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Irondale approves 15-month microtransit pilot backed by $519,000 grant
Summary
Irondale’s mayor and council approved a 15-month microtransit pilot with the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority, funded in large part by a Community Foundation grant of about $519,000. Service will begin July 1 with 14 stops and an app-driven $1.50 fare; the pilot may expand if successful.
Irondale’s City Council on its consent agenda approved a 15-month pilot to bring app-driven microtransit service to parts of the city, Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. said, describing a grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham that will cover most start-up costs.
The mayor told the council the program will launch July 1 with 14 stops and a typical fare around $1.50. “Without them, this will not be possible, but they're going to provide us with a grant in the amount of about $519,000,” Mayor Stewart said during the meeting. The council left the item on consent and approved it.
A representative of the transit partners described the service model and the agency’s prior experience. “We started working on microtransit back in 2019 … Super high rider ratings the whole time. Average 12 minute pickup time,” said Gus Herd Hughes, a Community Foundation partner; he told the council the design includes connections to existing fixed routes so riders can reach regional transit hubs and work sites such as the Amazon fulfillment center and the Woodlawn Transit Center.
Council members asked about coverage and future expansion. The mayor and partners said the pilot is intended to test ridership and operations; a possible phase two could add airport service if the initial phase shows demand. Councilman Sims cautioned that not every neighborhood is immediately eligible under the pilot’s geographic boundaries, but members said they hope to expand service in future phases if results justify it.
Officials said the pilot will include stops serving grocery, library and assisted-living destinations so residents without cars can reach essential services. Booking will use an app and the pilot is described as a regional first step; if the trial meets its metrics, council members said they will consider broader coverage.
The council approved the pilot on the consent agenda; no formal roll-call tally beyond unanimous voice confirmations was recorded in the transcript. The city scheduled a press conference and a podcast segment to explain service details to residents in advance of the July 1 start date.
