Read the entire article by clicking here
11/29/09
Birmingham News Opinion
"...the plan from Riley's Alabama Department of Transportation raises serious questions, particularly about costs and priorities." -- Birmingham News
Read the entire article by clicking here
Read the entire article by clicking here
11/26/09
The Real View from Below
Here's the view from below a typical four-lane elevated highway. The elevated structure proposed for the eastern segment of U.S. 280 is planned to be expandable to six lanes.
11/19/09
Quotable Quotes
"The tolls will generate about half the cost of building or maybe a little more, and we will use innovative financing for the rest."
-- Don Vaughn, ALDOT Chief Engineer
-- Don Vaughn, ALDOT Chief Engineer
10/16/09
Texas Toll Authority Forced to Raise Toll Rates to Meet Debt Obligation
Some interesting excerpts (the bold emphasis is ours) from the article "North Texas Tollway Authority Raising Rates on All Three Roads," by Michael A. Lindenberger, Dallas Morning News, 8/15/09:
". . . North Texas Tollway Authority board members voted 8-1 to support the toll increase, which staff had insisted was necessary to satisfy agreements NTTA struck with creditors who have lent the agency about $6 billion.
'This organization lives off of borrowed money,' said board member Gary Base of Collin County, who leads the finance committee and supported the increase. 'This is not money that we have. And we as a board have fiduciary responsibility to these debt holders.'
. . . NTTA guaranteed that rates will continue to rise, approving a measure that would trigger automatic 6 percent rate increases every two years -- without the need for another board vote.
So why the sudden rush to raise rates again, and by so much? NTTA officials at first billed the increase as a necessary response to keep lenders happy. NTTA owes some $6 billion, and its bond covenants require its revenues be at least 1.5 times the agency's soaring debt payments. Without a rate increase, NTTA's revenues would fall below that level soon.That's because traffic has not lived up to projections on its newest road, Rayburn Tollway (State Highway 121), and because traffic elsewhere is also lagging expectations. In addition, NTTA is having trouble collecting tolls owed on its all-electronic toll roads, and fewer customers are signing up for TollTags than NTTA had hoped."
7/11/09
Other Cities Are Tearing Down Elevated Highways
Planners push to tear out elevated I-10 over Clairborne Avenue in New Orleans, stating that "the most visible and painful blow to commercial and residential life on North Claiborne Avenue was the construction of the Interstate 10 elevated expressway."
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/photos_for_iten.html
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/photos_for_iten.html
6/15/09
From an Attorney's Perspective
An Elevated Highway 280: Just an Eye Sore or More Accidents?
A firm was awarded a million dollar contract last week to study whether highway 280 should be elevated, i.e., essentially double-decked, over the mountain in its most congested stretches. It seems to me that when million dollar feasibility studies start getting awarded, the project is getting to the stage of being seriously considered. This caused me to seriously consider what might be the consequences.
My own experience with elevated, or double-decked highways, although limited, has not been very favorable. That method of highway construction has been used extensively in Austin, Texas, to create what is in my opinion a horrible result. The traffic congestion on the road and the entrances to the elevated portion are confusing and still congested. Everytime I drive on it I am thankful that it is not in Birmingham, Alabama, although I must admit I have no idea how bad the traffic problems were before it was built.
Lloyd W. Gathings
For complete article, click here
A firm was awarded a million dollar contract last week to study whether highway 280 should be elevated, i.e., essentially double-decked, over the mountain in its most congested stretches. It seems to me that when million dollar feasibility studies start getting awarded, the project is getting to the stage of being seriously considered. This caused me to seriously consider what might be the consequences.
My own experience with elevated, or double-decked highways, although limited, has not been very favorable. That method of highway construction has been used extensively in Austin, Texas, to create what is in my opinion a horrible result. The traffic congestion on the road and the entrances to the elevated portion are confusing and still congested. Everytime I drive on it I am thankful that it is not in Birmingham, Alabama, although I must admit I have no idea how bad the traffic problems were before it was built.
Lloyd W. Gathings
For complete article, click here
2/20/09
Some Stats on U.S. 280 Traffic
Not many U.S. 280 commuters carpool, survey finds
By Sherri C. Goodman -- The Birmingham News
February 20, 2009, 4:39PM
The Alabama Department of Transportation today released results from a U.S. 280 motorists survey done last March.
The origin and destination study was done in conjunction with ALDOT's plans to build elevated lanes over the corridor from Double Oak Mountain to Interstate 459.
The following is the study summary of drivers on 280 from I-459 to Eagle Point Parkway: ¶
-- 94 percent of all vehicles in corridor are passenger cars
-- 60 percent of all passenger cars use corridor primarily to travel to/from work
-- 92 percent of all commercial vehicles primarily use the corridor for company business
-- 67 percent of all passenger vehicles use the corridor four time per week while only 45 percent of commercial vehicles use the corridor four times per week
-- 79 percent of all vehicles in the corridor contain only one person
-- 95 percent of all vehicles in the corridor contain one to two persons
-- Approximately 90 percent of all the vehicles containing only one person are traveling to/from work
-- 30 percent of all passenger cars using the corridor also use I-459 on the same trip
-- 41 percent of all passenger cars using the corridor reside in the 35242 ZIP code, North Shelby County along 280.
© 2009 al.com. All rights reserved.
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/02/not_many_us_280_commuters_carp.html
2/8/08
ALDOT Director Says US 280 Project would require tolls
http://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/story.asp?story=9965&headline=ALDOT%20Director%20Says%20U.S.%20280%20Project%20Would%20Require%20Tolls
State Transportation Director Joe McInnes said that in 2008, he wants to begin building elevated lanes on U.S. 280 east of Interstate 459 in Birmingham.
McInnes said the project is likely to require the use of tolls. But he called the project “critical” to addressing growing congestion on the popular — and heavily commercial — route from Shelby County to Jefferson County.
State Transportation Director Joe McInnes said that in 2008, he wants to begin building elevated lanes on U.S. 280 east of Interstate 459 in Birmingham.
McInnes said the project is likely to require the use of tolls. But he called the project “critical” to addressing growing congestion on the popular — and heavily commercial — route from Shelby County to Jefferson County.
1/30/08
1/7/08
EZ-Pass or EZ-Cash? Why Toll Roads Are a Bad Idea
"Electronic transponder technology, like E-ZPass, is making toll roads more palatable, but that doesn’t mean toll roads are good public policy.
Toll roads are an inefficient, backwards approach to providing public highways. Worse, they foster corruption, political patronage, and discourage needed improvements on the rest of the highway system."
-- James Baxter, President, National Motorists Association
http://blog.motorists.org/ez-pass-or-ez-cash-why-toll-roads-are-a-bad-idea/
9/27/07
5/13/07
Letters, Faxes, and E-mail
"Letters, faxes, and e-mail"
Birmingham News, May 13th, 2007
http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1179074724313810.xml&coll=2
"Different consultants, different plan for 280"
by Hannah Wolfson in the Birmingham News
May 3rd, 2007
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2007/05/different_consultants_differen.html
"280 Plan has trees, low speed"
by Hannah Wolfson for the Birmingham News
Friday, May 4th, 2007
http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/stories/index.ssf?/base/news/1178266582323500.xml&coll=2
"Lack of unity imperil plans, experts say"
by Ginny McDonald for the Birmingham News
Saturday, May 5th, 2007
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1178353011112420.xml&coll=2
"Must not stall on U.S. 280 - Pipeline or parkway?"
by Tom Scarritt for the Birmingham News
Sunday, May 6th, 2007
http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/stories/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1178439697247430.xml&coll=2
Birmingham News, May 13th, 2007
http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1179074724313810.xml&coll=2
"Different consultants, different plan for 280"
by Hannah Wolfson in the Birmingham News
May 3rd, 2007
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2007/05/different_consultants_differen.html
"280 Plan has trees, low speed"
by Hannah Wolfson for the Birmingham News
Friday, May 4th, 2007
http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/stories/index.ssf?/base/news/1178266582323500.xml&coll=2
"Lack of unity imperil plans, experts say"
by Ginny McDonald for the Birmingham News
Saturday, May 5th, 2007
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1178353011112420.xml&coll=2
"Must not stall on U.S. 280 - Pipeline or parkway?"
by Tom Scarritt for the Birmingham News
Sunday, May 6th, 2007
http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/stories/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1178439697247430.xml&coll=2
5/7/07
4/20/07
News, Opinion
April 20, 2007
"Progress 280 Gives Thumbs Up to Elevated Lanes
on Eastern Part of U.S. 280"
By Kelli Hewett Taylor, Birmingham News staff writer
The Progress 280 Task Force on Thursday voted unanimously to recommend the state continue research on building elevated lanes on U.S. 280 from Interstate 459 to Double Oak Mountain but delay further action on elevated lanes on the west side of I-459....
http://blog.al.com/hoover/2007/04/progress_280_gives_thumbs_up_t.html
April 19, 2007
"280 Road Trip"
By Phillip Jordan and Kyle Whitmire, Birmingham Weekly
If you've got time (and can beat the traffic), be at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center at 2 p.m. The Progress 280 Task Force is expected to offer its long-awaited recommendation after hearing a final report on community support for elevated lanes above Highway 280. The word is that the very vocal opposition along the Jefferson County stretch of 280 has spared those communities from Alabama's omnipresent answer to sprawl – more roads! However, the task force's consultant, Florida-based Linda Figg, says enough Shelby County residents want the double-decker along their five miles to go ahead and fire up those ALDOT engines. Admiral David Farragut may have been a Yankee (from Tennessee, no less – how did that happen?), but we bet he'd enjoy making this call: "Damn mass transit! Road contractors, full speed ahead!) Anyways, if you've got a dog in the race, be sure to show up and see if the task force indeed decides to do this thing halfway....
http://www.bhamweekly.com/2007/04/19/news-280-road-trip/
"Progress 280 Gives Thumbs Up to Elevated Lanes
on Eastern Part of U.S. 280"
By Kelli Hewett Taylor, Birmingham News staff writer
The Progress 280 Task Force on Thursday voted unanimously to recommend the state continue research on building elevated lanes on U.S. 280 from Interstate 459 to Double Oak Mountain but delay further action on elevated lanes on the west side of I-459....
http://blog.al.com/hoover/2007/04/progress_280_gives_thumbs_up_t.html
April 19, 2007
"280 Road Trip"
By Phillip Jordan and Kyle Whitmire, Birmingham Weekly
If you've got time (and can beat the traffic), be at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center at 2 p.m. The Progress 280 Task Force is expected to offer its long-awaited recommendation after hearing a final report on community support for elevated lanes above Highway 280. The word is that the very vocal opposition along the Jefferson County stretch of 280 has spared those communities from Alabama's omnipresent answer to sprawl – more roads! However, the task force's consultant, Florida-based Linda Figg, says enough Shelby County residents want the double-decker along their five miles to go ahead and fire up those ALDOT engines. Admiral David Farragut may have been a Yankee (from Tennessee, no less – how did that happen?), but we bet he'd enjoy making this call: "Damn mass transit! Road contractors, full speed ahead!) Anyways, if you've got a dog in the race, be sure to show up and see if the task force indeed decides to do this thing halfway....
http://www.bhamweekly.com/2007/04/19/news-280-road-trip/
4/5/07
Tour de 280 Walk-a-Thon/5K Fun Run
Why?To help fund the Glatting Jackson study of alternatives to an elevated Highway 280 and to raise awareness of the importance of this issue
When?
Sunday, April 29th, 2:00PM
The Tour de 280 Walk-a-Thon/5K Fun Run, organized by Gravlee Fitness, was held in the historic neighborhood of Homewood and the shopping district of Mountain Brook Village. The race/walk allowed participants to see why this area should not be damaged by the construction of an elevated highway.
3/26/07
3/19/07
2/7/07
Musings on Bham's 280 by a California Native
Can’t go around it, can’t go under it, don’t want to go over it… February 7th, 2007
February 7th, 2007
Like the camp song says, “can’t go around it”… “can’t go under it”… “can’t go over it”. On the subject of Highway 280’s congestion problems, some want to “go over it”. Personally, I think it’s best to improve our way THROUGH IT....
http://curtispalmer.wordpress.com/2007/02/07/elevatedhighway280/
2/3/07
Reclaiming Urbanism and Revitalizing Cities
America's twentieth century highway building era included elevated freeways which cut huge swaths across our cities, decimating neighborhoods and reducing quality of life for city residents. This massive concrete infrastructure had devastating effects on urban economies. It blighted adjacent property and pushed access to basic amenities further out. With the Federal and State Departments of Transportation confronting shrinking budgets and cities looking for ways to increase their revenues, it is an ideal time to offer less expensive, urban alternatives to the reconstruction of urban expressways.
New York City, Portland, San Francisco, Milwaukee and Seoul, South Korea have confronted this problem by replacing elevated highways with boulevards, saving billions of dollars and increasing real estate values and economic development on adjacent land. The Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) and the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) believe that teardowns offer an attractive option for cities struggling with aging highway infrastructure. The strategies are proving themselves in adding value and restoring urban neighborhoods decimated by highway construction.
From Macy's at the Summit
City Leaders and residents fighting a proposal to elevate U.S. 280
Elevated 280, before and after
Wednesday, March 14, 2007 News staff writer
http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/stories/index.ssf?/base/community/117386286877140.xml&coll=2
HANNAH WOLFSON
Editorials from the Birmingham News
ELEVATED HIGHWAY:
Would be bad for neighborhoods
Among the many lessons learned from the construction of the nation's interstate highway system was that elevated highways had a destructive effect on neighborhoods. In "Divided Highways," author Tom Lewis recounts how proposals for elevated highways in New Orleans, San Francisco, New York, Philadelphia and other large cities were rejected once neighborhood advocates realized the highway planners' raised roads would bring noise, pollution, grime and visual blight.
Granted, U.S. 280 is not an urban interstate, but an elevated highway on 280 would have these same impacts on the neighborhoods it passes.
As for "cool," big cities everywhere are now competing for young urban professionals to provide our work force, brain power and possibly leadership for the future. In the Nov. 25 edition of The New York Times, "downtown living, public transportation and plenty of entertainment options" were cited by young professionals as features that will attract them to their cities of choice.
Last year, while in St. Louis riding its light-rail mass transit system from the airport to downtown, my 19-year-old daughter asked me why we didn't have a train like that in Birmingham; great question, with no good answer.
There are other compelling reasons for including a mass transit option. Economic growth for Southern cities with mass transit exceeds that of cities without, and there is the obvious environmental benefit associated with moving people in mass rather than one or two at a time.
Bad for neighborhoods, not cool to young professionals: We need to drop the idea of an elevated highway and develop a smarter plan for our future.
Jeff Underwood
Homewood
Renderings omit dark shadows:
Renderings in The News Thursday of the proposed elevated highway above U.S. 280 were lovely.
Oddly, though, the cars and trees cast shadows, but the highway never does. The highway just seems to be barely there, blending always into the sky. It's always sunny around the highway. I guess these must be the renderings of those who want to build it.
Now, let's see the drawings from those who oppose the highway - the drawings that will show the dark shadow it forever casts across the landscape, the litter that gathers below it, the stained and graffiti-covered concrete from a few years down the road.
Art Meripol
Mountain Brook
Natural assets must not be ruined:
Couching a large concrete structure through the middle of Mountain Brook and Homewood built to facilitate unfettered urban sprawl down U.S. 280 as a "tribute to nature" is an example of the spin being employed in the elevated highway concept.
The term "concept" is appropriate, because the Alabama Department of Transportation representative said at the public hearing that DOT will do its own design of the roadway if the project moves forward. The color pictures in your newspaper represent fanciful drawings by a private firm. (For example, the major intersection views do not show up/down ramps, and assumptions are made that cutting-edge lighting and roadway technologies would be part of the DOT's final, funded design.)
Notwithstanding the design, I disagree with the premise. The concept work assumes that the cities through which U.S. 280 runs are beholden to accommodate everyone who wants to drive without traffic on the road. The beauty of Homewood and Mountain Brook is a key reason I moved here to start a business, and it creates a positive impression of Birmingham in those who visit from elsewhere. We must be careful to not ruin the natural assets that enable the growth we hope to enjoy.
G.T. LaBorde
Mountain Brook
Only butterflies, bunnies missing:
It is very disappointing to learn The News is buying the slick marketing campaign of Progress 280 and others to build an elevated U.S. 280. The highly idealized and artfully Photoshopped "pictures" The News printed without qualification lack only pretty bunnies and butterflies to make their falsely pastoral setting complete.
The truth is there is nothing pretty about the elevated road, either environmentally or aesthetically. If you wanted to provide an accurate sense of what the elevated road might be like, color the blue skies gray from the resulting air pollution and the tunnel-like effect of the structure. The misleading perspective contained in the "photo" in no way reflects just how wide and massive the elevated structure would be, or how long a shadow it would cast. And any promised short-term improvements in air quality that may be realized by decreasing stop-and-go traffic are going to quickly be eclipsed by the even greater number of cars that will be on the road.
The pictures also need a soundtrack; perhaps you have the road noise from last year's Talladega 500. Figg Engineering's disingenuous claims about better design and materials aside, the noise of the significant truck and local traffic at grade (missing from the nice pictures) will be trapped and broadcast throughout the lower elevations of interior neighborhoods. Meanwhile, because of the topography of our area, those homes situated above U.S. 280 will have no protection from the elevated portion of the road.
The one kernel of truth in so much fluffy popcorn about the road's "benefits" was the candid admission by Alabama Department of Transportation engineer Brian Davis of what we all know: Historically, adding lanes is a short-term solution that does not work.
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 Letters, faxes, and e-mailSunday, January 28, 2007 | |
If the elevated road proponents win and we spend an estimated $400 million to $700 million to build 10 miles of road, even according to DOT's most conservative estimates, the road will be obsolete within about 20 years of its construction. Meanwhile, we will have destroyed what makes our city beautiful and distinctive with the ugly urban leviathan of the elevated road.
Eva Dillard
Homewood
