News

Smart Growth America (SGA), as part of the Department of Transportation’s Thriving Communities technical assistance program, has been working with Center Point, AL over the past year to advance their vision for safer transportation throughout the community. One priority area for discussion and potential action has been the Center Point Parkway (AL-75). Staff from SGA recently traveled to Center Point to meet with local stakeholders and discuss next steps for the technical assistance.

While on the ground, Smart Growth America worked with the Center Point working group to utilize several proven strategies to promote the transportation vision for the community. Goals included establishing straightforward practices to improve communication and coordination, advance plans for improvements along Center Point Parkway, and identify key actions for the coming year. To do so, the working group had to engage local and state decision-makers in a variety of ways to prepare a roadmap for going forward.

1. Walk audits

Walk audits are engaging and informative ways to experience a place where formal data suggests that there are safety concerns. As the technical assistance team prepares to make recommendations on potential immediate and long-term improvements for the Center Point Parkway, firsthand experience with the corridor was necessary to strengthen any suggestions made. Perhaps more importantly, walk audits conducted during the trip presented an opportunity to engage Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT). Any changes made to the right-of-way owned and maintained by ALDOT will require the approval and potential resources and support from the agency. Inviting them to walk the corridor with local residents reinforced that changes were needed, provided an opportunity to share their vision for the corridor, and left a lasting impression with agency staff.

2. Engaging local elected officials

Local elected officials have a powerful role to play in transportation planning, decision-making, and resourcing. They can advance policies, call attention to issues, and be a conduit for information for community members. Mayor Bobby Scott has been a stalwart champion for changes to the corridor and a regular participant of the technical assistance. The recent visit provided an opportunity for Mayor Scott and others to share the work that has been done with other city council members including many who are newly elected. This will hopefully create more champions to advance the community’s vision for a safer Center Point Parkway.

3. Making the most of existing opportunities

Center Point has several exciting opportunities underway or expected in the near-term. These include the completion of a feasibility study conducted by the regional planning commission which will provide important data on existing conditions, recommendations on possible street design changes, and estimated costs. Center Point also has plans to invest in several areas along the corridor such as installing a new playground in a local park. Both of these are examples of opportunities for Center Point to use existing plans to advance their vision for the parkway, communicate plans to community members and partners, and leverage existing resources for new funding or support for additional improvements.

Center Point is making the most of its participation in the Thriving Communities technical assistance program. With Smart Growth America’s support, deploying proven strategies to increase engagement, spread awareness, and create new champions will ultimately help their vision of a safer Center Point Parkway become reality.