Map of the Red Rock Ridge & Valley trail system, courtesy of http://www.redrocktrail.org/FWLT had already wanted to plan a network of trails throughout the county, and was seeking funding opportunities to design it. With the CCPW grant, FWLT would create a plan to develop a trail system to connect safe streets with local neighborhoods and natural spaces, while the Conservation Alabama Foundation would use its policy expertise to promote safe streets.
The Conservation Alabama Foundation decided to approach obesity by promoting policies for complete streets, or streets that are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users.
“Complete streets policies make it safer for people to get around by foot, bike or mass transit,” Snyder said. Common complete streets policies include adding bike lanes, widening sidewalks and installing crosswalks.
So far, the Conservation Alabama Foundation has helped to pass ten complete streets policies in Jefferson County. The Partnership is now looking to start the policy implementation process by bringing in trainers from the National Complete Streets Coalition.
“These policies not only have the impact of revitalizing communities, but also promoting physical activity in our area where the obesity rate is over 30 percent,” said Amanda Storey, Assistant Vice President of Community Health & Wellness at the United Way of Central Alabama.
FWLT’s efforts, meanwhile, led to the creation of a plan to develop the Red Rock Ridge and Valley Trail System. The plan is for a set of seven main trail corridors that connect Jefferson County municipalities, designed to provide residents with more options for physical activity and community transportation.
Safer streets from complete streets policies, along with interconnected trails, are intended to provide greater options for residents to safely get to and from their destinations without a car. Municipalities in Jefferson County are currently exploring funding options to build the trail system.
For Birmingham, the countywide push for more walkable neighborhoods has given the city an opportunity to create a city-wide redevelopment plan, which includes a focus on complete streets. With tornado damage and neighborhoods that haven’t seen much change in the past half century, there is no better time to for the city to create a plan for its future development prospects.
Just last week, Birmingham learned it was awarded a $10 million TIGER grant from the US Department of Transportation for complete streets projects in its historic Civil Rights district. Rebuilding the Birmingham-area roads network will reconnect residents with public transit hubs, schools, employment centers, recreational facilities and historic Civil Rights destinations.
“We look forward to seeing how these efforts will rebuild our communities in a way that will be healthier and more economically sustainable,” said Snyder.