News Releases

The Birmingham -Jefferson County Transit Authority Announces New Executive Director / CEO


BIRMINGHAM, AL (September 20, 2021) The Board of Directors of the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA) is announcing the confirmation of Charlotte Shaw as the new Executive Director/CEO of the transit agency. She will be responsible for overseeing BJCTA’s transit growth strategy, ridership and implementing new forms of transit micro mobility to complement BJCTA’s existing fixed and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes.

Ms. Shaw come to BJCTA as a senior leader with over 28 years’ experience in the private and public sectors.  Her background includes working in various multifunctional roles including Capital Planning, Operations, Contracts and Procurement, Project Management, Engineering, Construction, and Information Technology.

Ms. Shaw’s vision is to continue efforts in developing the BJCTA as the premiere Transit System of choice for all municipalities. She plans to accomplish this by providing excellent customer service and convenient bus stops with easy connectivity for riders to and from work, to social and sporting events, and to Birmingham’s numerous tourist sites.  Under Ms. Shaw’s leadership, BJCTA will make efforts to bring economic growth to undeveloped areas surrounding transit using Transit Oriented Development (TOD) opportunities.

“It’s imperative that we change the public image of transit. People died for the right for all to have free and clear access to public transportation, which demonstrates the greatest unity to live and work together as a community regardless of race, status, or gender,” said Ms. Shaw.

Mayor Randal Woodfin of the City of Birmingham AL. appointed Ms. Shaw to her current role as the Deputy Director of Capital and Special Projects for the City of Birmingham. In this role, she managed the City’s largest budget of $60M for the completion of the city’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, called the Birmingham Xpress (BX).  Ms. Shaw is largely responsible for saving the BRT Program with the Federal Transit Administration under her leadership.  She was titled the “Savior of the BRT”, by the City’s Director of Transportation, Mr. James Fowler.  Under her leadership the BRT went from 30% design to 100% design and the start of construction within one year during the Pandemic.  The BX will connect 25 neighborhoods to opportunities and vital services along its 10- mile corridor traveling from the Woodlawn Transit Center on 1st Ave N between 56th and 57th Street to the CrossPlex Transit Center at the intersection of Avenue W and 47th Street Ensley. BX).  BJCTA is expected to begin operations of the BRT for revenue service in June 2022.

 

Prior to coming to Birmingham, Ms. Shaw worked at the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) for five years as the Senior Scoping and Screening/Budget Manager in the Capital Budget and Planning department.  There she led the capital budget call and planning for departments to assist with the development of its short and long-range plans.  Ms. Shaw was also responsible for preparing MARTA’s annual budget of $350M and $3.5B long range budget for the capital improvement program including setting the criteria for evaluating and prioritizing major construction and renovation projects for review and approval by the MARTA Board of Directors.  She held various other roles in Contracts Management where she was responsible for overseeing major A&E and Construction contracts.

Ms. Shaw began her career as a Contract Administrator for General Dynamics which was regulated under the Department of Defense; she has worked as a Contracts/Pricing Manager for McDonnell Douglas Corporation; Manager of Subcontracts at Westinghouse Remediation, Inc; Executive Vice President, Program and Contracts Management at SunTrust Bank; Sr. Contract Manager for Professional Services and Licensing Contracts at Oracle; and in Financial Services Point of Sales (POS) at NCR.  In addition to these roles, Ms. Shaw has been the owner and CEO of two small businesses focused on Business Development and Environmental Remediation.

Ms. Shaw holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, Public Administration, Urban Studies and Pre-Law from Drake University.  Charlotte was competitively selected as a 2019 ENO Fellow in which she was exposed to various transit authorities in the Southeast region.  Amongst her many professional affiliations, she is a member of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), National Association of Female Executives (MAFE), Women in Transportation (WTS), Project Management Institute (PMI), National Contract Management Association (NCMA), and the National Institute of Government Procurement (NIGP).

Ms. Shaw will replace the current CEO, Frank T. Martin who has led the agency since December 2018. She will assume this new role at BJCTA effective Friday, October 1, 2021.

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Announcements, News Releases

Birmingham -Jefferson County Transit Authority Announces

Fare Reinstatement and Service Modifications

BIRMINGHAM, AL (November 16, 2020)­-   As a result of COVID-19, Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA) suspended fares on MAX buses since March, 2020. Effective Monday, December 7, 2020, fares will be reinstated.  Customers may purchase passes at Central Station located at 1735 Morris Avenue, Birmingham 35203.

BJCTA is also announcing route modifications and route eliminations to commence on Monday, December 14, 2020.  The details are included below. These changes are driven by the lack of funding from the affected cities to support the service. “We never like to see the reduction of service to our customers as we understand the impact that this has on the ability of many to travel to important destinations” said BJCTA Executive Director/CEO, Frank T. Martin.  “Our hope is to improve and grow our service but that requires the resources of our participating municipalities.”

Effective: Monday, December 14, 2020

ROUTE MODIFICATIONS

Route 45- Bessemer

  1. Midfield service will be modified on Weekday and Saturday, 10 Weekday trips and 5 Saturday trips (Schedules will be available soon)
  2. Discontinued Service in the City of Lipscomb
  3. Discontinued Service in the City of Brighton
  4. Discontinued Service in the City of Fairfield (Vinesville Road/ Aaron Aronov Road)

ROUTE MODIFICATIONS

Route 78 – Forestdale/ Adamsville

  1. Discontinued Service in Forestdale and Adamsville

 

Route 280- Highway 280

  1. No Inbound Service on Highway 280 at Cahaba River Road (Bus stop has been removed)


Click here to download the original press release
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Announcements, News Releases

Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority Names Chief Operating Officer and Other Organizational Changes

BIRMINGHAM, AL (March 5, 2020) –Mr. Frank T. Martin, Executive Director and CEO of the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (MAX Transit) announces the selection of Harold L. Young, Jr. as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Authority, as well as other organizational changes.

With more than three decades of experience in the transportation industry, Mr. Young brings a granular knowledge of bus operations, bus maintenance, paratransit, safety and customer service in public transit, charter bus and student transportation environments.

Mr. Young was previously employed as Superintendent of Bus Operations with Broward County Transit in Broward County, Florida. Prior to that, his proven management track record included working with Coach America/Horizon Charter Bus, Miami-Dade Transit, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, as well as the Greyhound and Trailways Bus Lines.

Harold’s responsibilities will include providing strategic leadership for the transportation department of BJCTA which includes fixed route, paratransit and micro transit services.  He will also provide leadership for the safety and security, facilities, construction and engineering, and the planning departments.

 “We are extremely fortunate to add Harold to our team as he brings a wealth of knowledge of the transportation industry.”, said BJCTA Director Frank T. Martin.  “His leadership will be crucial as we continue to make improvements to our system and prepare to become the mobility manager in the region.”

Harold is 30-year member of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) and a graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA.


Director Martin also announces two other changes within the organization.  Valerie (Vicki) Rivers, formally Chief of Staff, is now BJCTA’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).  Her responsibilities include leadership of Board Relations, Marketing/Communications, Human Resources, Information Technology, Customer Care/Reception, ADA/Compliance, Procurement, Intergovernmental Relations, Grants, Transit Oriented Development and Economic Development.


Ms. Rivers, a Birmingham native, joined the agency in February 2019 and brings not only transit knowledge, she is also a life- long public sector professional.  Before joining BJCTA, she worked most recently in leadership positions with the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, the City of Houston, the Houston Downtown Redevelopment Authority/Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #3, and the Minority Business Development Department in Richmond Virginia.

In addition to her vast professional experience, Ms. Rivers is active in many professional organizations which include the National Forum of Black Public Administrators, International City/County Management Association, National Association of Minority Contractors, Association of Conflict Resolution, Airport Minority Advisory Council, the American Contract Compliance Association, American Public Transportation Association (APTA), and the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO).

Mr. Glenn Dickerson, formally the Director of Finance, has been named as BJCTA’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Glenn also joined the agency in February 2019 and is a Birmingham native. He is a certified public accountant and came to BJCTA with over 35 years in the field.  His major responsibilities will be to oversee the daily financial activities of the finance department and to continue to ensure that sound budgetary planning and controls are in place. In addition to managing the agency’s budget, Mr. Dickerson will lead the payroll, accounting, and auditing functions of BJCTA.

Mr. Dickerson is also a member of the American Institute of Public Accountants, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants, Alabama State Board of Certified Public Accountants and the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).

“These changes and others within the organization not only will enhance our bench strength but will also ensure that we are true to our mission which is to provide safe, reliable, and excellent transit and mobility services that contribute to the region’s economy, vitality and sustainability”, said Director Martin.

 

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The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority is the public transportation leader in Central Alabama. The Authority averages three million riders per year and has close to 300 employees. For more information, visit www.maxtransit.org.

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