Birmingham Central Station

This article is about the MAX bus terminal. For the demolished train station, see Birmingham Terminal Station.

Birmingham Central Station in August 2008

The Birmingham Central Station located at 1735 Morris Avenue in downtown Birmingham. The station is constructed atop the site formally occupied by the Banana Warehouse demolished in 1996. The two story, gold domed facility designed by Volkert & Associates was officially dedicated on June 25, 1999. The facility serves as the headquarters for the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority as well as the main terminal for all MAX buses.

In June 1999 a resolution to name the soon-to-be completed facility "Nina Station" in honor of former City Councilor Nina Miglionico was submitted and withdrawn without a vote.

Intermodal facility

Future expansion of the station will serve Greyhound buses and Amtrak passenger rail as well as the BJCTA and a dedicated airport shuttle. In 2008 the City of Birmingham approved $9 million in matching funds to release $23 million in federal allocations for the $32 million project.

Approval of a contract with Goodwyn Mills and Cawood to design the expanded facility was delayed after questions arose about the relationship of Jeff Pitts, who was Larry Langford's campaign manager for the 2007 Birmingham mayoral election, with the company.

Giattina Aycock Architecture Studio and Hoskins Architecture formed a joint venture to design the facility when work resumed under William Bell's administration. Their design calls for a retail and restaurant arcade, a 274-space parking deck, and a recreation of the Magic City sign which was famously displayed outside the former Birmingham Terminal Station.

References

• "Chronology of Birmingham's Public Transit System". (September 27, 2006) [1].
• Bryant, Joseph D. (August 4, 2008) "Funding to expand public transportation center available." Birmingham News
• Bryant, Joseph D. (March 11, 2009) "Birmingham council delays contract on design of downtown transit facility after question about campaign manager's involvement." Birmingham News
• Tomberlin, Michael (December 16, 2010) "Plan takes shape for Birmingham's central transportation hub with shops, restaurants." Birmingham News

External links

• Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority official website
• 3-D model of Birmingham Central Station by Jordan Herring