Community Forum Report #2. - Southwest Corridor Transit Study

Transcription

Sou
uthwest Co
orridor
Tran
nsit Study
S
COM
MMUN
NITY FORU
F UM 2
SUM
MMAR
RY RE
EPOR
RT
Augus
st 19, 2011
Prepare
ed for:
Regiona
al Planning Commissio
on of Greate
er Birmingh
ham
Prepare
ed by:
The Atkiins Team
Pla
an Desiign Ena
able
Southwest Corridor Transit Study
Community Forum #2 Summary
Table of Contents
Chapter
Page
CHAPTER 1
1.1
1.2
1.3
INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................
Public Engagement Planning Process..............................................................
Community Forums...........................................................................................
Report Purpose and Organization.....................................................................
1.3.1
Purpose...............................................................................................
1.3.2
Organization........................................................................................
1-1
1-1
1-2
1-3
1-3
1-3
CHAPTER 2
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
2.10
2.11
BACKGROUND ...............................................................................................
Pre-Event Activities...........................................................................................
Mailing Contact List...........................................................................................
Workshop Invitations.........................................................................................
Community Forum Flyer....................................................................................
Web Site ...........................................................................................................
Public Service Announcement..........................................................................
Online Calendars..............................................................................................
Press Release...................................................................................................
Media Outreach.................................................................................................
Social Media......................................................................................................
Public Fact Sheet .............................................................................................
2-1
2-1
2-2
2-2
2-2
2-3
2-3
2-4
2-5
2-5
2-5
2-5
CHAPTER 3
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
3.10
SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY FORUM 2 MEETINGS......................................
Our One Mile ....................................................................................................
Southwest Corridor Transportation Working Group .........................................
Jefferson County Department of Land Planning and Development..................
City of Birmingham Department of Planning, Engineering and Permits...........
Southwest Corridor Community Development Working Group.........................
Southwest Corridor Economic Development Working Group...........................
Land Owners and Developers...........................................................................
Study Steering Committee ................................................................................
Study Team Debriefing Session.......................................................................
Community Forum and Interactive Polling Exercise..........................................
3.10.1 Community Forum...............................................................................
3.10.2 Interactive Polling Exercise.................................................................
3-1
3-1
3-2
3-3
3-4
3-5
3-7
3-8
3-9
3-9
3-9
3-10
3-12
CHAPTER 4
4.1
4.2
CONCLUSION AND NEXT STEPS..................................................................
Conclusion........................................................................................................
Next Steps........................................................................................................
4-1
4-1
4-1
APPENDICES
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
Appendix F
Appendix G
Appendix H
Appendix I
Appendix J
Appendix K
Appendix L
Working Group Invitation
Community Forum Flyer
Web Site
Public Service Announcements
Online Event Calendars
Press Release
Social Media
Fact Sheet
Sign In Sheets
Presentation
Maps
Community Forum Responses and Voting Results
1-ii
Chapter 1
Introduction
The Southwest Corridor extends generally along US 11 beginning in Downtown Birmingham and
ending at McAshan Drive in southwest Jefferson County. The Regional Planning Commission of
Greater Birmingham (RPCGB) believes the Southwest Corridor has a bright future on which a
more vibrant community can be fostered, reinvigorating local businesses and neighborhoods.
The goal of this study is to define an improved transit system that can contribute to the growth of
housing, employment, education, retail, industrial, and service opportunities along the corridor.
The Southwest Corridor, formerly a thriving retail, industrial, and residential corridor, has seen its
vitality decline over the past 20 years. To revitalize this area the RPCGB seeks to identify options
for development, redevelopment and improved transit services that make the area attractive to
new housing and businesses along the corridor while serving existing and future markets. The
southern part of the corridor is still developing, and offers opportunity to shape land uses to be
more transit supportive.
This study is jointly sponsored by the RPCGB, the cities within the corridor (Bessemer,
Birmingham, Brighton, Fairfield, Midfield, and Lipscomb), the Alabama Department of
Transportation, Jefferson County, and the Federal Transit Administration. The transit plan
component of the study will seek to offer new alternative transportation choices such as Express
Bus, Bus Rapid Transit, or Modern Streetcar to connect people to activity centers within the
corridor.
To support the transit planning effort, RPCGB has implemented a comprehensive and systematic
public engagement process. Public engagement allows the study team to gain a better
understanding of the corridor through the people who live, work, shop and go to school there.
This public engagement process includes Community Forums as a tool to inform the general
public about the various transportation modes and how transit investment and land use strategies
can leverage economic development in the corridor.
While the intent of the transit plan is to discern what transportation system demand and
infrastructure investments will most effectively meet the travel demands resulting from land
development/redevelopment scenarios, the purpose of the public engagement process is to
establish a relationship with the general public through early, ongoing and meaningful
communication. The public engagement process will also present clear messages that
accurately reflect the goals of the RPCGB and its local, state, and federal planning partners.
1.1
Public Engagement Planning Process
Community-based transportation planning recognizes that values held both individually and as a
group contribute to the quality of community life. Because these values are expressed through
social and cultural practices, they contribute to a strong “sense of place.” Community means
many things to many people; nonetheless, defining it is an early and essential part of the public
transportation planning process.
Using the insights revealed in the Comprehensive,
Redevelopment, Community/Neighborhood, and other plans undertaken by RPCGB’s planning
partners within the Birmingham/Jefferson County region over the last several years, RPCGB has
designed a public engagement process that is compliant with the applicable federal regulations,
and reaches out to every community within the Southwest Corridor.
The purpose of the Southwest Corridor public engagement plan is to describe the goals for the
study, regulatory requirements for public involvement, public input and communications
techniques, a schedule of activities, and a process for evaluating plan effectiveness. The plan is
intended to ensure consistency throughout all levels of the land use and transportation planning
process. The plan formalizes the commitment of project sponsors to provide background and
1-1
technical information to the general public, government agencies, businesses and other
stakeholders, in order to provide meaningful input during the corridor planning process.
1.2
Community Forums
To generate meaningful dialogue about transportation and land use issues, the Community
Forums strategy is a fundamental element of the Public Engagement Plan. The Community
Forums are typically characterized by an open-house format, surveys and interactive exercises,
roundtable discussions, and maps, videos, and other visual displays of project information. There
are five rounds of the community forums planned for the Southwest Corridor:

Round 1 - Kickoff Meeting, Issues Identification, and NEPA Scoping: These forums were
Feb 21 - 23, 2011. Topics presented included a study overview which described the
study goals and objectives, study process and schedule, and community engagement
opportunities. The meeting was structured to solicit input from the community regarding
their perceptions of issues and needs in the study corridor relating to transportation and
transit, land use and development, economic development, and other concerns. This
meeting was also used to gather information for the study area contact list.

Round 2 - Corridor Conditions and Corridor Visioning: This forum was held during the
week of June 21 - 23, 2011 Topics presented included a study overview of the corridor
conditions, both existing and future, in relation to transportation, land use and
demographics, based on collection and analysis of corridor parameters. There were also
structured exercises to gather input from the attendees as to their perspectives on the
corridor vision. [This round of meetings is the focus of this report.]

Round 3 - Transit Alternatives: Transit service alternatives will be presented to the public
after the initial short-listing of options from a broad palette of possible technologies and
alignments.
For proposed shortlisted options, descriptive exhibits depicting the
alternatives will be provided. Key features and attributes of the various options will be
clearly described and accentuated with graphics, photographs, and other visual exhibits.
1-2

Round 4 - Land Use/Station Area Planning: Land use/station planning workshops
will take place in a hands-on community-planning context. Participants will contribute
insights and ideas on possible station locations. These workshops will be conducted
in an interactive manner with participants.

Round 5 - Preferred Transit and Land Use Alternatives and Corridor
Plan/Implementation Strategies: This meeting will present the identified locally
preferred transportation system alternatives and locally preferred land use scenario
to the general public for review and comment. A final implementation plan will be
developed that lays out a set of potential strategies and actions required to move
forward the transportation and land use alternatives through the FTA New Starts
process. This will include station area-specific implementation plans and an overview
of funding requirements and potential funding sources.
Some meetings will also be structured to solicit appropriate input from the community regarding
their perceptions as to issues and needs in the study corridor relating to transportation and
transit, land use and development, economic development, and other concerns by using
questionnaires and informal question and answer models. Transit alternatives will be presented
to the public as well.
1.3
Report Purpose and Organization
1.3.1 Purpose
This report provides a summary of the objectives and format, public awareness and media
relations strategies, and comments received at Southwest Corridor Transit Study Community
Forum #2, Corridor Conditions and Corridor Visioning. The report is to be used as a guide for
improving outreach to the Southwest Corridor community and stakeholders with each subsequent
round of meetings.
1.3.2 Organization
Chapter 1 provides an introduction of the Southwest Corridor Transit Study and the Public
Engagement Process. Chapter 2 lists the community forum background information. Chapter 3
summarizes the community forum meetings. Chapter 4 highlights the next steps and concludes
this report.
1-3
Chapter 2
Background
The purpose of the Southwest Corridor Transit Study community forums were to engage citizens,
businesses and other project stakeholders in an early and informed understanding of the issues
facing the corridor, while gathering input from those most strongly impacted by the future of
transportation on the corridor. The meetings provided the Regional Planning Commission of
Greater Birmingham (RPCGB) the opportunity to receive public opinion on corridor conditions and
visioning that the RPCGB presented to address the most pressing mobility needs within the
Southwest Corridor region. The community forums were also used to gather information for the
study area contact list and were held at the Fairfield Civic Center in Fairfield, AL in accordance
with the schedule below:
Date
Meeting Type
Time
Tuesday
June 21, 2011
Corridor Vision Development
Our One Mile
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
June 22, 2011
Thursday
June 23, 2011
2.1
Transportation Working Group
Jefferson County Planning
City of Birmingham
Community Development Working Group
Economic Development Working Group
Land Owners/Land Developers
Local Government Briefing
Community Forum
(Public Open House)
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Pre-Event Activities
The study team conducted a number of pre-event activities to aid in clearly defining the purpose
and objectives for initiating public dialogue on transit alternatives during the second round of
community forums.
2-1
2.2
Mailing Contact List
Using existing lists provided by local public agencies and by visiting all business and residences
directly along the corridor, the study team developed a contact database of names representing
the following interests:
























2.3
Chamber of Commerce
City Council Members
City Planning Commissions
Neighborhood Associations
Community Advisory Boards
Economic Development Corporations
Educational Groups
State and Local Elected Officials
Environmental Organizations
Housing Development Organizations
Large Employers
Libraries
Local Civic Institutions
Low Income Organizations
Mayors
Media Contacts (magazine, newspaper, radio, television)
Metropolitan Planning Organizations
Professional Organizations
Regional Planning Commission Public Involvement Contacts
Small Employers on Corridor
Social Services (Disabled, Elderly, Health/Medical, Non-Profit, Region 2020
Leadership)
Transportation Groups (Horizon 280, CLASTRAN, BJCTA Board, Chamber
Transportation Commission)
Transportation Contacts
Underserved Groups
Workshop Invitations
Special workshops were scheduled with the study’s Transportation Planning, Economic
Development, and Community Development Working Groups, along with Land Owners and
Developers, Jefferson County Planning staff, City of Birmingham Planning staff, Our One Mile
and the study’s Steering Committee during the days of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, June
21-23 at the Fairfield Civic Center. These workshops allowed the study team to provide an
overview of the study, findings to date about the corridor, and to gather input on the vision and
goals of the study.
An invitation was sent requesting participation and input during the
workshops. (Appendix A)
2.4
During the early part of June, the study team emailed the flyer to over 450 study contacts
announcing the Community Forums. The flyer was also distributed at various locations along the
corridor. The working groups also distributed the flyer to their stakeholder and public outreach
lists. (Appendix B)
2-2
2.5
Web Site
An interactive project web site (www.swcorridor.org) was developed to provide the public with
accurate and timely information on a wide range of project topics. The web site is linked to the
main RPCGB web site (www.rpcgb.org) and accepts emails and offers (non-scientific) opinion
polls. For those unable to attend the Community Forums, the web site allows users to submit
comments up to 300 characters. Comments are immediately received by the study team who
provide responses on a regular basis. Every effort is made to keep the web site current and
informative. (Appendix C)
2.6
Public Service Announcement
The study team prepared a 30 second Public Service Announcement (PSA) and distributed it to
local radio stations. Media contacts were advised of the purpose of the PSA, purpose of the
Community Forums, and purpose of the Southwest Corridor Transit Study. The PSA was
distributed via email and fax to the following media outlets (Appendix D):
Charter Media
Birmingham Christian Family
Birmingham Home and Garden
Birmingham Magazine
Business Alabama Magazine
Community Messenger
Over the Mountain Journal
Western Star
Alabama Baptist Newspaper
Alabama Messenger
Birmingham Business Journal
Birmingham Times
Birmingham Weekly
Black and White Newspaper
Dailey Mountain Eagle
Kaleidoscope
North Jefferson News
Over the Mountain Journal
St. Clair News-Aegis
Western Star
WAPI 1070 AM/News Radio
WATV 900 Urban Oldies
WBHJ 95.7 Jamz
WBHM
WBLZ
WDJC 850/93.7 Christian
WENN FM
WFFN 95.3 Sunny Oldies
WJLD 1400 AM R&B Oldies
WJOX 690 AM Sport Radio
WJSR
WLJR 88.5 FM Religious
Briarwood Presbyterian
WODL 106.9 Oldies
WRJS 1320 AM Mexican
WUHT FM 107.7
WVSU/FM 91.1
WZRR 99.5 Classic Rock
WZZK 104.7 Country
WAGG AM Gospel
WAPI AM Talk Radio
WBHK FM 98.7 Kiss FM
WBPT FM Classic Rock
WDXB FM Classic Country
WERC AM
WJOX AM Sports Radio
WMJJ FM Magic 96
WNCB FM New Country
WQEN FM
WABM Channel 68
WBIQ Public Television
Charter Cable
WBMA ABC33/40
WBRC Fox 6
WIAT CBS 42
WVTM NBC 13
2-3
2.7
Online Calendars
Consistent with the multi-media outreach goal, the study team posted meeting announcements,
flyers, fact sheets, and the project web site address to online community and event calendars
covering the Birmingham, Brighton, and Bessemer markets. Below is a summary of the online
calendars identified for the Southwest Corridor Study (Appendix E):
10 best.com
About.com
Alabama Travel Event
Alabama.org
AmericanTowns.com
Backpage.com
Bessemer Al.org
Bessemer Chamber of Commerce
Bessemer City Calendar
Bessemer City.com
Bessemer Free Classifieds
Bessemer Opinions Blogsite
Birmingham 365
Birmingham Business Alliance
Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau
Birmingham Net
Birmingham Net Free Classifieds
Birmingham News
Birmingham Public Library
Birmingham Weekly.com
Channel 13.com
City Search Bessemer
Craigslist Birmingham
2-4
Eventfulo.com
Events Bessemer
Go City Kids.com
Hello Bessemer.com
Hello Birmingham Events
Hot Frog Bessemer Calendar
Lawson State College Community News
Meeting.org Birmingham Events
MyBessemer.com
Neighborhood Now
Official Web Site Birmingham
The Summit Birmingham
The Terminal Birmingham Hub
TimesFreePress
Topix Bessemer
Topix Birmingham
Tuscaloosa news
US City.net
We Go Places.com
WikiCity.com
World Web.com
Your City Center Birmingham
Zvents Birmingham
2.8
Press Release
The study team created a press release that communicated key messages to the target audiences
impacted by the Southwest Corridor study and announced the Community Forum dates and
location. The release was distributed to major media outlets, including ABC 33/40. (Appendix F)
2.9
Media Outreach
Media outreach efforts to promote the Southwest Corridor Transit Study to the general public
included an appearance on WJLD - 1400 AM by Darrell Howard, Deputy Director of Planning for
the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPCGB) on Wednesday, June 22. A
transcript of the interview is available from the RPCGB upon request.
In addition, Mr. Howard appeared on Good Day Alabama on Thursday, June 23 to discuss the
study purpose and progress, and to announce the opportunity to provide public input at the
community
forum.
A
video
of
the
appearance
is
available
at:
www.myfoxal.com/story/14961992/good-day-alabama-for-june-23-2011.
2.10
Social Media
During the week of June 20, the RPCGB posted an announcement and flyer to their Facebook and
Twitter account pages to inform and remind followers of the June 23, Community Forum.
(Appendix G)
2.11
Project Fact Sheet
A project fact sheet was created to introduce the study and provide simple and straightforward
information to the public and stakeholders. A copy of the fact sheet was distributed to
stakeholders and the general public. (Appendix H)
2-5
Chapter 3
Meetings
Summary of Community Forum 2
This section of the report provides a summary of the various activities and meetings that were
conducted over the three-day period of Community Forum 2. All meetings were held at the
Fairfield Civic Center, allowing the study team to utilize maps and other data resources in the
discussions.
A listing of the working group and community forum attendees is included as Appendix I.
The presentation viewed during the meetings is included as Appendix J.
3.1
Our One Mile
On Tuesday, June 21 at 1:30 pm, the study team met with Jane Ross, the consultant manager for
the Our One Mile planning effort. The team discussed:

A
hierarchy of three types of
trail/pathway facilities has been
identified: 1) regional corridors on
mostly independent
alignments
along streams and other mostly offroad corridors; 2) connectors, which
typically take the form of bike paths
that accommodate walking, and link
regional facilities to neighborhood
facilities; and, 3) neighborhood
routes that allow for shared
bicycle/pedestrian movements.

Plans to introduce greenways to Greater Birmingham to connect cities and communities
along western Birmingham. This greenways project aims to create more walkable
communities and introduce usable green space to make communities more livable. A
draft network of these facilities has been defined within parts of the Southwest Corridor.

The location of a proposed health center on US 11 just south of the High Line Corridor.
This corridor was noted for its proximity to several planned routes.

The role of the Complete Streets and Road Diet concepts in defining typical sections for
street-based route segments. Complete Streets refers to a street design philosophy that
adequately accommodates vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit services along
with landscaping within the roadway cross-section. The Road Diet notion refers to the
redefinition of an existing roadway cross-section to typically reduce the number of
3-1
vehicular lanes, lane widths, or both, while providing basic or enhanced facilities for
pedestrians and bicyclists.

The progress and upcoming milestones for the “Our One Mile” process – the process will
be formulating a draft set of recommendations in late summer, undertaking a review
process over the fall, and announcing final recommendations in early 2012.

Exploring the potential to introduce bike paths and designated bike lanes to promote
healthy commuting.

The Southwest Corridor Study and “Our One Mile” process have the potential to create a
lot of synergy, especially near the Five Points West Community, and near the City of
Midfield. In Five Points West, the team explored the opportunity to introduce bike lanes
and designated bus lanes along US 11; and introduce service roads to redirect the flow of
traffic off of US 11 as a safety and congestion solution. In Midfield, collaboration focused
on land use potential near Midfield High School such as the potential to create green
space and an area to serve as Midfield’s City Center.

The 2035 Regional Transportation Plan for the Birmingham Region which identified
various activity centers with employment, service and shopping concentrations, and that it
is worthwhile for the Our One Mile routings to interface with these activity centers/hubs.

Potential transit alternatives and their configuration within the US 11 right-of-way.

Maintaining close coordination as both study efforts progress.
3.2
Southwest Corridor Transportation Working Group
The Southwest Corridor Transportation Working Group met on Wednesday, June 22 at 9
a.m. The study team summarized the status of the Southwest Corridor Transit Study and the
feedback received to date from the public and community through outreach efforts. After the
presentation, the group discussed challenges to implementing premium transit in the corridor and
possible solutions. The discussion touched upon the following subjects:

Regarding
the
transit
technologies, while light rail
would have a real impact of
presence, it was acknowledged
that it is much more costly. It
was noted that the eventual
proposed solution needs to be
on scale with the demonstrable
demand for the service and that
initial indications are that bus
rapid transit might be more in
line with that.
FTA costeffectiveness criteria drive the
3-2
suitability of the solution in line with demonstrable transit demand. A number of systems
are looking at Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as the initial service with the possibility of
upgrading to Light Rail Transit (LRT) in the future, if the BRT service becomes highly
successful.

Regarding alignments, there was discussion that the key activity centers in the corridor
should definitely be considered as targets for station locations. These are sites that
generate higher trip making and are places that more people want to go to. It was noted
that any concentrations of employment lend themselves to regular, repeated daily trips
that could be captured by transit. The key targets mentioned include Princeton Medical
Center, Five Points West and the Birmingham Metro CrossPlex at Fair Park (CrossPlex),
Western Hills Mall area, and downtown Bessemer, among others.

There was some discussion about integrating any new transit service with the existing
transit services. It was noted that any proposed premium transit improvements will need
to consider existing services and possible revisions to them, along with other
complementary services such as an activity center circulator. It was also flagged that the
Southwest Corridor Study is coordinating with the planning efforts of the Our One Mile
initiative by looking at a tiered network of trails and sidewalks in the Southwest Corridor.

Another point of discussion was that the analysis of alternatives needs to highlight the
benefits of the proposed transit improvements in ways that communicate the value of the
projects to the citizens and communities in the corridor.
3.3
Jefferson County Department of Land Planning and
Development
This group met on Wednesday, June 22 at 10 a.m. to discuss the status of Jefferson County
Planning efforts in the Shades Creek basin. County planning staff provided a briefing on their
planning for the unincorporated areas of the county southwest of Bessemer in the McCalla area.
The county has been cleared to proceed with updated land use planning for this area. A variety of
land uses are contemplated in suitable
locations, including industrial land use
on flatter lands, affordable residential
housing, and designated village areas
based on form-based SmartCode
provisions.
SmartCode is a land
development tool for planning and
urban design. This program is designed
to create walkable neighborhoods from
the most rural to the most urban. The
program folds zoning, subdivision
regulations, urban design, and basic
architectural standards
into
one
compact document.
The availability of sewer service is a
3-3
controlling factor for area development, and it is possible that policy decisions will support no
expansion of sewer service even if self-funded by the private sector. All sewers in the Southwest
Corridor are controlled by Jefferson County.
A transportation goal for the area is to restrict truck traffic movements to the MacAshan Road
corridor and its interchange with I-20/I-59, which needs upgrading.
A representative of Conservation Alabama also in attendance commented that her organization is
promoting connectivity and walkability in relation to greenways in the corridor; safer streets for
transit accessibility; and education to increase awareness of these types of urban design features.
It was also noted that the Health Department is an active proponent for smart growth policies in
addition to transit-ready development and walkability initiatives.
Jefferson County Land Planning and Land Development revealed plans to invest in small industrial
and manufacturing along US 11. These plans include development in the existing Jefferson
County Metropolitan Economic Development Park, and near Brighton, Lipscomb, and Bessemer.
Although none of the county’s plans include residential land use, they anticipate, and encourage,
residential planning efforts to ensure existing communities can accommodate increased population
near areas where jobs will be created.
3.4
City of Birmingham
Engineering and Permits
Department
of
Planning,
A meeting was conducted with staff from the City of Birmingham Planning staff on Wednesday,
June 22 at 11 am to discuss recent planning efforts within the city and with regard to the upcoming
Comprehensive Plan Update. The Comprehensive Plan requires an 18-month process and will
consider
alternative
development
scenarios.
It was noted that planning in the study
corridor within the city had been very
limited for the last 20 years, but that the
Comprehensive Plan would be addressing
that situation.
One of the most active areas in terms of
redevelopment focus has been the Five
Points West district which has an
established revitalization district whose
master plan has been amended by the
Planning Commission.
The city has
purchased some parcels, but the private sector has made some investments in the area with a
Winn Dixie grocery and a CVS pharmacy, and a few other newer retail uses. The adjacent Fair
Park redevelopment (newly named as CrossPlex) has also generated activity. It was also
recognized that the Princeton Hospital district with the hospital’s expansion project is an emerging
hub with 1,500 employees and many daily visitors.
3-4
It was noted that the area from Five Points West south to the city limits has evolved into strip
commercial uses with secondary tenants.
Another challenge is the need to stabilize
neighborhoods and repopulate the corridor which has lost 30,000 residents in the last 10 years.
It was agreed to maintain communications between groups for continued coordination.
With heavy emphasis placed on the Birmingham Metro CrossPlex, the discussion revealed that no
planning has been invested in communities around the CrossPlex development, and that very little
plans are being made to conduct planning in the future. The representatives did cite that the city’s
master plan was outdated, but said that the CrossPlex project was inherited via the previous
mayor, Larry Langford; and shared that the development has not spurred the kind of economic
development they had hoped it would.
The discussion also addressed new ordinances implemented by the City of Birmingham to speed
up the removal of blighted, tax delinquent and abandoned properties. Although these new
ordinances are in place, no plans were shared describing how this ordinance would assist future
planning initiatives.
3.5
Southwest Corridor Community Development Working
Group
The Southwest Corridor Community Development Working Group met on Wednesday, June 22 at
1 pm. This meeting included the participation of the City of Fairfield, Bessemer Chamber of
Commerce, Main Street Birmingham, a local business owner and others. A presentation was
made which summarized the status of the project and the feedback received to date from the
public and community through outreach efforts.
Next, the discussion turned to efforts by Main Street Birmingham. This organization has been
awarded a grant to promote improved availability of fresh and healthy foods within the City of
Birmingham (in contrast to food deserts where grocery stores close and only convenience stores
with low nutrition, prepared and snack foods remain as the primary food source for the
community). The goal of the grant is to enhance quality of life by improved foods and diets, better
access to health care, and improved mobility and walkability with sidewalks and trails.
Then, the group undertook an interactive map exercise to highlight locations in the corridor where
certain types of land uses in their judgment made sense to be preserved, reinvigorated, or possibly
introduced. Those land use types were:
Land Use Type
Mixed Use Center (large and small)
Neighborhood Stabilization
Neighborhood Redevelopment
Land Bank
Green Space
Industrial / Cargo
Special Use
3-5
Color Designation
Tan
Light Blue
Orange
Grey
Green
Purple
Blue
The participants placed the various symbols on the maps at locations of their choosing and in
some cases some notations were made. These maps are provided in Appendix K. A summary
of the key decisions reached by this group are as follows:
East Section
1. More groceries and healthy food
needed
for
University
of
Alabama
Birmingham(UAB)/Central
rd
Health, near 3 Avenue N and
st
Center Street N, near 31 Street
SW and Cedar Avenue SW
2. Birmingham Southern College
(BSC) -Legion Field-Princeton
“Triangle”
o Legion Field is an
opportunity
for
new
development (e.g. offcampus research park)
o Right now, the BSC campus is very gated
o Development in this area could get
people off campus
3. Rickwood Field could be a museum
4. CrossPlex
o Short-term plan needed to get people there
o Good location for hotels, eateries, food market / farmers market
East-Central Section
5. Roosevelt City fire station could be the location of a consolidated safety center for
Midfield, Brighton, Lipscomb, Fairfield, Birmingham
6. New grocery, pharmacy needed to serve neighborhood behind Holiday Bowl (which could
be the site of a mixed use center)
7. Buddy’s Marine Yard to Nissan is a half mile of nothing, good for a land bank
8. Expansion of CSX could move into distressed neighborhood
nd
th
9. At bridge, from 22 to 25 , in need of a center
th
10. Need a road connection from 9 Avenue in Bessemer to I-20 / I-59
11. New single-family housing would be appropriate near Midfield High School
12. Transit could be put down the island in US 11
3-6
West-Central Section
13. More grocery, healthy food choices needed in the area between Westhills Elementary
School and Jess Lanier High School in Bessemer
West Section
14. Mixed use development near the McCalla hub
3.6
Southwest Corridor Economic Development Working
Group
The Southwest Corridor Economic Development Working Group met on Wednesday, June 22 at 3
pm. A presentation was made which summarized the status of the project and the feedback
received to date from the public and community through outreach efforts.
Then, the group undertook an interactive map exercise to highlight locations in the corridor where
certain types of land uses in their judgment made sense to be preserved, reinvigorated, or possibly
introduced. Those land use types were the same as for the Community Development Working
Group discussed in Section 3.5.
The participants placed the various symbols on the maps at locations of their choosing and in
some cases some notations were made. These maps are provided in Appendix K. A summary
of the key decisions reached by this group are as follows:
East Section
1. Beautiful older antebellum homes that need some rehabilitation near Princeton and
Fairfield; good location for neighborhood stabilization
2. Legion Field could be redeveloped as a new mixed-use center
3. Transit connection could go from UAB along 6
Princeton to CrossPlex
th
Avenue to Martin Luther King Drive to
4. CrossPlex could be overdeveloped, too congested
5. A change in housing stock is needed in Fairfield
6. Downtown Fairfield needs support, could be a mixed use center related to Miles College
East-Central Section
7. Connect Western Hills with Lawson State College
West-Central Section
8. Potential raised trail along rail connecting downtown Bessemer with potential greenway to
the south of the study area (in the same manner as the high ore line / Red Mountain Park)
3-7
West Section
9. Just north of where I-20 / I-59 meets the Jefferson County line, there is potential for
parking to serve commuters from Tuscaloosa
3.7
Land Owners and Developers
A meeting was conducted on Thursday, June 23 at 9 am with invited land owners and developers
in the Southwest Corridor and the Birmingham region. There was a presentation which provided a
brief overview of the study status and findings from the real estate market analysis conducted for
the study. After that, a lively discussion ensued about the prospects for development and
redevelopment in the study corridor.
The Five Points West, Princeton
Hospital, CrossPlex, the Western Hills
Mall area, South Bessemer and I-459
areas were noted as key activity
centers, several of which are
experiencing new investments.
One of the challenges discussed was
the continuing decline in population in
the northern reaches of the corridor,
with the observation that “rooftops” are
needed to support a more robust
range of retail and service uses. In
reverse, their decline has led to a
proliferation of “second-tier” retail
tenants ranging from check cashing stores, pawn shops, thrift stores and many vacant storefronts.
Another issue is the emergence of opportunistic landowners working the territory who buy up
multifamily units and operate them for minimal investment and upkeep for a good return, at the
expense of the tenants who have little choice in housing options.
In this meeting attended by Princeton Baptist Medical Center, Miles College and others, plans
were shared that Miles College plans to expand their campus community. This expansion will
include the introduction of a West Campus, and expanded school and program offerings.
Additionally, Miles College shared the details of their Community Development Corporation’s
initiatives to purchase property around the campus to increase their immediate footprint. Miles
College also shared concern that the current transit system inadequately serves the needs of their
students, and that they’d like to see more efficient and reliable service to shopping and other
services.
Princeton Hospital shared plans to invest $57MM to expand their immediate campus. Their
representative expressed concern that with this significant investment, they would like to see
efforts to curb the activity of “slum lords” operating around the hospital. They shared that their
frustration exceeds the blight caused by the lack of upkeep of their properties, but includes the
damage it does to the advancement potential of those who depend on “slum lords” for housing.
Princeton Baptist Medical Center wants to see the entire community improve in accordance with
3-8
their immediate campus, and is willing to work with the Southwest Corridor Transit Study team to
make this a reality.
3.8
Southwest Corridor Steering Committee
A session with the Southwest Corridor Steering Committee was convened on Thursday, June 23
at 10:30 am at the Fairfield Civic Center. The committee received an overview briefing of the
status of the project, the feedback to date from the public, and the next steps in the study process.
At that point, an open discussion followed, allowing the committee members to ask questions and
express their viewpoints on subjects important to them. One committee member stated that there
have been various studies, but it is important for this study to “keep it simple” and strongly
consider practical recommendations that can be implemented. Another pointed out that key
priorities were to reinvent the communities in the corridor, slow and reverse the outmigration, and
give businesses critical mass to survive and thrive. Another opportunity brought forth centered on
amateur sports which could take advantage of the CrossPlex, Rickwood Field and Legion Field.
Another key point was the existing finance structure for the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit
Authority (BJCTA) transit service wherein local cities basically foot the bill for the service. Several
of the corridor cities are in a weak position financially to meet this obligation or continue to do so.
The Executive Director of BJCTA, Peter Behrman, who was in attendance, responded that a
financially challenged city like Detroit devoted 6% of its budget to transit service, while the figure in
Birmingham is in the 2-3% range. It is critical to understand and accept transit not as a last resort
mobility service, but as a regionwide investment that can influence business recruitment,
strengthen the access of service workers to vital employment, and positively enhance economic
development prospects.
The committee was advised that the next Steering Committee meeting would be in late August
and the meeting was adjourned.
3.9
Southwest Corridor Study Team Debrief
The Southwest Corridor study team conducted a debrief to identify key observations drawn from
the prior meetings and discussions, that can be applied to various facets of the remaining study
process. The key points raised during this discussion included:
Team Observation
Team Response
Economic development in the Birmingham region is spread across several
organizations, with each focusing on some specific channels of activity.
Outreach efforts are involving
the various economic entities,
through
stakeholder
interviews
and
through
working group participation.
There seems to be a general lack of confidence about a prompt turnaround
of market conditions in the corridor, perhaps influenced by the general
national malaise of high levels and long terms of unemployment, the
The study team will attempt to
identify “doable deeds” and
leverage off other projects to
3-9
Team Observation
Team Response
downscaling of job salaries, and loss of population in parts of the corridor.
help jumpstart first steps.
Community Development Block Grants are targeted to the smaller corridor
cities, with the City of Birmingham utilizing its Community Development
Dept. as the conduit for such projects.
Approaches
for
redevelopment will capture
existing public investment
initiatives.
Key institutions and activity nodes in the corridor have a positive zone of
influence on the areas around them, and can be effective conduits for
getting the study message passed on to others.
The study team is leveraging
the contact network to extend
outreach further via additional
channels.
The study team should include strategies addressing the “low hanging
fruit” opportunities in the corridor, to stabilize small commercial hubs, to
stabilize neighborhoods with good bones, and to introduce early action that
can start to make a difference. Analogies of the various strategies are to
weed the garden and plant new flowers, or to plow the field and plant new
seeds.
Study recommendations will
be geared to both short term
actions and longer term
strategies
that
can
be
pursued.
Explore a model ordinance to regulate the proliferation of predatory land
uses, perhaps through the American Planning Association.
This
approach
will
be
incorporated into overall land
use recommendations.
Look for ways to provide incentives for the return of quality commercial
development and retail activity.
The study will be looking for
strategies to approach this
need.
3.10
Community Forum and Interactive Polling Exercise
3.10.1
Community Forum
The culmination of the three day workshop was
the Community Forum which was conducted on
Thursday, June 23 from 4 to 8 pm at the
Fairfield Civic Center.
Nearly 30 citizens
attended the Community Forum which was
presented in an open house format, where
participants were able to view displays about
transit, transportation, land use and population
demographics, as well as interact with study
team members about specific study issues.
Other displays presented the project partners,
project schedule, types of transit options to be
considered, and various maps of the Southwest
Corridor study area.
3-10
At 6 pm and 7:30 pm, the study team made short presentations highlighting the progress of the
study, public feedback to date, and the next steps. Then the study team presented an interactive
polling exercise wherein the audience was provided with a short introductory presentation on the
subject of visioning, what it means, and how it is used in the study process. The audience was
then presented (with a PowerPoint presentation) a series of questions and possible answers
addressing corridor needs, challenges and solutions, and were asked to vote for their preferred
answers using a small hand-held voting device. After each question, the results of the audience
members’ preferences were quickly shown on the screen for instant feedback. Based on this
experience, the audience found this feedback method to be entertaining, useful and private.
As a result of open house, the following themes and concerns were shared by the community:
Issues/Needs

The need to create transit connections to colleges and high schools to increase ridership

Lack of safety for the older population at transit stops is a barrier to increasing ridership

Lack of safety in communities hinders the walkability of neighborhoods and stops
businesses from moving to the area

Lack of safety deters people from moving into the area

Adding camera surveillance and lighting at bus shelters could attract riders

There is a need for more bus shelters and benches

Lack of safety and lack of property maintenance affect investments made by land owners
and economic developers along the corridor

Municipal bureaucracy makes it difficult for small businesses to establish and operate in
cities along US 11 (it is difficult to access information and get answers to questions)

Locations right off the highway in Fairfield (near Aronov Drive and Bessemer’s Water
Mark) could be best place for mix used development and small businesses

The community needs a dry cleaners and stores that supply daily and high quality men’s
and women’s apparel, accessories, and other convenience items

Mountain Brook retail centers were cited as desirable retail development

Developments need to be built with the special needs community in mind

The community urges that developers respect the spending capacity of their residents,
citing a high amount of disposable income in communities in the area

Frustration was expressed about the amount of healthcare facilities in the area and the
poor quality of healthcare services

Parks could be connected by walking paths
3-11
Challenges

Poor public confidence in transit providers

Poor perception on transit

Poor interaction between riders and transit operators

Lack of funding
Characteristics of a Solid Vision

Enhances attractiveness for developers

Supports new multi-family housing near the interstate

Supports a college town connected to Miles College and new housing for professors

Embraces the need to attract choice riders

Improves quality of life

Speaks to the need to provide access to opportunities: jobs, healthcare, recreation
3.10.2
Interactive Polling Exercise
At the public sessions of this community forum beginning at 5:00 pm and 6:30 pm, an exercise
was conducted in which the participants were presented a sequence of questions in a presentation
format. Using small handheld polling devices, participants were invited to vote on the provided
responses to the posed questions. The questions related to home location, travel patterns,
approaches to revitalizing the corridor and opinion regarding a possible corridor vision statement.
Some key observations from exercise are summarized as follows:

The residential locations of participants
were distributed across the corridor.

Participants
thought
addressing
improvement of transit and vacant
houses were much more important
than dilapidated store fronts and
shopping choices.

Two-thirds of participants felt that the
improvement of the corridor relied on
an improvement in all proposed factors
including
neighborhood
stability,
government projects, schools, transit,
business and job attraction, and the
state and national economies.

In terms of incentives to people moving back into the corridor, participants felt that fixing
up neighborhoods along with lower unemployment and a better economy, rather than an
3-12
expectation that improvement in transit service and an end to the housing crisis were key
factors.

Over 90% of participants go to downtown Birmingham at least occasionally, with over half
going there daily.

If transit service were improved with better service, 70% indicated they would use transit
more often, and 30% indicated that at least that would be beneficial to those who rely on
transit.

In terms of evaluating transit improvement options, 24% thought the quality of the service
was key while 14% felt that capital cost was important; the balance felt that both these
factors as well as operating cost, environmental benefits, forecast ridership were all
important considerations.
Possible Corridor Vision
Revitalize the study corridor with improved
transit services that offer essential mobility
for many and travel choices for others,
while leveraging opportunities for
restoring vitality to neighborhoods and
business districts, and stimulating
economic opportunities.
3-13
The corridor vision statement that
was posed is shown to the left.
Over 80% of participants strongly
agreed or agreed with this
proposed vision.
The participants were asked if
they liked the voting format and
the vast majority indicated they
enjoyed it. Most participants also
stated that they would try to
attend the next community forum.
The detailed responses for each
session and the combined voting
are provided in a table included in
Appendix L.
Chapter 4
4.1
Conclusions and Next Steps
Conclusion
The second round of Community Forums was a very interactive cycle of meetings and dialogue
with attendees about the needs, issues and potential solutions for the study corridor in terms of
transit, land use and economic development.
4.2
Next Steps
The Southwest Corridor, generally located along US 11 in the Birmingham-Hoover MSA, extends
southwestward from Downtown Birmingham to the Tuscaloosa County line. In the next phase of
the Southwest Corridor Transit Study, the RPCGB will focus on working with the Birmingham
Jefferson County Transit Authority, transportation agency representatives, elected officials, and
general public to review alternative concepts for transit improvement, and in the process help to
generate broad-based involvement in developing the study recommendations. The planning focus
will be “big picture” public input and alternative specific technical input. The timeline for next
round of Community Forums will be publicized in advance and regular postings to the project web
site, www.swcorridor.org, will remain a high priority.
The study will continue to evaluate existing and future transportation conditions in the Southwest
Corridor area and will identify improvements to address deficiencies. The long term plan will
address existing and projected transportation operations to determine whether improvements or
further study is warranted. Additionally, a comparable evaluation and estimation of costs to the
community and possible funding is of high priority. Community input is an essential factor in
determining what costs and charges within each proposed transport mode is acceptable this
information to be collected and compared consistently and correctly.
The Community Forums are a key component in the process to move the study forward through
the planning and implementation phases by engaging impacted communities in land use
planning, housing and community development. The general public will continue to be informed
about the study progress, encouraged to participate in the Community Forums, and provide their
input. RPCGB will continue to strive to be a resource for positive transportation improvement and
economic change in the Southwest Corridor.
4-1
Appendix A
Working Group Invitation
Greetings,
Transportation Working Group of the Southwest Corridor Transit Study:
We have scheduled our next community forum for the evening of Thursday, June 23 at the Fairfield
Civic Center at 6509 East J. Oliver Blvd., a few blocks north of Aronov Blvd. and about 7 blocks west of
US 11.
During the days of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, June 21-23, our study team led by the Regional
Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPCGB) and its project manager Darrell Howard, will be
meeting with stakeholders, study working groups, and others, to solicit input into study goals and other
elements. On Thursday, from 4 pm -8 pm, these sessions will culminate with a public open house during
which we will present the results of our interaction with study working groups and others to the general
public and solicit their reaction and input into the study vision and goals.
We are inviting you to attend a special workshop for the Transportation Planning Working Group of the
Southwest Corridor Transit Study on Wednesday, June 22 from 9 am to 10 am at the Fairfield Civic
Center (address noted above). The purpose of this session will be to provide a brief overview of the
study, findings to date about the corridor, and your input into the vision of the study and goals related
to the transportation component of the alternatives to be investigated. Attached is an agenda for the
meeting, a flyer about the project, and a press release summarizing the upcoming meeting.
We appreciate your continued involvement in the study process, and consider your participation and
input pivotal in informing and guiding the study process.
Please provide confirmation of
your attendance to the sender of this email.
Thanks in advance for your commitment and involvement in this important study.
Jack S. Schnettler, P.E.
Vice President, Transit Division
ATKINS
2001 NW 107th Avenue, Miami, FL 33172 | Tel: +1 (305) 514 3369 | Fax: +1 (305) 593 5337 | Cell: +1 (305) 803 7539 |
Email: jack.schnettler@atkinsglobal.com | Web: www.atkinsglobal.com/northamerica www.atkinsglobal.com
TRANSPORTATION Working Group Session
AGENDA
Item Topic
1 Introductions
2 Purpose
Description
Time
2 min.
3 min.
Comments
Schnettler, Howard
Schnettler, Howard
a Short project overview
3
b Transit/transportation
overview
c Input to vision, goals,
objectives relative to
transportation
Project Overview [PPT show]
a Study Summary
b Corridor Conditions
c What We've Heard So Far
d Transit - A First Take
e Transit Improvements What Might Be Possible?
4 Corridor Vision and Goals -- for
Transit/ Transportation
a Interactive exercise to
elicit discussion and
feedback on
transportation vision and
goals
b Discussion of challenges
and opportunities for
corridor transit
5
Summary Recap key points, next
steps, thanks
TOTAL
10 min.
Schnettler
Schnettler
Schnettler
Schnettler
Schnettler
40 min.
Schnettler
5 min.
Team
60 min.
Greetings,
Land Use/Community Development Working Group of the Southwest Corridor Transit Study:
US 11.
We are inviting you to attend a special workshop for the Land Use/Community Development Working
Group Working Group of the Southwest Corridor Transit Study on Wednesday, June 22 from 1:00 pm to
2:30 pm at the Fairfield Civic Center (address noted above). The purpose of this session will be to
provide a brief overview of the study, findings to date about the corridor, and your input into the vision
of the study and goals related to the transportation component of the alternatives to be
investigated. Attached is an agenda for the meeting, a flyer about the project, and a press release
summarizing the upcoming meeting.
input pivotal in informing and guiding the study process. Please provide confirmation of
ATKINS
LAND USE/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Working Group Session
AGENDA
Item Topic
1 Introductions
2 Purpose
Description
Time
2 min.
3 min.
Comments
Schnettler, Howard
Schnettler, Howard
b Real Estate Market Analysis findings
c Input to vision, goals, objectives
d Input to ED obstacles, strategies,
programs, incentives
3
Project
Overview [PPT
show]
a
b
c
d
15 min.
Study Summary
Corridor Conditions
What We've Heard So Far
Framing Community Development
Challenges Across the Corridor
e Community Development - What
Might Be Possible?
4 Corridor Vision
and Goals -- for
Economic Dev.
Schnettler
Schnettler
Schnettler
Fernsler
Fernsler
60 min. Fernsler
a Interactive exercise to elicit
discussion and feedback on
community dev. vision and goals
b Discussion of strategies, programs,
incentives for community
development relating to retail,
industrial, residential land uses
5
Summary Recap key points, next steps, thanks 10 min. Team
TOTAL 90 min.
Greetings,
Transportation Working Group of the Southwest Corridor Transit Study:
US 11.
We are inviting you to attend a special workshop for the Economic Development Working Group of the
Southwest Corridor Transit Study on Wednesday, June 22 from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm at the Fairfield Civic
Center (address noted above). The purpose of this session will be to provide a brief overview of the
study, findings to date about the corridor, and your input into the vision of the study and goals related
to the transportation component of the alternatives to be investigated. Attached is an agenda for the
meeting, a flyer about the project, and a press release summarizing the upcoming meeting.
input pivotal in informing and guiding the study process. Please provide confirmation of
ATKINS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Working Group Session
AGENDA
Item Topic
1 Introductions
2 Purpose
Description
Time
2 min.
3 min.
Comments
Schnettler, Howard
Schnettler, Howard
b Real Estate Market Analysis findings
c Input to vision, goals, objectives
d Input to ED obstacles, strategies,
programs, incentives
3
Project
Overview [PPT
show]
a
b
c
d
e
15 min.
Study Summary
Corridor Conditions
What We've Heard So Far
Real Estate Market Analysis findings
Econ. Dev. Challenges and
Opportunities
4 Corridor Vision
and Goals -- for
Economic Dev.
Schnettler
Schnettler
Schnettler
DeLong
DeLong
60 min. DeLong
a Interactive exercise to elicit
discussion and feedback on econ.
dev. vision and goals
b Discussion of strategies, programs,
incentives for econ. dev. relating to
retail, industrial, residential activity
5
Summary Recap key points, next steps, thanks 10 min. Team
TOTAL 90 min.
To All Invitees:
We are inviting you to attend a meeting Thursday, June 23 from 9 am to 10 am that we have organized
for Land Owners and Developers with an interest in the future of the Southwest Corridor, running along
US 11 from downtown Birmingham to Bessemer and beyond to the county line. The meeting will be
held at the Fairfield Civic Center at 6509 E. J. Oliver Blvd., a few blocks north of Aronov Blvd. and about
7 blocks west of US 11. The purpose of this session will be to provide a brief overview of the study,
findings to date about the corridor, and the real estate market review that has been conducted, and
then conduct an open discussion of market and development issues, as well as strategies, programs, and
incentives that would stimulate interest in retail, industrial, residential activity. The Southwest Corridor
Transit study seeks to identify the best transit improvement strategy for the corridor, and in the process
identify ways to leverage redevelopment and economic opportunities along the corridor.
We appreciate your involvement in the study process by attending this meeting, and consider your
participation and input pivotal in informing and guiding the study process. Please provide confirmation
of your attendance to the sender of this email.
Thanks in advance for your interest and involvement in this important study.
For your information, the next community forum for the Southwest Corridor Transit Study is scheduled
for the afternoon and evening of Thursday, June 23 at the Fairfield Civic Center. at 6509 E. J. Oliver
Blvd. During the days of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, June 21-23, our study team led by the
Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPCGB) and its project manager Darrell Howard,
will be meeting with stakeholders, study working groups, and others, to solicit input into study goals and
other elements. On Thursday, from 4 pm -8 pm, these sessions will culminate with a public open house
during which we will present the results of our interaction with study working groups and others to the
general public and solicit their reaction and input into the study vision and goals.
You can visit the project website for more information: www.swcorridor.org
Attachment: Project Fact Sheet #1, Project Flyer, Project Press Release
ATKINS
Greetings,
Steering Committee of the Southwest Corridor Transit Study:
We have scheduled our next community forum for the evening of Thursday, June 23 at the Fairfield Civic
Center at 6509 East J. Oliver Blvd., a few blocks north of Aronov Blvd. and about 7 blocks west of US
11. During the days of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, June 21-23, our study team led by the
Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPCGB) and its project manager Darrell Howard,
will be meeting with stakeholders, study working groups, and others, to solicit input into study goals and
other elements. On Thursday, from 4 pm -8 pm, these sessions will culminate with a public open house
during which we will present the results of our interaction with study working groups and others to the
general public and solicit their reaction and input into the study vision and goals.
We are inviting you to attend a session for the Steering Committee of the Southwest Corridor Transit
Study on Thursday, June 23 from 10:30 am to 11:30 am at the Fairfield Civic Center (address noted
above). The purpose of this session will be to provide a brief overview of the study, findings to date
about the corridor, and an overview about input to the vision for the study in addressing transit, land
use and economic development initiatives. Attached are a flyer about the project, and a press release
summarizing the upcoming public meeting.
input pivotal in informing and guiding the study process. Please provide confirmation of your
attendance to the sender of this email.
ATKINS
Appendix B
The Southwest Corridor Transit Study
COMMUNITY FORUM
Thursday, June 23, 2011
4 PM to 8 PM
FAIRFIELD
CIVIC CENTER
6509 E. J. Oliver Road
Fairfield, AL 35064
(205) 786-6639
OPEN HOUSE:
4 PM to 8 PM
SPECIAL PRESENTATION:
5 PM and 6:30 PM
Help shape the future of mass transit and community
development along US 11/Bessemer Super Highway! Provide
your input to the Regional Planning Commission of Greater
Birmingham on June 23, between 4 PM and 8 PM at the Fairfield
Civic Center, 6509 E. J. Oliver Road, Fairfield, AL 35064.
Community Forum in June!
Special
provide
discuss
presentations at 5 PM and 6:30 PM will
a project summary, and opportunities to
how the corridor should develop over time.
The Southwest Corridor Transit Study is sponsored by the
Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham
(RPCGB). It will study ways to improve transit services,
and economic and community development along US 11.
For More Information
Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham
Attn: Project Manager Darrell Howard, AICP, PMP
Phone: (205) 264-8441
Fax: (205) 328-3304
Email: dhoward@rpcgb.org
Website: www.rpcgb.org
To learn more visit www.swcorridor.org.
Appendix C
Web Site
Appendix D
Public Service Announcements
SOUTHWEST CORRIDOR TRANSIT STUDY
Round #2 – Community Forum
Final as of 06-15-11 Radio/TV Public Service Announcement
30 Second PSA
Help shape the future of mass transit and community development along US 11 / Bessemer
Super Highway in the Southwest Corridor! Provide your input to the Regional Planning
Commission of Greater Birmingham on June 23, between 4 PM and 8 PM at the Fairfield Civic
Center located at 6509 E. J. Oliver Road in Fairfield. Special presentations at 5 PM and 6:30
PM will provide a project summary, and opportunities to discuss how the corridor should
develop over time. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, visit:
www.swcorridor.org.
Appendix E
Online Event Calendars
Communitry Forums for Southwest Corridor - Fairfield Civic Center, Birmingham, AL 06-23-2011 04:00pm - AmericanTowns.com
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Thursday, June 23, 2011
4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Fairfield Civic Center
6509 EJ Oliver Rd.
Birmingham, AL 35201
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Description
The Southwest Corridor Transit Study Help shape the future of mass transit and community development along US 11/Bessemer Super
Highway! Provide your input to the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham on June 23 between 4 PM and 8 PM at the
Fairfield Civic Center, 6509 E. J. Oliver Road, Fairfield, AL 35064. Community Forum in June! Special presentations at 5 PM and 6:30
PM will provide a project summary, and opportunities to discuss how the corridor should develop over time. The Southwest Corridor
Transit Study is sponsored by the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPCGB). It will study ways to improve transit
services, and economic and community development along US 11. For More Information Regional Planning Commission of Greater
Birmingham Attn: Project Manager Darrell Howard, AICP, PMP Phone:
(205) 264-8441
Fax: (205) 328-3304 Email:
dhoward@rpcgb.org Website: www.rpcgb.org To learn more about the study visit www.swcorridor.org Community Forum Thursday, June
23, 2011 OPEN HOUSE 4 PM to 8 PM Fairfield Civic Center 6509 E. J. Oliver Road Fairfield, AL 35064 Special Presentation 5 PM and
6:30 PM
http://secure.adpay.com/clicknbuy.aspx?itemid=6722964&preview=true&procid=66d5f8d3-4fe7-417d-bcb8-0e6155a5001e#[6/9/2011 2:19:32 PM]
Appendix F
Press Release
Contact: Brandon Wilson: 205.937.5270
CITIZENS HAVE A CHANCE TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF
MASS TRANSIT
RPCGB Hosts a Public Forum to Establish a Community Vision for Public Transit
BIRMINGHAM, AL- (June 13, 2011)— Thursday, June 23 from 4-8 pm, at the Fairfield Civic
Center, citizens who live and work in the Southwest Corridor will have a chance to participate in
discussions about improving public transit, and the community’s economic and physical
conditions. The Southwest Corridor is centered on Bessemer Super Highway, and includes cities
of Birmingham, Midfield, Fairfield, Bessemer, Brighton, and Lipscomb and surrounding areas of
Jefferson County.
The Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPCGB), and a team of consultants,
led by Atkins Inc., will be on hand to encourage participants to share ideas for improving
Birmingham’s transit system. The open house runs from 4 pm to 8 pm— project staff will be on
hand to discuss the project with visitors and exhibits about the study will be on display. Two
presentations will be made during this time at 5 pm and 6 pm— these short presentations will
include an overview of all the different plans and projects proposed for the corridor, and an
interactive discussion with the public where they can share their views about how the corridor
should develop over time.
“This community forum is about letting the people have a hand in shaping the future of mass
transit in our region,” said Darrell Howard, project manager, RPCGB. Everyone’s input will be
heard, and will aid in shaping a community vision that will be supported by the region’s elected
leaders, the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority, and mayors of Birmingham, Fairfield,
Midfield, Brighton, Lipscomb, Bessemer.
The Southwest Corridor Transit Study will not only explore new transit technologies that can be
introduced to the region, but will also seek ways to spur community and economic development
along U.S. 11. Among the technologies being explored by the RPCGB and their team of
consultants are commuter rail, light rail transit, bus rapid transit, and express bus alternatives.
“Our goal is to work with the community to forge a set of recommendations that benefit everyone,
regardless of socio-economic status or transit dependency. The only way to arrive at this point is
to encourage a high level of community involvement” said Howard. “People voicing their
concerns and ideas is a vital part of the process of transforming any city’s public transit system,”
said Jack Schnettler, vice president, Atkins, Inc. “We will work to hear from each participant to
hash out a transit vision we can build upon for the future,” said Schnettler. To learn more about
the community forums visit www.swcorridor.org.
About Southwest Corridor Transit Study
The Southwest Corridor Transit Study is aimed at exploring strategies for improving transit services along the Southwest
Corridor. Additionally, the study will survey land use and economic development actions that could enhance community
livability. The study area covers a 2-3 mile wide corridor that is 22 miles long, running from downtown Birmingham along
U.S. 11 and the Bessemer Super Highway, past I-459 to the Tuscaloosa County line. The study is funded by a Federal
Transit Administration through the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority, with support from local jurisdictions in
the corridor and the Alabama Department of Transportation. Atkins, Inc. was selected as the lead planning and
engineering consultants for this project. They will work in partnership with Wallace Roberts Todd, Dovetail Consulting,
Contente Consulting and Birmingham-based Wilbron Institute, LLC. ###
Appendix G
Social Media
Appendix H
Fact Sheet
fact sheet
Southwest Corridor
Transit Alternatives Analysis
What is the Southwest Corridor Transit Study About?
This study is about finding ways to improve transit services in the southwest corridor of Greater Birmingham
along the Bessemer Superhighway Corridor. In addition to improving transit services, the study will look at ways
encourage “smarter” and greener planning and land uses to energize economic development for those who live,
work and go to school in the corridor.
Everyone can get involved — as the study will provide
opportunities for local elected officials, planners and citizens
to work together. We will look for ways to rebuild and
revitalize our communities while protecting existing
neighborhoods and attracting new housing, jobs, and
services. In short, this study will look at ways to improve:
Southwest Corridor Study Area
• Daily Travel
• Quality of Life
• Economic Development
Who is Sponsoring the Study?
This study is funded by a Federal Transit
Administration grant though the Birmingham
Jefferson County Transit Authority. Managed
by the Regional Planning Commission of
Greater Birmingham, this project also has
support from:
• Local Jurisdictions
• Alabama Department of Transportation
What is the Study Area?
The study area goes 20 miles to
the southwest from Downtown
Birmingham, running along
the Bessemer Super
Highway, ending south
of Bessemer at McAshan
Drive south of I-459.
The study area is 2 to 3
miles wide.
Jurisdictions Inside the
Corridor Study Area:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
City of Birmingham
City of Fairfield
City of Midfield
City of Lipscomb
City of Brighton
City of Bessemer
Jefferson County
Connecting Communities. . . Charting a New Vision
How Can You Get Involved?
Improving transit mobility and economic development in the
Southwest Corridor need your ideas and your input. So, between
now and May 2012, five public workshops and several small group
discussions will be held to make sure you have a chance to get
involved. These meetings will allow local citizens and elected
officials to work together to improve transit mobility, economic
development and the quality of life for those who live and work
along the Southwest Corridor.
What Kind of Improvements
Will Be Considered?
The study will consider several different types of premium transit
— including Express Buses, Bus Rapid Transit, and Light Rail and
Commuter Rail. The box below shows what kind of transit options
will be studied.
Transit Technologies
Project Schedule Summary
Study Process Begins
September 2010
Review of Existing and Future Conditions
October 2010 - March 2011
First Public Workshop
January - February 2011
Development and Evaluation of Alternatives
March 2011 – December 2011
Additional Public Workshops (4)
April 2011 - February 2012
Study Completed with Recommendations
May 2012
For more information about the project, you can access one of the following:
Darrell Howard, AICP, PMP
Project Manager for Regional Planning Council of Greater Birmingham
Phone: (205) 264-8441
E-mail: dhoward@rpcgb.org
Fax: (205) 328-3304
Web Site: www.rpcgb.org
The Southwest Corridor Transit Alternatives Analysis is funded through a grant from the Federal Transit Administration,
through the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority, with assistance from local jurisdictions in the corridor and from
the Alabama Department of Transportation, and managed by the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham.
Connecting Communities. . . Charting a New Vision
Appendix I
Sign-In Sheets
Southwest Corridor Transit Study Community Forum #2 Sign-In Sheets
Designation
FirstName
LastName
Organization
Goodwyn, Mills &
Cawood
BJCTA, Manager of
Planning
Norfolk Southern,
Manager Strategic
Planning
Our One Mile
Jane
Martin
Ross
EdwardsClark
J. Lee
Cochran
Jefferson County Planning Staff
Sadie
Swyne
Jefferson County Planning Staff
Evan
Williams
Policy Liaison
Jefferson County
Land Development
City of Birmingham Planning Staff
Doug
Hale
Principal Planner
City of Birmingham Planning Staff
Community Development Working
Group
Group
Group
Group
Tom
Magee
Chief Planner
Velma
Johnson
Tyrone
Simon
Donald
Sledge
Howard
Johnson
Ronnie
Acker
Kieth
Strother
Council Member
Mainstreet
Birmingham
Lawson State
Community College
Johnson Memorial
Funeral Directors
President Bessemer
Chamber of
Commerce
Jefferson County
Department of
Economic
Development
Frank
Topping
Miles College
Primus
Mack
Jeff
Traywick
Fairfield City Council
Bessemer Industrial
Development Board
Economic Development Working
Group
Group
Group
Group
Street
City
State
Postal Code
2701 1st Ave S # 100
Birmingham
AL
35233
3105 8th Avenue North
Birmingham
AL
35203
3 Commercial Place
Norfolk
VA
23510
1710 N 2nd Ave, Ste. 104
716 Richard Arrington Blvd
Room 260
710 North 20th Street
5th Floor
710 North 20th Street
5th Floor
Birmingham
AL
35203
Birmingham
AL
35203
Birmingham
AL
35203
Birmingham
AL
35203
155th Place South
Birmingham
AL
35232
1100 9th Avenue SW
Bessemer
AL
35022
321 18th Street
Bessemer
AL
35020
500 Beacon Parkway
Birmingham
AL
35209
1913 4th Avenue
Bessemer
AL
35020
Chris
Hatcher
Kathy
Boswell
Study Steering Commitee
Peter
Melanie
Alton
Behrman
Bouyer
Woodard
Community Forum Fairfield
Sylvia
Charles
Alton
Anita
Barbara
Bill
Bobby
Williams
Long
Woodard
Jackson
Newman
Hawkins
Hudson
Butch
Carol
David
Fannie
Grant
Ken
Kerry
Maurice
Nan
Oscar
Pat
Peter
Primus
Robert
Robin
Ryan
S.N,
Sandra
Scott
Sean
Ferrell
Biggs
Russell
Levert
Hallmark
Coachman
English
Muhammad
Baldwin
Berry
Bell
Behrman
Mack
Levert
King
Parker
Campbell
Williams
Forester
Walsh
VP of Planning
Operation New
Birmingham
Princeton Hospital
Director of Community
Evolution
Executive Director
Birmingham Jefferson
County Transit
Authority
Mayor of Lipscomb
Director
Councilor Steven W.
Hoyt's Office
City of Birmingham
505 20th Street N Suite
150
Birmingham
AL
35203
701 Princeton Avenue SW Birmingham
AL
35211
Po Box 10212
1800 3rd Avenue North
Birmingham
Bessemer
AL
AL
35020
35020
416 Crest Drive
Fairfield
AL
35064
4201 Lloyd Nolan Parkway
3506A
Fairfield
501 Grant Street
Birmingham
AL
AL
35064
35228
7100 Pine Tree Lane
100 41st Street South
Fairfield
Birmingham
AL
AL
35064
35222
5120 Valley Road
601 Park Ave
Fairfield
Fairfield
AL
AL
35064
35064
7308 Earlwood Road
Fairfield
AL
35064
Selena
Steve
Theodara
Walter
Walter
Rodgers
Ostaseski
Gray
Wortham
Jackson
Walter
Mitchell
215 19th Street North
Birmingham
AL
35205
7304 Earlwood Road
716 R Arrington Blvd
716 Richard Arrington
Blvd.
Fairfield
Fairfield
AL
AL
35064
35064
Birmingham
AL
35203
Appendix J
Presentation
Steering Committee
June 23, 2011
Agenda
 Purpose
o Briefing on Progress
o Next Steps
 Overview
o Highlights of activities and findings
o What have we heard so far
o Transportation, land use and market profiles
STUDY OVERVIEW
Schedule
We are here
Alternatives
 Transit options and routes  Land use strategies
 Economic development strategies
Community Involvement
 Website ‐ www.swcorridor.org
o
New Google map based interactive map
o
Point of View column
o
Mission Statement
o
Video – study overview
o
Coming soon: FAQ, fact sheets
 Outreach and Publicity
o
Additional partnerships with agencies, officials, and leaders for outreach
o
Connection with Miles Colleges (Twitter)
o
Media appearances (radio, TV)
o
Ideas from the Public Involvement Working Group
Highlights of activities
 Assembled background data
 Conducted a transit user survey and a survey of transit boarding patterns
 Interviewed 30 community leaders, agencies and elected officials
 Meetings with Steering Committee and Working Groups
 Conducted Community Forum #1 to announce the project
 Developing corridor vision and goals
Next steps
 Summarize project data
 Identify and screen transit alternatives
o Type of transit: rail, bus rapid transit, express
o Alignments: proposed routings
o Stations/stops: potential locations along routes
 Conduct Community Forum #3 focused on transit options to be studied in detail
 Begin developing land use and economic development concepts
WHAT WE’VE HEARD SO FAR....
At the Beginning
 Project Outcome
o A resurgence in development/redevelopment, leading to jobs
o A practical, useful transit project that can get funded and implemented
 Project Obstacles
o Need for consensus across the corridor jurisdictions
o Funding
Community Leaders
 Corridor has redevelopment potential
 Need a catalyst to stimulate a come‐back
 Local governments will need to work together
 Transit needs warrant better service
 Better transit only part of the solution
 Funding, including the local share for capital and operating costs
Community Forum #1
 Transit
o Generally supported the need for better transit frequency and coverage
o Felt all funding sources should be considered; some concern that funding could be found
 Land Use o In favor of strategies to stabilize neighborhoods and remove blight
 Economic Development o Supported efforts to stimulate more businesses and attract more jobs
CORRIDOR DEMOGRAPHICS
Demographics
 Reviewed characteristics of the corridor:
o Population
• Social and economic • Travel indicators
• Forecasts
o Employment
• Patterns
• Forecasts
Key Points
 Population is forecast to slightly decline north of Bessemer and to grow to the south
 Employment follows the same pattern
 Socio‐economics
o Transit supportive and transit dependent from Bessemer northward
o Relatively high residential density in the north
o Continued draw of downtown employment
o Emerging employment hub in McCalla
FRAMING TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT OPPORTUNITIES
Existing Transit Service
 10 routes serve parts of the corridor
 Routes 41 and 45 extend south to Bessemer
 No service south of Bessemer
Transit Boarding Patterns
2005 and 2035 Traffic Volumes
2005
2035
2005 and 2035 Traffic Service
Traffic Volumes
2005
Traffic Service
2035
Key Points
 Interstates will become congested by 2035
 Traffic grows on US 11 and other arterials but without widespread congestion
 Corridor transit routes among the most used in the system
 Travel patterns are conducive to improved transit
 Opportunity for improved transit to provide mobility choices FRAMING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Summary
 Initial real estate market assessment conducted
 Review of population trends and household characteristics
 Assessment of current retail, office, industrial conditions and economic centers
 Overview of corridor economic conditions
 Analysis of the influence of transit investment on redevelopment potentials
Market Assessment ‐ Existing
 Existing Market:
o Significant surplus of retail & restaurant uses
• While surplus is substantial, does not mean growth cannot or should not occur
o Office & industrial uses are also overbuilt
• Much of existing space is unusable and/or poorly located
• Despite overbuilding, evidence of growth includes medical centers, Norfolk Southern Intermodal Facility, & distribution centers in McCalla area
Market Assessment ‐ Future
 Analyzed 3 scenarios:
o Low ‐ Minimal investment in transit
• No significant changes in service except increased reliability, frequency of bus service, enhanced bus stops, increased signage
o Moderate ‐ Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
• Integrated system including stations & terminals
• Express bus service with dedicated lanes between Bessemer & downtown Birmingham
• Vehicles would offer increased comfort & technology
o High – Light Rail Transit (LRT)
• Capital intensive; assumes demand sufficient to justify invesetment
• Fixed guide‐way alignment paralleling US 11 with significant stations with parking & commercial facilities
• Tributary routes would be expanded to serve nearby neighborhoods & connect discrete employers not proximate to rail stations
Economic Development Challenges & Opportunities
 Challenges:
o Long corridor w/ many jurisdictional boundaries
o Oversupply of existing commercial space
o Urban design (abundance of unattractive & incompatible land uses)
o Lack of interconnectivity
o Speed of traffic
o Pedestrian UNfriendly
o Perception within community & region
o Vacant properties
o Code enforcement
o Accessibility
Economic Development Challenges & Opportunities
 Without some type of public sector intervention (e.g., transit investment), opportunities for redevelopment are limited
o Assuming intervention, opportunities could include:
• Substantial drive‐by commercial opportunities
• Economic centers (e.g., Five Points West, Fair Park, UAB, medical centers, Railroad Park, Bessemer, downtown Birmingham)
• Continued growth in industrial parks, such as the distribution facilities in McCalla & the planned Norfolk Southern Intermodal Facility
• Contract and reposition existing retail offerings into more intense & walkable development patterns
FRAMING LAND USE OPPORTUNITIES
Summary
• Overview of Existing Conditions
• Types of Revitalization Interventions
Overview of Existing Conditions
•
•
•
•
Market / Economic Factors
Existing Land Use
Indicators of Neighborhood Stability
Existing and Proposed Activity Centers
Existing and Proposed
Activity Centers – East
5 Points West
Birmingham Southern
College
Downtown Fairfield/
Miles College
Western Hills Mall /
Retail Mile
Downtown
Princeton Baptist
Medical Center
Lawson State CC
UAB
Primary Activity Center
Secondary Activity Center
Activity Centers – East Central
Western Hills Mall /
Retail Mile
Red Mountain Park / US Steel / Highline
Lawson State CC
Downtown Bessemer
Activity Centers – West Central
Downtown Bessemer
Lawson State CC /
Medical West Health System /
Academy Drive Retail
Activity Centers – West
Colonial Promenade Tannehill /
Eastern Valley Crossing
Jefferson Metropolitan Park at McCalla/
Norfolk-Southern Intermodal Facility
Community Investment Dynamics
disinvested
DISINVESTED
• No new investments
• Deterioration of environment
• Scarce necessities of life
• Minimal economic base
• Absentee landlords
• Crime
stable
STABLE
• Basic elements are in place
• Little new growth related to
improvement- just more of the
same
• Place for working people
• Support structure with
few amenities
Community Investment Dynamics
vital
VITAL
•
Places of destination
•
Many amenities
•
Stimulating social / cultural / physical
environment
•
Optimum density of people / activity
•
Vulnerable to becoming…
overstressed
OVERSTRESSED
•
Excess of success
•
Overstressed infrastructure
•
Overstressed people
•
Compromised quality of life, loss of
character and identity
Comeback Stories ‐ Baltimore
Peak in Pre‐War 1930’s
1950’s Highway Dominated Urban Renewal
1960’s Blight / Abandonment / Despair
Comeback Stories ‐ Baltimore
Initial Concepts ‐ Waterfront Connectivity / Link to CBD
Miami Beach
Concept Realized – Critical Mass of Activities
Fabric of Connected Districts / Neighborhoods
“Comeback Stories ‐ Baltimore
Lessons Learned:
• Pedestrian Oriented
• Transit Mobility
• Open Space Connectivity
• Retain Historic Character
• Local Entrepreneurs
• Brand the Place / Experience
SUMMARY
Summary
 Workshop over three days
o Briefings to Working Groups
o Community Forum 2 Thursday evening
o Additional input on vision and goals
 Next Steps for Steering Committee
o Provide email updates
o Review transit technologies, alignments, stations
o Begin land use planning
o Community Forum #3 in September
o Report back to the Steering Committee
Questions?
Appendix K
Maps
4
3
2
1
1
1
12
5
6
10
7
9
8
11
13
14
6
5
4
2
1
3
7
8
9
Appendix L
Community Forum Responses and Voting Results
QUESTIONS
US11_Session1-6-23-2011 5- US11_Session2--6-2300 PM
2011 6-30 PM
COMBINED
1.) Where do you live? (multiple choice)
Birmingham
Fairfield
Lipscomb
Brighton
Midfield
Bessemer
McCalla area
Somewhere else
Totals
Responses
Responses
Responses
(percent)
(count)
(percent) (count) (percent) (count)
40%
6
0%
0
30%
6
33.33%
5
40%
2
35%
7
0%
0
0%
0
0%
0
0%
0
0%
0
0%
0
0%
0
20%
1
5%
1
6.67%
1
40%
2
15%
3
0%
0
0%
0
0%
0
20%
3
0%
0
15%
3
100%
15
100%
5
100%
20
2.) Rank the Priority of the Following Improvements. (priority ranking)
Responses
Responses
Responses
(percent)
(count)
Transit service
100%
10
25%
10
40%
20
Vacant houses
0%
0
75%
30
60%
30
Unattractive businesses
0%
0
0%
0
0%
0
Shopping choices
0%
0
0%
0
0%
0
Totals
100%
10
100%
40
100%
50
3.) Rank the Priority of the Following Improvements. (priority ranking)
Responses
Responses
Responses
(percent)
(count)
Transit service
42.25%
79
25%
10
39%
89
Vacant houses
26.74%
50
75%
30
35%
80
Unattractive businesses
5.35%
10
0%
0
4%
10
Shopping choices
25.67%
48
0%
0
21%
48
Totals
100%
187
100%
40
100%
227
4.) What would most help to revitalize the US 11 corridor? (multiple choice)
Responses
Responses
Responses
(percent)
(count)
Restoring stability to some neighborhoods
5.88%
1
0%
0
5%
1
Government projects like Fair Park
0%
0
0%
0
0%
0
Better schools
5.88%
1
0%
0
5%
1
Better transit
5.88%
1
0%
0
5%
1
Program to attract businesses and jobs
5.88%
1
20%
1
9%
2
Better state and national economy
17.65%
3
0%
0
14%
3
All of the above
58.82%
10
80%
4
64%
14
Totals
100%
17
100%
5
100%
22
5.) What would get people to move into the corridor? (multiple choice)
Responses
Responses
Responses
(percent)
(count)
Lower unemployment and better economy
26.32%
5
0%
0
21%
5
Fixing up neighborhoods
52.63%
10
100%
5
63%
15
Better transit
5.26%
1
0%
0
4%
1
End to the housing crisis
10.53%
2
0%
0
8%
2
Other
5.26%
1
0%
0
4%
1
Totals
100%
19
100%
5
100%
24
6.) How often do you go to downtown Birmingham? (multiple choice)
Responses
Responses
Responses
(percent)
(count)
Daily
52.63%
10
50%
2
52%
12
Often
15.79%
3
25%
1
17%
4
Once in a while
21.05%
4
25%
1
22%
5
Seldom
10.53%
2
0%
0
9%
2
Never
0%
0
0%
0
0%
0
Totals
100%
19
100%
4
100%
23
7.) If transit were improved (more often, more places, faster): (multiple choice)
Responses
Responses
Responses
(percent)
(count)
I would use transit more often
66.67%
12
80%
4
70%
16
It would be great for those who rely on it
33.33%
6
20%
1
30%
7
It would not matter to me either way
0%
0
0%
0
0%
0
Totals
100%
18
100%
5
100%
23
8.) What factor is most important in selecting transit improvements? (multiple
Responses
Responses
Responses
(percent)
(count)
Quality of the improved service
16.67%
3
66.67%
2
24%
5
Cost to implement the new service
16.67%
3
0%
0
14%
3
Cost to operate the new service
0%
0
0%
0
0%
0
Environmental benefits
5.56%
1
0%
0
5%
1
Number of riders
0%
0
0%
0
0%
0
All of the above
61.11%
11
33.33%
1
57%
12
Totals
100%
18
100%
3
100%
21
9.) Do you agree with this vision statement for the corridor? (multiple choice)
Responses
Responses
Responses
(percent)
(count)
Strongly agree
61.11%
11
25%
1
55%
12
Agree
27.78%
5
75%
3
36%
8
It’s OK
11.11%
2
0%
0
9%
2
Disagree
0%
0
0%
0
0%
0
Strongly disagree
0%
0
0%
0
0%
0
Totals
100%
18
100%
4
100%
22
10.) Did you like this exercise? (multiple choice)
Liked it a lot
It was OK
Not my cup of tea
Totals
Responses
Responses
Responses
(percent)
(count)
66.67%
10
75%
3
68%
13
33.33%
5
0%
0
26%
5
0%
0
25%
1
5%
1
100%
15
100%
4
100%
19
11.) Our next forum will discuss transit improvement options. (multiple choice)
Responses
Responses
Responses
(percent)
(count)
Definitely
31.25%
5
40%
2
33%
7
Likely
68.75%
11
60%
3
67%
14
Maybe
0%
0
0%
0
0%
0
Don’t think so
0%
0
0%
0
0%
0
Depends what is on TV
0%
0
0%
0
0%
0
100%
16
100%
5
100%
21
Totals

Community Forum Report #2. - Southwest Corridor Transit Study

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