By Jennifer Andress, BTC Past President
Greetings, BTC! I have an update on some of the safety issues that have been featured in this column over the last four months. As I have reported, I have been communicating with local Homewood and Mountain Brook officials in regards to improvements to the areas we as BTC runners frequent: the Lakeshore Trail, the bridge on Hollywood Boulevard over Highway 280, and Mountain Brook as you enter from the Homewood side.
And as I have said before, so many good things happen while out on a run. As luck would have it, I was running with a friend on Jemison Trail late one weekday morning last month when I saw State Representative David Faulkner on his way to a meeting. I stopped right then and there, told him about this column, and asked him where things stood regarding the proposed pedestrian bridge over Highway 280. He put my phone number in his phone and texted me his number to talk at a more opportune time. I am thrilled to say Representative Faulkner has been very responsive to our concerns about safety, and we have talked at length several times.
He explained what we already knew: that we are starting over from square one in gathering support from both City Councils of Mountain Brook and Homewood (which we have) and that we need to get the City of Birmingham involved again, as well as ALDOT. We are prepared to undertake this project once again.
In the meantime, Representative Faulkner agreed to take immediate action on our behalf to investigate the status of the promised sidewalks on the Highway 280 access road behind the zoo, connecting Mountain Brook Village to Homewood via Poinciana. If you remember, these sidewalks, connecting to the new zoo sidewalks, are what Mountain Brook designated its bridge funds to construct once ALDOT and Birmingham decided against their commitment to the bridge. Representative Faulkner remembered that he was told about the sidewalks when he first took office almost a year ago.
Representative Faulkner contacted Mountain Brook City Manager Sam Gaston on our behalf about the status of these sidewalks. Mr. Gaston reached out to Homewood City Councilman from Ward Two, Fred Hawkins, who is in communications with ALDOT about its work on this project.
From Councilman Hawkins: “Homewood and Mountain Brook are waiting on the agreement from ALDOT. I was told they had it and had found a mistake and were correcting it. We were to have it by next week [last week of October---JA]. Birmingham would then execute that agreement and send back to ALDOT for the Governor’s signature. We can’t set up our grant account until all of that happens. Our consultant is ready to go.”
(Let me also note that construction on these sidewalks would also address the exposed metal that BTC officer Darrell Gibson brought to our attention last month, as the sidewalks would go right over the area where this safety hazard is located.)
Representative Faulkner was extremely attentive when we discussed ideas for safety improvements for runners and cyclists in our area. He even suggested a town hall meeting with Mountain Brook and Homewood city officials, for BTC members to talk about our concerns and suggestions. I will keep you posted on this fantastic idea!
I am waiting to hear back from Homewood Fire Chief John Bresnan about safety phones on the Lakeshore Trail. His latest update is that he is looking at and pricing options.
Regarding another community concern, I will be addressing the Homewood City Council on behalf of the BTC on October 26th, in regards to a new proposed comprehensive no-smoking ordinance. This new proposal prohibits smoking in all businesses, including on restaurant patios, increases the distance from a business one can smoke from 10 feet to 20 feet, and includes all e-cigarettes for the first time. This proposed ordinance matches those in Vestavia Hills, Birmingham, and 27 other Alabama municipalities. Several physicians who also are runners and triathletes will be speaking as well.
Our position is that Jefferson County has one of the highest lung cancer rates in the state, our heart disease rate is 18% higher, and our stroke rate is 50% higher than national rates. This ordinance will significantly reduce exposure to secondhand smoke.
So therefore, I will have a lot to update for you in next month’s issue of The Vulcan Runner! In the meantime, if you or any member of your running group has suggestions for improvements for our running area and routes, please send them my way, and we will begin contacting the appropriate city or elected official. My email address is: pastpresident@birminghamtrackclub.com.