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Alabama
Walker County Pins Economic Hopes on Success of Corridor X
Some communities elsewhere may hate new highways for inviting more traffic and sprawl, but Walker County puts all transportation and economic hopes in Corridor X, the future I-22 -- its 200-mile northwestern stretch between Jasper and Memphis, Tennessee already open and the 30-mile southeastern leg to Birmingham slated for completion in four or five years -- with many residents also envisioning sidewalks, pedestrian trails, bus stop shelters, a new bridge and even a regional monorail.
''It's going to be our salvation once it's finished,'' said Jasper resident Jean Williams, chairwoman of its downtown revitalization steering committee, at a Heart of Alabama Rural Planning Organization (HARPO) planning session, conducted by Regional Planning Commission (RPC) of Greater Birmingham officials.
Although everyone in rural counties has gotten used to driving cars, Chairwoman Williams observed, she would like the region to pursue a monorail that could link Jasper, Tuscaloosa, Cullman and Shelby County in a loop around and into Birmingham.
Having also held similar public sessions in Blount, St. Clair and Chilton counties, northeast and south of Birmingham, notes Birmingham News writer Kent Faulk, HARPO will prepare a comprehensive report on the rural areas' needs for roads, sidewalks, bike lanes, bus and rail transit, and air and river transportation.
The report, said RPC Executive Director Charles Ball, will be submitted to the Alabama Department of Transportation for consideration during its work on the state's long-range transportation plans. -- Birmingham News 4/18/2007
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