By 
January 5, 2026
In a city that continues to grow and attract new residents, businesses and visitors, parking and public transportation play a critical role in keeping Huntsville moving. Throughout 2025, the City’s Parking and Public Transportation team focused on expanding access, reinvesting in core infrastructure and planning for the next phase of growth – all while maintaining safe, reliable and efficient services across the system.
One of the year’s most visible accomplishments was the opening of the new 550-space City Hall Garage, which now serves City Hall employees while easing demand across other downtown garages. Additional investments focused on extending the life and usability of existing facilities, including a major structural renovation of Garage O on Clinton Avenue and the redesign and resurfacing of Lot E on Eustis Avenue.
Downtown activity continued to grow in 2025 with the City recording a 7 percent increase in downtown parking usage, and parking improvements also enhanced access around key destinations. The Lowe Avenue project, adjacent to the new Federal Courthouse, added 55 visitor spaces supported by 13 solar-powered, multi-space parking meters.
“These projects are about more than adding spaces,” said Quisha Bryant, Director of Parking and Public Transportation. “They’re about making sure our parking system works efficiently, safely and seamlessly with the pace of growth we’re seeing across Huntsville.”
Public Transportation also reached a major milestone in 2025 when the City received a $6.1 million Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant to purchase six low- or no-emission hybrid diesel-electric buses. The $6.1 million is not just for the buses – it also includes a robust training program for Fleet Maintenance technicians and City Transit staff. The City approved additional funding to complete the purchase, bringing the total investment to approximately $7.2 million.
The hybrid buses will be larger, cleaner and up to 30% more fuel efficient, and will mark the first hybrid buses in Huntsville’s transit fleet. This new, state-of-the-art technology allows buses to operate in designated geo-fenced 100% emissions free.
“Investing in cleaner, more efficient buses is an important step toward a more sustainable transit system,” Bryant said. “It allows us to better serve riders today while planning responsibly for future growth.”
In 2025, Huntsville Transit carried 716,087 passengers between Orbit fixed route buses and Access Paratransit service. Transit also provided Express Routes on Orbit buses for major events at The Orion Amphitheater and other large-scale events around the City such as Panoply and the Comic Expo. These express shuttles run in a circuit from downtown hotels to and from the venues.
As 2026 begins, the focus remains on planning ahead while maximizing existing resources. Design work will begin on a new 850-space parking garage at MidCity, and a City-operated 330-space lot as part of the downtown Front Row development. Also in downtown, structural and elevator renovations on the east side of Garage M across from the Von Braun Center will extend the life of one of the City’s most heavily used facilities. Together, these efforts reflect a continued commitment to smart growth, accessibility and a transportation system designed for Huntsville’s future.
