Birmingham's MAX Transit Cites Funding and Driver Shortage as Barriers to Service Expansion

NewsData.io · United States · Sep 17, 2026

North Birmingham residents are pressing MAX Transit for extended evening and weekend bus service, but the agency says expansion is constrained by limited funding and a growing driver shortage. MAX officials note that longtime operators are retiring while the agency competes with other regional employers for new hires, and it currently lacks state funding or a dedicated sales tax to scale operations. The situation is tied to a broader $20 million federal Recompete Pilot Program grant aimed at reducing economic barriers — including transportation gaps — in underserved Birmingham neighborhoods. MAX says it is actively recruiting bus operators but did not disclose the number of open positions.