Huntsville Shuttle Bus

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The Huntsville Shuttle fixed-route bus system began in 1990 in response to the growing population and congestion of the city of Huntsville, Alabama. The system is run by the city of Huntsville, and is funded by city and federal funds. (Alabama law prohibits state funding of public transit.)

Contents

[edit] History

Huntsville had a streetcar system in the early 1900s linking downtown to outlying mill villages like Five Points and Lowe Mill. The system was dismantled in the late 1940s. In 1990, the city of Huntsville decided to form the Department of Parking and Public Transit, which included the Shuttle. It began with two routes, the Red and Blue Core Loops which served downtown, the Medical District and surrounding areas. By 2004, the system had expanded to ten routes and a Tourist Trolley. That year, a new bus terminal was built on Church Street near the Huntsville Depot. In 2005, the city began weekend evening service to the downtown and Five Points areas. In 2006, bike racks were installed on all fifteen buses as part of the city's Greenway Master Plan.

[edit] The system today

The Shuttle has a total of 13 routes, including 11 weekday routes, the Tourist Trolley Loop, and the two weekend evening routes. The system keeps a fleet of 15 buses. The weekday routes run from 6 AM to 6 PM, while the weekend evening bus routes run from 7 PM to 2 AM. Bus turnarounds range from 15 minutes to one hour. Between 1,500 and 1,800 riders use the system daily. The number has steadily risen in recent years due to rising gas prices.

[edit] Fares

One-way:

  • Regular: $1
  • Seniors, students with valid ID, and children: $.50
  • Tourist Trolley: $2
  • Downtown weekend evening service: Free
  • Transfers: Free

[edit] Other Services

The City of Huntsville Department of Parking and Public Transit also maintains the 13 public parking garages and lots in downtown Huntsville, the Handi-Ride paratransit fleet, and RIDE-SHARE, the Huntsville-area carpool program.

[edit] Future Plans

Construction began in October 2007 on a new parking garage/bus terminal on the campus of the University of Alabama in Huntsville. It will serve both the Shuttle and a proposed campus bus system when completed in late 2008. Another "park and ride" is planned at Bridge Street Town Centre, a mixed-use development in Cummings Research Park West. Construction on this project should begin in 2008, with completion sometime in 2009.

Routes to the following places have been planned/discussed for when funding becomes available:

Other long-range transit projects being discussed for the Huntsville area:

  • A commuter rail line between Huntsville and Decatur, with stops in Madison and Research Park.
  • A light rail line linking downtown Huntsville to Ditto Landing on the Tennessee River.

[edit] Routes

  • 1. Red Core Loop

Madison County Courthouse, Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville Hospital, Parkway Place Mall, Huntsville Senior Center/Brahan Spring Park

  • 2. Blue Core Loop

Same as #1

  • 3. Madison Square/Holmes Avenue

University of Alabama in Huntsville, Research Park East, Madison Square Mall

  • 4. Madison Square/University Drive

University Drive commercial area, Madison Square Mall, Perimeter Office Park

  • 5. Airport Road

Von Braun Center, Parkway Place Mall, Crestwood Medical Center, Huntsville Hospital Medical Mall

  • 6. Southwest Huntsville

Von Braun Center, Westlawn, Brahan Springs Park/Senior Center, Milton Frank Stadium

  • 7. Alabama A&M University

JF Drake State Technical College, Alabama A&M University, Five Points

  • 8. Medaris Road/A&M

Alabama Career Center, JF Drake State Technical College, Alabama A&M University, Five Points

  • 9. Northwest Huntsville/ Oakwood College

The Fountain Shopping Center, Oakwood College, Alabama Career Center

  • 10. Weatherly Road

Parkway Place, Airport Road, Jones Valley, Southeast Huntsville, Joe Davis Stadium

  • T. Tourist Loop Trolley

University Drive, Madison Square Mall, Research Park East, US Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville Botanical Garden, Huntsville Museum of Art, EarlyWorks, Alabama Constitution Village, Courthouse Square

  • Weekend Evening Service

DS1 and DS2 both serve Five Points, the Medical District, the Von Braun Center, Big Spring Park (Huntsville, Alabama), and the various restaurants and clubs downtown.

[edit] External links