Microtransit to Fill Transit System Gaps in Birmingham

With very little of its residential population or employment centers accessible by public transit, Birmingham is looking to microtransit to potentially reduce single-occupancy vehicles use in the city.

1 minute read

November 15, 2018, 1:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Birmingham, Alabama

Sean Pavone / Shutterstock

"The city of Birmingham, AL is looking to begin an on-demand microtransit pilot program," reports Chris Teale.

That news comes by way of a request for proposals issued by the city on November 8. "In the RFP, Birmingham officials note the unique challenges of a city that is still heavily reliant on cars but also struggling with a widening poverty gap," according to Teale.

"The RFP says 62% of households are underserved [by bus and paratransit systems], and less than half of the 163,000 jobs in the city are accessible by transit," adds Teale. "Meanwhile, only 28% of workers live within a half-mile of a transit station."

Monday, November 12, 2018 in Smart Cities Dive

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