The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA) held the official ribbon cutting of its new Central Station facility Friday, June 30^th. People gathered on the platform to hear speakers such as BJCTA Executive Director, Barbara Murdock, BJCTA Board Chairman Patrick Sellers, City of Birmingham Mayor William Bell, Mayor of Bessemer Kenneth Gulley, Senator Rodger Smitherman, City of Birmingham Council President, Johnathan Austin, and President Pro Tempore Steven Hoyt. All spoke about the excitement of having the new building and shared their experiences with the project leading up to the celebration.

The atmosphere of the ceremony was filled with excitement and fun. Guests were greeted by the sight of balloons and the sound of music. The crowd enjoyed samples of free Coca-Cola products, popcorn, and cookies that displayed the MAX logo. The ceremony began with paratransit rider, James Smith singing the national anthem. Next, the Carver High School Drumline got the crowd moving with a spectacular performance. The band later led the crowd through the building and to the new Transit Café after the ribbon was cut. People could be heard commenting on how nice the facility looks on both the inside and outside.

The inside waiting area features comfortable seating with an electronic charging station at each seat. Music plays in the background and is only interrupted by the announcement of buses arriving and departing. There are large display monitors inside the lobby. These monitors display helpful information to the passengers. There is real time bus information, as well as a large clock and other important news stories.

 “This building has been a long time coming. The ground work started in 2009,” said Murdock.

Yes, you read that correct. The ground work began on this facility almost eight years ago. Although the Central Station facility is open, there is still another piece of the project that we’re still waiting for. This is the Intermodal facility. Located on 18^th Street directly across from the Central Station. This facility will house BJCTA administrative offices, Greyhound, and Amtrak.  It is set to open later in the year.