Hoover mayor pushing for rapid transit system on Highway 280

[JesseRohr]

Originally Posted by bfmx1

That was my situation too. It was hard to leave because of my familiarity and it is home.. But now it's going to be very hard to go back.

I am in the inverse situation. I didn’t grow up here nor do I have family here.

I travel weekly to pretty much every major metro in the for business. I believe that allows me a little more comparison than most residents. Upon these travels I spend most of my time entertaining clients. I am always blown away when metros smaller and similar in size have 2-4x as much client entertainment options available. When they have purpose built (leased with quality teanants I may add) entertainment districts, easy public transit to get to and from, and laws that reflect today’s time (open container laws).

Birmingham needs to take a hard look in the mirror and realize it doesn’t have much to offer. A couple small tech companies and an Amazon fulfillment center aren’t keeping people here. That joke of an “Entertainment District” bear the BJCC isn’t keeping people here. A Top Golf isn’t keeping people here.

They’re driving north on I65 and west on I20 to cities with real amenities.

[Mississippi Alabama Line]

Originally Posted by JesseRohr

Birmingham needs to take a hard look in the mirror and realize it doesn’t have much to offer.

Well, while I agree....I'd like to play devil's advocate. What do you suggest they do? The things you listed above can be implemented in Birmingham without much effort. However, to "keep people here", you're going to have to look at jobs. So which are we talking about here?

[cherokee48]

Birmingham's new hope for public transit
https://www.bizjournals.com/birmingh...c-transit.html

Interesting article on BRT plans, I would love to see this expanded to more parts of B'ham and 280.

[mcalumni01]

Originally Posted by cherokee48

Birmingham's new hope for public transit
https://www.bizjournals.com/birmingh...c-transit.html

Interesting article on BRT plans, I would love to see this expanded to more parts of B'ham and 280.

The first 2 years will determine just how much more it will expand. If what they say comes to fruition (dedicated lanes, ability to maintain green lights pass thru, faster routes), it will put MAX out of business in the years to follow and then the outline areas will want to jump on board..

[cherokee48]

Originally Posted by mcalumni01

The first 2 years will determine just how much more it will expand. If what they say comes to fruition (dedicated lanes, ability to maintain green lights pass thru, faster routes), it will put MAX out of business in the years to follow and then the outline areas will want to jump on board..

I agree, if the East-West city route is successful (more efficient, faster, creating density etc.) it will make other areas of the city /metro call for it. I'm thinking a route from Shuttlesworth Intl and other high occupancy routes will be likely candidates. I want to see the dedicated lanes and green light pass thru more than anything, that will change the game for mass transit riders and Birmingham. Birmingham hasn't had an efficient and highly functioning mass transit system since the 1950's when the streetcar network that covered East Lake to Bessemer was in use. That type of speed and efficiency is badly needed again in B'ham. Max will be history and the city will probably start working towards making the busiest routes (perhaps most if it can afford it) BRT and improving the remaining feeder routes around the city.

[JesseRohr]

Originally Posted by cherokee48

I agree, if the East-West city route is successful (more efficient, faster, creating density etc.) it will make other areas of the city /metro call for it. I'm thinking a route from Shuttlesworth Intl and other high occupancy routes will be likely candidates. I want to see the dedicated lanes and green light pass thru more than anything, that will change the game for mass transit riders and Birmingham. Birmingham hasn't had an efficient and highly functioning mass transit system since the 1950's when the streetcar network that covered East Lake to Bessemer was in use. That type of speed and efficiency is badly needed again in B'ham. Max will be history and the city will probably start working towards making the busiest routes (perhaps most if it can afford it) BRT and improving the remaining feeder routes around the city.

I recently stumbled upon a book that had tons of vintage images of the street car system here in Birmingham. I was blown away how big the network was and the seamless integration into the city itself. How did the city let them pull it all up? What a tourist attraction it would be now if we had that still active.

[cherokee48]

Originally Posted by JesseRohr

I recently stumbled upon a book that had tons of vintage images of the street car system here in Birmingham. I was blown away how big the network was and the seamless integration into the city itself. How did the city let them pull it all up? What a tourist attraction it would be now if we had that still active.

Yea it was an epic failure of city leadership at the time and one that Birmingham is still paying for and hopefully on the way to correcting. As we know the city leaders at the time weren't the brightest bunch and this was not even the worst of their most serious blunders that set back Birmingham for decades. As I understand it the issue was over safety and traffic congestion with cars that spurred the city on in ripping up the streetcar tracks. Obviously having a mass transit system with dedicated lanes or rails with that type of network and coverage is nothing short of necessary for a metro of this size to thrive and be productive. Without those steetcars I doubt B'ham would be what it is today, probably a smaller city and a much smaller metro.

[bhamguy]

Hoover is now proposing a road that runs beside 280. I am not sure how it will exactly work, or if it will even help. Hoover should be concerned about 150, and how clogged it gets at times.