Birmingham. The service saw 25,000 riders in its first 11 months of operation.{{Cite web |last=Byington |first=Pat |date=2020-11-20 |title=Birmingham On-Demand tops 25,500 rides in first 11 months {{!}} Bham Now |url=https://bhamnow.com/2020/11/20/birmingham-on-demand-tops-25500-rides-in-first-11-months/ |access-date=2026-03-21 |language=en-US}} == Fleet == * 56 standard buses * 43 Orion VII CNG LF buses * 22 paratransit buses == Central station == thumb|Central Station in 2011 Central Station serves as the primary transfer hub for the BJCTA system. It is located adjacent to the [Amtrak station](/source/Birmingham_station_(Alabama)) on Morris Ave. The original Central Station was built in 1999 on the site and demolished in 2015 to make way for the current facility.{{cite web|url=https://maxtransit.org/about-us/history/|title=History|access-date=November 11, 2024|website=MAX Transit}} The $32 million project commenced in 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.birminghamtimes.com/2017/06/maxs-central-station-opens-in-downtown-birmingham/|title=MAX’s Central Transit Station opens in downtown Birmingham|newspaper=Birmingham Times|date=June 19, 2017|access-date=November 11, 2024}} Construction was completed in 2017 with MAX Transit buses beginning service on June 19th and a ribbon cutting on June 30.{{cite news|url=https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2017/06/birminghams_downtown_max_centr.html|title=Birmingham's downtown MAX central station now open|newspaper=AL.com|author=Erin Edgemon|date=June 19, 2017|access-date=November 11, 2024}} The transit center contains an approximately 300 space parking lot, an indoor waiting area, and a cafe. As of 2024, it serves Max Transit, although it was intended to serve [Megabus](/source/Megabus_(USA)) and [Greyhound](/source/Greyhound_Lines) intercity buses too.{{cite web|url=https://maxtransit.org/intermodal/|title=Coming Soon - Birmingham Intermodal Terminal|access-date=November 11, 2024|website=MAX Transit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112050007/https://maxtransit.org/intermodal/|archive-date=November 12, 2024}} == Fixed route ridership == The ridership statistics shown here are of fixed route services only and do not include demand response services.{{cite web | title=The National Transit Database (NTD) | url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/data-product/monthly-module-adjusted-data-release | access-date=November 11, 2024|website=[Federal Transit Administration](/source/Federal_Transit_Administration)}} {{#invoke:Chart | bar chart | group 1 = 2953715:3632880:3953804:3759211:3334889:3084368:3065577:2688303:2387091:2531976:2774313:3107119:3209992:3120263:2886771:2854215:3203878:2931319:1845149:1413280:1712916:1480645 | units suffix = | group names = Annual ridership | x legends =2002:::2005:::2008:::2011:::2014:::2017:::2020:::2023 | colors = #{{rcr|Metra|SouthWest}} }} ==See also== *[List of bus transit systems in the United States](/source/List_of_bus_transit_systems_in_the_United_States) *[Birmingham station](/source/Birmingham_station_(Alabama)) == References == {{reflist}} * [https://www.bjcta.org/about-us/bjcta-history/ bjcta.org Historical] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060615031909/http://www.bjcta.org/index.php?id=173 About Us] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100611235004/http://www.bjcta.org/news/fstatements/FY%202009%20Budget.pdf BJCTA 2009 Capital and Operating Budget] == External links == {{Commons category}} * {{Official website}} {{Alabama public transit}} {{Authority control}} Category:Transit agencies in Alabama Category:Bus transportation in Alabama Category:Government agencies established in 1972 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [MAX Transit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAX_Transit) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAX_Transit?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.