The city of Birmingham was set to launch its new Xpress bus line during the World Games in July but didn’t have it ready in time. It will now be launching next week.
The Xpress bus line will begin running on September 22, and passengers will be able to board for free for the first 30 days.
After that, riders can board the Xpress busses for $1.50 for a one-way trip or purchase an all-day pass for $3.50.
Since the project broke ground in 2020, Birmingham has spent $40 million on the new bus service. Some $20 million came from a federal grant from the Transporation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin told the media that the system would speed up the city’s public transportation.
Seven rapid buses will stop at 32 locations between CrossPlex and Woodlawn High School.
The Xpress busses will operate Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. They will not run on Sundays.
Birmingham currently operates other public transportation services through the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA), which has been operational since 1972, when the Alabama Legislature passed legislation allowing the creation of public transit authorities.
The BJCTA serves not only Birmingham but Bessemer, Homewood, Mountain Brook, Midfield, Center Point, Hoover, Vestavia Hills and Fairfield. BJCTA buses travel almost 3 million miles annually.
There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, September 22, at 8:30 a.m. at the CrossPlex Transit Center on 4801 Avenue West to kick off the Xpress bus service.
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