Huntsville Transit sees new uptick in ridership

Huntsville Transit has seen an increase in ridership lately that has brought its passenger numbers back to pre-pandemic levels. Ridership in 2023 on fixed routes was at 94% of pre-COVID ridership and at 97% on paratransit routes.

Passenger traffic dropped significantly during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Huntsville Transit by the numbers

Ridership on Huntsville Transit vehicles saw a significant increase in 2023. According to numbers release by the City of Huntsville, the numbers show a stady increase since the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Orbit fixed-route buses carried 630,569 riders in 2023, the highest total since 671,459 riders in the last full year before the pandemic in 2019. 
• Passenger traffic for Orbit fixed-route buses increased more than 29% in 2023 over the lowest traffic year of 2021. 
• Year over year from 2022, ridership for Orbit increased 13%.
• For Access paratransit, the 100,832 riders in 2023 were the most since 104,952 in 2019. 
• Passenger traffic for Access routes  increased 38% since the first year of the pandemic in 2020, and year over year from 2022, ridership increased 20%.

What’s new for Huntsville Transit

The increase in ridership comes at a great time, as construction nears completion on a new transit transfer station on Pratt Avenue.

The facility will offer significant safety upgrades but also focus on riders’ comfort and convenience. It will feature a security fence around the perimeter and an upgraded video surveillance system.

The building will include a waiting area for riders with comfortable seating and ports to charge mobile devices. The interior will also have a separate break area for employees and a ticket office.

Outside, the new station will feature a 400-foot-long bus platform and an office for the platform manager. The 45-foot bus bays will accommodate larger buses and be covered to protect riders from inclement weather. Electronic signs will provide real-time information on arrivals and departures.

Want more info and updates on what’s happening in and around Huntsville? Follow Hville Blast on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.