Birmingham awarded $21.7M grant for urban trail + multimodal corridor development

The city of Birmingham formally accepted a $21,681,306 check today from U.S. Congresswoman Terri Sewell on behalf of the federal government to construct a Birmingham urban trail and multimodal corridor. 

Rep. Sewell played a pivotal role in securing the grant.

Detail about the RAISE Grant

Funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant Program, the grant will support the “Birmingham Civil Rights Crossroads: Reconnecting Historic Neighborhoods Through Active Mobility” project. 

The new 2.5-mile urban trail and multi-modal corridor will accomplish the following:

• Honor and revitalize the Smithfield neighborhood, the west side of Birmingham and the Civil Rights District
• Include a two-way cycle track, improve ADA access, sidewalks and other universal design elements

“Ultimately, this will be an opportunity for us to be forward-thinking in creating truly a multimodal corridor that allows for our citizens to be able to walk, cycle, run and travel all throughout our city. This is a 21st-century vision.”

Rep. Terri Sewell

Partnerships key to securing grant

Mayor Randall Woodfin echoed Rep. Sewell’s sentiment. He praised her staff, his own administration, the city council and the many partnerships that helped secure the grant. 

He specifically singled out Rep. Sewell for her leadership. 

“We couldn’t ask for a better fighter and person than Congresswoman Sewell.”

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