Dear Members,
I do hope this message finds you well! In one of the RPC newsletters published shortly after the April 27
th
Super Outbreak, I talked about the Chinese definition of the word “crisis”. Their definition is danger/opportunity, and that certainly describes our current times. We have been challenged by months of COVID-19 and weeks of demonstrations. But through it all, we have been forced to learn to carry on and do familiar things in new ways, and that is not necessarily bad.
I have always been somewhat of a late adopter of whatever happened to be the newest technology of the day. So, of course, I resisted those pesky Zoom and GotoMeetings as long as I could. I fought the good fight, but I have now surrendered. And one might even say I have come to like these meetings. The rest of my staff has been way out in front of me on this for a while now, and that is alright!
Despite the above-referenced challenges, we have had no shortage of exciting projects to continue to work on and initiate. In this issue, you will read about some innovative
economic recovery
projects we are working on with the leaders in
Walker County
. You will read about numerous
transportation projects
and initiatives underway in
Alabaster
,
Pelham
and
Birmingham
. We’ll update you on
major land use plans
entering the final stretch in
Chelsea
and
Montevallo
. And you will learn of funding opportunities coming soon for
Transportation Alternative (TAP) Projects
and a slew of other
grant opportunities
from various federal sources.
We have a handful of employees in the office, with everyone else working remotely. We will continue with the skeleton crew until we see the light at the end of the COVID19 tunnel. But rest assured, we are still only a phone call or email away if you need information or assistance. Take care, be safe and enjoy the newsletter!
Sincerely,
Charles Ball
RPCGB Executive Director
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Does your community or organization need grant assistance?
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If your community or organization needs grant writing or application assistance, RPCGB is here to help. For questions about funding application assistance, please contact Jesslan Wilson, Economic Development Specialist, at
jwilson@rpcgb.org or 205-264-8417.
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Current grant and funding opportunities
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Alabama Department of Economic & Community Affairs:
US Department of Labor, Education and Training Administration
US Department of Agriculture-Rural Development
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Draft Comprehensive Plans for the cities of Chelsea and Montevallo have been released for public input.
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In the last month, the RPCGB Community Planning team released the Draft Comprehensive Plans for the both the City of Chelsea (branded as the
Plan Chelsea Comprehensive Plan
) and the City of Montevallo (branded as the
Making Montevallo Comprehensive Plan
). To view the draft plans, click on the project websites below, or click the images of each plan.
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Learn more about the effectiveness of Corridor Overlay Districts
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Did you know that the establishment of an overlay district can improve the physical appearance and quality of development along a roadway corridor as properties are newly developed or redeveloped in the years to come?
An overlay district is a zoning tool that encourages a more uniform and aesthetically pleasing appearance by establishing land development standards that vary from the underlying base zone district standards. The overlay zoning district is placed “over” the current base zoning in the corridor in order allow for development standards above and beyond those in the base zoning, and in effect, it guides future development in a manner that would not otherwise be ensured by the development standards in the base zoning districts. An overlay district helps to avoid the visual chaos and functional inefficiencies of places where design decisions are made independently with little or no regard for how they affect a neighboring property or the perception of the area.
The RPCGB Community Planning team has developed two overlay districts that have been adopted by the cities of Alabaster and Chelsea. Click the links below to learn more:
To learn more, contact Principal Planner Lindsay Puckett at
lpuckett@rpcgb.org
or 205-264-8421
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News regarding recent APPLE studies
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The RPCGB was awarded additional federal funding to conduct four new planning studies in the area. Each of these studies will be performed by consulting firms selected by the RPCGB. The following is a brief description of each study:
- Birmingham Regional Travel Demand Model (TDM) Expansion and Enhancement – this study will improve the RPCGB’s travel forecasting model to better predict future traffic volumes on major roadways.
- US-31 Operations Analysis from Amphitheater Rd. in Pelham to S. Colonial Pkwy. in Alabaster – this study will analyze operations on US-31 in Pelham and Alabaster, and develop recommendations to improve traffic flow.
- Birmingham Area Roadway Ownership/Maintenance Study – this study will identify the specific municipality that owns and maintains each of the nearly 4,000 miles of highways in the MPO area. This information will then be posted on an interactive web page and made available to the public.
- Safety Studies – the RPCGB will work with four different Cities in the area to conduct safety studies at roadway locations such as intersections or sharp curves to identify potential improvements to reduce crashes.
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TAP Application Due Dates Moved to July
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The Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) Application deadlines have changed. The new ALDOT deadline is
July 1
st and the MPO deadline is
July 10
th.
Please note the applications for both ALDOT and the MPO are the same, however the procedures to submit the applications are different.
For more information please visit the following website:
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ALDOT Opens High Risk Rural Roads Applications
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ALDOT has issued a memorandum to announce that the High Risk Rural Roads (HRRR) Special Rule has been placed in effect for the State of Alabama for FY2021.
The HRRR program is focused on the reduction of fatal and serious injury crashes by helping drivers stay in their lane, or minimizing the severity in the event that a crash does occur. A 10% non-federal funding match from the sponsoring agency will be required for any application submitted under this program. Click the button below to view the full memorandum from ALDOT and learn more:
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Pelham celebrates the opening of Phase 1 of the Pelham Greenway
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Pelham recently celebrated the opening of Phase 1 of the Pelham Greenway. Beginning at City Park, the trail will eventually connect to the proposed Campus 124 development and Oak Mountain State Park. This Greenway Project began with an APPLE Study and is a great example of how long term preliminary planning can create future results for our communities. To learn more about APPLE studies please visit:
https://www.rpcgb.org/transportation-project-feasibility-studies-apple
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Walker County Transportation Plan
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Walker County has gained attention the past few years regarding its severe opioid epidemic. In response to this crisis, Walker County has received over $1 million in grant funding since October 2018, most of which has been for prevention, treatment, and recovery of substance use disorder (SUD). The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) recognizes that transportation is a key component in recovery and granted funding to the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPCGB) for the development of a transportation plan in Walker County to address access to recovery and aftercare services, including employment. A copy of the final report can be found at:
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RPCGB to become the Direct Recipient for Federal Transit Administration Section 5310 Grant
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Last fall, the RPCGB began the process to become the direct recipient of FTA Section 5310 (Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities) Grant funds. This means that the RPCGB will have the responsibility for administering the grant, from development of the RFP to payout. It also means that RPCGB is directly responsible to FTA and must ensure that all subrecipients (awardees) comply with applicable rules and regulations. The application has been submitted to the FTA and RPCGB anticipates approval within in the next few months.
Information about FTA Section 5310 can be found at:
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Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities
(FTA Section 5310)
Issue Date:
June 10, 2020
Proposal Deadline:
July 10, 2020
LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
Synopsis:
This Call is for capital projects that improve mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Applications can only be received from private nonprofit organizations, state or local governments, or operators of public transportation services within the Birmingham urbanized area.
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RPCGB and the Medicaid Waiver Program are taking all possible precautions during the COVID-19 Pandemic to protect our clients and limit the spread of the virus. The Medicaid Waiver Program is following the guidance given by Medicaid and the Alabama Department of Public Health. Below are some of the resources distributed through the Alabama Department of Health that may be useful for you to use in your community.
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Slow the spread! Wear a Mask!
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Wearing a protective face covering along with good hygiene practices and social distancing are a proven way to slow the spread of COVID-19. If you are in an indoor public space wearing a mask is always a good idea during the pandemic and can especially help protect our elderly and at-risk populations from asymptomatic carriers. The resources below give some advice on best practices regarding the wearing of face mask.
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The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is conducting a survey on broadband internet service with the aim of addressing gaps in certain areas. The State believes many homes and businesses are likely receiving less than the 25 megabits per second download speed that meets the federal designation for broadband service.
The survey can be completed in under 2 minutes and could contribute to improving internet speeds in your local area. Please take the survey below and share it with your community.
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We hope you have enjoyed this quarterly edition of RPCGB’s Regional Roundabouts. For additional information about RPCGB services, please contact Hunter Garrison at
hgarrison@rpcgb.org or 205-264-8442.
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“By far the greatest and most admirable form of wisdom is that needed to plan and beautify cities and human communities.” – Socrates
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