Birmingham Urban Trail and Multimodal Corridor
The Birmingham Urban Trail and Multimodal Corridor, promoted as the Birmingham Civil Rights Crossroads: Reconnecting Historic Neighborhoods Through Active Mobility, is a federally-funded project to create a 2.5 mile "multi-modal corridor" running from Downtown Birmingham to Legion Field in the Fountain Heights, Smithfield and Graymont neighborhoods and an "urban trail" on 16th Street North from Morris Avenue to City Walk.
Improvements planned as part of the project include bicycle lanes, ADA-compliant sidewalks, and other amenities. The project was awarded a $21,681,306 in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation's 2023 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Discretionary Grant Program. The award was announced by Representative Terri Sewell on June 23, 2023. The city would contribute up to $4 million in matching funds toward the project, which is expected to be completed by 2029.
Route
The total project is planned to consist of several segments.
The section of 4th Avenue North from 20th Street to 16th Street, including the Historic 4th Avenue District, would get sidewalk improvements and shared bicycle lanes. Similar to that segment, the stretch of 5th Avenue North from 16th Street at the A. G. Gaston Motel, west below I-65 to Center Street would have sidewalk improvements and shared bicycle lanes, as well a protected transit island at 6th Street North
Meanwhile, 16th Street from Morris Avenue to the I-20/59 downtown viaduct and City Walk would be enhanced with two-way protected bicycle lanes (the first in the city) and a "mobility hub" at City Walk with access to micromobility options and facilities for market stands and food trucks.
Similar work would take place on Graymont Avenue as it continues from Center Street to the west side of McLendon Park at 6th Street West. This segment would feature a a "mobility hub" at its eastern end, and a protected transit island near its western end at 5th Place West.
6th Street alongside the park would be improved as a "neighborhood greenway". Storm inlets and curb ramps would also be improved along the trail's route.
References
- Bryant, Joseph D. (June 23, 2023) "Birmingham lands $22 million grant for new urban trail running through the city." AL.com
- Byington, Pat (June 23, 2023) "Birmingham wins $21M urban trail grant to make city more walkable, bikeable and connected." Bham Now
- Lewallen, Ayron (June 23, 2023) "Residents excited for project to revitalize, connect historic neighborhoods." WVTM13.com
- Thrailkill, Laurel (June 26, 2023) "Here's what Birmingham will do with a $22M infrastructure grant." Birmingham Business Journal
- Bryant, Joseph D. (July 3, 2023) "Here’s a closer look at what federal trails money means to transforming Birmingham city streets." AL.com