Photo by Jesse Chambers
Birmingham City Hall
The Birmingham City Council, at its regular meeting for Tuesday, March 6, voted unanimously to adopt a new complete streets ordinance that supporters argue will make the streets of Birmingham safer for all users, stimulate the use of transit and have other social and economic benefits.
The ordinance was submitted by Councilor Darrell O’Quinn, chairman of the council’s transportation and communication committee.
Before the vote, O’Quinn -- a long-time complete streets supporter -- said the passage of the ordinance would be “a historic moment” for the city.
“I truly believe that in the future -- maybe 15 years, 20 years down the road -- we will look back at this day and say, ‘We turned a corner here,'” he said.
Complete streets is a term used around the country to describe a transportation policy which requires that a city’s streets -- wherever possible -- be designed and operated to provide safe, convenient access for all users, including the elderly and disabled and those who walk, ride bicycles or take public transportation.
City planner Tim Gambrel said that the ordinance would create a advisory committee and a technical committee.
The technical committee will be responsible for determining which streets are good candidates for being converted into complete streets, according to Gambrel.
The first task in implementing the ordinance will likely be to develop “a priority street network” to serve as the “backbone” of the system, Gambrel said.
“After that it will be about evaluating projects,” he said,
Passage of the ordinance was recommended by the Birmingham Planning Commission, the Planning And Zoning Committee and O’Quinn’s committee, according to Gambrel.
In addition, at least a dozen speakers at today’s meeting voiced support for the ordinance, including representatives from such organizations as UAB, AARP Alabama, the American Heart Association, the United Way of Central Alabama, the Birmingham Business Alliance, Freshwater Land Trust, the BJCTA and the American Public Transit Association.
Most said that the ordinance would make the city safer.
It will also help the poor and homeless, according to Kathryn Doornbos, executive director of the Redemptive Cycles bike shop.
Some of the speakers said that the adoption of the ordinance will have positive economic benefits for the city and can help connect the city’s neighborhoods and make them more vibrant.
“Complete streets are good for business,” said Robert Emerick of REV Birmingham. “They are good for our neighbors. They are good for people.”
Some of the speakers, as well as councilors Jay Roberson, Steven Hoyt and Sheila Tyson, emphasized the way the ordinance can help increase access for people confined in wheelchairs.
Councilor Lashunda Scales said there would also be health benefits.
“Alabama is high up for obesity,” she said. “Looking at sidewalks… we need to be ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant, but we have to also view it from a health perspective.”
The ordinance should also aid the city in carrying out its new comprehensive plan, according to Scales.
After a suggestion by Gambrel, the council amended the ordinance to require that the advisory committee also have one member from the real estate sector -- to be appointed by the council -- and a representative from the business community, to be appointed by the mayor.
To read the draft of the ordinance as presented recently to the transportation committee, click here.
TEARING DOWN HOUSES
During his weekly report, Mayor Randall Woodfin, flanked by City Engineer Andres Bittas and some other staffers, gave the council a report on the city’s efforts to tear down blighted structures.
He called it Operation Step Up and said it was an “aggressive campaign” that is important to his overall goals for the city’s neighborhoods.
“Before we talk about neighborhood revitalization, we have to talk about neighborhood stabilization first,” he said.
Removing the 752 dilapidated structures in the city can increase safety and help shore up residents’ property values, according to Woodfin.
About 344 houses and other structures have been tagged and are going through the condemnation process, which takes about two weeks, according to the mayor.
There are 381 others that are already condemned and ready to take down, he said.
The city has about $750,000 available for demolition efforts, which costs about $6,000 and takes about two and a half days per each property
“We can take down eight houses per week for 16 weeks, based on weather,” Woodfin said.
The city’s efforts are not just about demolition but code enforcement, removing abandoned automobiles and encouraging residents to clean up their yards and properties.
