Council transfers microtransit contract to BJCTA, approves $2.5 million city support and $100,000 local match for federal planning grant

The Birmingham City Council voted to transfer the city’s Via microtransit contract to the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA) and to provide $2,500,000 in city funding for one year to support expanded microtransit services.

The council also approved a separate agreement to accept a $1,000,000 federal Reconnecting Communities pilot grant for multimodal transportation planning and authorized BJCTA to contribute $100,000 toward the $200,000 local match.

Why it matters: Moving the Via contract from the city to BJCTA allows the transit authority to qualify for federal matching dollars that the city cannot receive. City staff said the shift should improve coordination between fixed-route buses and microtransit and give BJCTA access to operational data that can guide service improvements.

Deputy Transportation Director Argo told the council, “the city's overall public transportation budget is $16,500,000. This micro transit piece sits in that bucket. ... We began piloting micro transit in 2019. We have over 500,000 unique rides that have happened since the service began.” Argo said moving the contract to BJCTA will make the service eligible for federal matching funds and allow better coordination with fixed-route planning.

Several council members pressed for more detail about service coverage and how zones work after the transfer. Councilor Williams said he remains concerned about service areas and noted residents had told him the northern expansion zone did not give riders practical access to groceries, doctors or jobs. “If you can't go anywhere and it's a food desert, you can't go to the grocery store,” Williams told the administration.

City staff and BJCTA representatives said the contract was updated to add a concrete baseline for service area and hours: the agreement references a current coverage of roughly 26.6 square miles and maintains existing Monday–Friday hours from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. A 30‑day notice and written agreement are required for subsequent service-area changes.

Council members approved both items. Supporters said the moves should stretch transit dollars and enable longer-term planning; critics asked the transit authority to prioritize connectivity so microtransit riders can reach essential services rather than only Central Station.

Ending: City and BJCTA staff said the transfer is the next step in implementing the agency’s broader 70/30 plan for public transportation and that the authority will continue to analyze zonal coverage and options for expanded hours and connectivity.