September 4th, 2026 | Volume 59, Number 8

The Mobile MPO Policy Board held a joint meeting with the TCC/CAC on Wednesday, August 5th, 2026 at 10:00 am at the GM&O Building at 110 Beauregard St, Mobile, AL 36602 in the Board Room on the 1^st floor.

The MPO adopted the following project changes to the Fiscal Years 2024-2027 Transportation Improvement Program:

• Project: 100073596 (DB) Federal aid number: NHDBF I010 (353) County: Mobile. Project description: I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway from Broad Street (Exit 24) to existing Bayway (Phase 1). Old Engineers Estimate: $1,691,540,000 New Engineers Estimate: $2,665,755,926.
• Project 100073597 (DB) Federal Aid Number: IMDBF-NHDBF County: Mobile I-10 Bayway from west of the Mobile County Line to East of the Eastern Shore Interchange at Exit 35 SR-42 (US-98) Including restriping of the existing Bayway Bridges from the Tensaw River to the East end of the Bayway Bridges (Phase 1) Engineers Estimated Cost: $888,022,854
• Project 100080582 ( FM )RESURFACING SR-16 (US-90) FROM I-165 (MP 31.259) TO .487 MILE SOUTH OF THE AFRICATOWN BRIDGE (MP 34.207) Old Target start date : November 05, 2027 New Target start date : December 04, 2026. Cost: $790,313
• Project: 100074236 (CN) National Highway Funds Project Description: Additional lanes and bridge replacement on I-65 from SR-158 to CR-41 (Celeste Road) Old cost estimate: $53,530,000 million New cost estimate: $64,000,000

The MPO Policy Board adopted the FY2027 UPWP, updated Bylaws for the MPO and TCC/CAC, and updated Human Services Coordinated Transportation Plan.

The documents can be reviewed at www.mobilempo.org. For physical copies of the documents, contact the Transportation Planning Department at (251)706-4613 or email transportation@sarpc.org.

Additional information may be obtained from the Transportation Planning Coordinator at the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission, (251)433-6541.  

For documents, click HERE.

Recent Scheduling Changes This Week for Mobile MPO

The target start date or project engineers estimated amount has changed for the following:



Project : 100082328 Federal aid number : IM I065 County : MOBILE Scope : PE

Project Description : SIGN REPLACEMENT ON I-65 FROM I-10 TO THE CONECUH COUNTY LINE

Urban Area : 067 MOBILE

Target Start Date : 10/1/2026 Engineers Estimate : $50,500.00

Project : 100068533 ( RW ) Federal aid number : STPMB 4918 County : MOBILE

Project Description : ADDITIONAL LANES ON AIRPORT BLVD. (CR-56) FROM 0.28 MILE WEST OF ELIZA JORDAN ROAD TO SNOW ROAD (CR-25)

Old Target start date : November 01, 2026 New Target start date : December 01, 2026

Project : 100074236 ( CN ) Federal aid number : NH I065 (536) County : MOBILE

Project Description : ADDITIONAL LANES AND BRIDGE REPLACEMENT ON I-65 FROM SR-158 TO CR-41 (CELESTE RD) (BIN 009267,009268)

Old Target start date : December 04, 2026 New Target start date : January 29, 2027

Project : 100080589 ( FM )Federal aid number : NH 0013 (650) County : MOBILE

Project Description : REURFACING SR-13 (US-43) FROM SR-16 (US-90) (MP 0.000) TO JARVIS DR (MP 1.330)

Old Engineers Estimate : $471,142.00 New Engineers Estimate : $1,036,773.97

Project : 100069498 Federal aid number : STPMB 4919 (251)  County : MOBILE

Project Description : ADDITIONAL LANES ON CR-41 (CELESTE ROAD) FROM FOREST AVENUE TO SHELL STREET

Current Funding : $1,363,500.00 Requested Funding : $1,547,156.70

Reason for Request : ADDING FUNDS (Y230).

Project : 100060482 ( CN ) Federal aid number : NHF 0158 (504) County : MOBILE

Project Description : SR-158 EXTENSION ADDITIONAL LANES FROM 0.5 MILE EAST OF GLENWOOD ROAD TO WEST OF LOTT ROAD (SR-217). BASE, PAVE, AND BRIDGE (WEST BOUND MCCRARY ROAD, WEST BOUND COLLINS CREEK, AND WEST BOUND COLLINS CREEK TRIBUTARY).

Old Target start date : November 05, 2027 New Target start date : June 30, 2028

Project : 100060155 ( CN ) Federal aid number : NHF 0158 (503) County : MOBILE

Project Description : SR-158 EXTENSION ADDITIONAL LANES FROM LOTT ROAD (SR-217) TO CONNECT TO SCHILLINGER ROAD; GRADE, DRAIN, BASE, PAVE AND BRIDGE (WB OFF RAMP AND EB ON RAMP OVER SEABURY CREEK TRIBUTARY, WB SEABURY CREEK, AND WB RODGERS RD)

Old Target start date : November 05, 2027 New Target start date : June 30, 2028

Project : 100080582 ( FM )Federal aid number : NH-HSIP 0016 (541) County : MOBILE

Project Description : RESURFACING, CENTERLINE SCORING, AND EDGELINE SCORING SR-16 (US-90) FROM I-165 (MP 31.259) TO DUNLAP DR (MP 35.995)

Old Target start date : December 04, 2026 New Target start date : January 29, 2027

Project : 100080582 ( FM )Federal aid number : NH-HSIP 0016 (541) County : MOBILE

Project Description : RESURFACING, CENTERLINE SCORING, AND EDGELINE SCORING SR-16 (US-90) FROM I-165 (MP 31.259) TO DUNLAP DR (MP 35.995)

Old Engineers Estimate : $790,313.00 New Engineers Estimate : $3,692,150.62

South Alabama RPO Meeting, Thursday, September 17th, 2026

The South Alabama Rural Planning Organization (RPO) will host a public meeting on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Bay Minette City Hall, located at 301 D’Olive Street in Bay Minette, Alabama.

There will be a discussion of current and future transportation projects in the rural areas of our region by the ALDOT Southwest Regional Office.

Other items on the agenda include:

• Adoption of the minutes of the previous meeting
• Review and adoption of the Fiscal Year 2027 Work Program
• Updating the RPO Transportation Plan with Project List
• Adoption of the Human Services Coordinated Transportation Plan
• Adoption of the Escambia County Safety Action Plan

Currently, staff is updating the RPO Transportation Plan with Project List. Click HERE to view the document. The Needs List is in the appendix located in the back of the document. Please send any updates on current projects, or any projects you think should be added to Anthony Johnson - ajohnson@sarpc.org.

Project Letting September 25th, 2026 10:00 AM CDT

BALDWIN COUNTY

For constructing the Roadway Improvements/Widening (Grading, Drainage, Pavement, Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS), and Traffic Lighting) on I-10 from a point 0.500 mile east of the east end of the Bayway Bridge to a point 0.500 mile east of the SR-181 Interchange in Daphne. Length 3.452 mi.

The Bracket Estimate on this project is from $28,372,638 to $34,677,669.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

None at this time.

MOBILE COUNTY

For constructing the Intersection Improvements and Traffic Signal Installation on SR-13 (US-43) at the junction of I-65 in Creola. Length 0.542 mi.

The Bracket Estimate on this project is from $1,077,864 to $1,317,389.

The Senate is in recess. The House is in session. 

House Passes Continuing Resolution that Includes Short-Term Surface Transportation Extension

In a 370-48 vote, the House of Representatives passed a stopgap bill to fund federal agencies and prevent a government shutdown through December 11. The Senate previously passed the continuing resolution last month, and the bill will now head to the President's desk for approval. The legislation includes a "clean" extension of surface transportation formula funding through December 11 but does not include "advanced appropriations" funding levels in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) said the stopgap bill was an important step to prevent a funding lapse. He also reiterated that advancing multi-year surface transportation reauthorization through BUILD America 250 was a top priority before the end of the year.

The continuing resolution will also delay the implementation of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) proposed overhaul of the federal grantmaking process until December 11. Several senators and representatives opposed the rule, including Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Congressman Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), while others have questioned its legal basis. OMB has not released the final version of its rule yet, and likely will not do so until at least near the expiration date of the continuing resolution.

ALDOT halts temporary lane closures for Labor Day weekend

September 2nd, 2026

Road construction will not hinder travelers during the Labor Day holiday.

The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) will have no temporary lane closures on interstate routes from Friday, Sept. 4, 2026 at noon until Monday, Sept. 7, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Alabama roadways will experience higher traffic volumes during the holiday, and the suspension is to help reduce traffic congestion and improve safety with more people traveling during the holiday.

“Safety is our top priority as families and friends travel across Alabama for Labor Day weekend,” said Dalton Middleton, Drive Safe Alabama Coordinator. “In 2024, nine people died in crashes during the Labor Day holiday in Alabama. By suspending temporary lane closures, we hope to keep traffic moving and help everyone reach their destinations safely.”

ALDOT Holiday Travel Tips:

Avoid Distractions: Drivers should keep their eyes and minds on the road and avoid cell phone use while driving.

Observe Speed Limits: Speeding is the number one contributor to fatal crashes in Alabama. It reduces reaction time and increases the severity of crashes.

Buckle Up: Seat belts save lives and reduce the risk of serious injury in the event of a crash. Ensure that everyone in the vehicle is wearing a seat belt properly.

Plan Travel Route with ALGO Traffic

ALDOT encourages all drivers to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, and stay alert on the roads if traveling for Labor Day weekend. Motorists planning their holiday travel route can find Alabama traffic and road condition information, including traffic camera feeds, at ALGOtraffic.com or by downloading the ALGO Traffic app.

Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Unveils New National AV Strategy

Thursday, September 3, 2026

Roadmap outlines steps to prioritize safety, cut red tape, unleash innovation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today unveiled the Automated Vehicles (AV) National Strategy – a unified plan to secure American leadership in the technologies that are revolutionizing our roadways. After years of AV policy inaction under the Biden-Buttigieg administration, the Trump Administration’s new strategy will further ongoing efforts to slash unnecessary red tape, modernize critical regulations, prioritize safety, and enable the safe development and deployment of these next-generation vehicles.

"The Trump Administration is committed to safely unleashing American innovation on our roads. We're doing so because of the exciting promise new technologies like AVs have in reducing roadway fatalities, enhancing mobility, and fundamentally reshaping how people move for the better,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “This strategy outlined a plan to empower our innovators to build faster, smarter and safer than ever before.”

This Strategy will empower developers to safely build new AVs at the Speed of Trump with four core objectives:

• Prioritize Safety: Provide guardrails to support and improve safety as the AV industry grows–including the first safety standards for automated vehicle competency.
• Provide Regulatory Certainty: Modernize existing regulations, remove unnecessary barriers, streamline processes, and provide clarity and predictability. Work towards consistency. 
• Promote American Innovation: Expand commercial availability and operation for passenger and freight applications domestically and promote U.S. interests abroad.
• Facilitate Interoperable Corridors: Convene national stakeholders to promote seamless cross-State interoperability within the transportation system.

“This strategy will provide for strict safety oversight, while unlocking the potential for AV technologies to be safely deployed on America's roads,” said National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator Jonathan Morrison. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Duffy, our innovators can build faster, smarter and safer than ever before.”

Additional Information

In the last year and a half, USDOT has launched a major AV Framework, leveled the playing field so American innovators are not subject to stricter rules than foreign competitors, slashed redundant red tape, and hosted the agency's first ever AV summit.

The full AV National Strategy is available here.

Trump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Invests $481 Million Ahead of Labor Day Weekend to Improve Airport Infrastructure Across U.S.

Thursday, September 3, 2026

FAA is delivering 191 grants to improve airport infrastructure in 36 states and two territories

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investing $481 million to improve infrastructure and enhance safety at airports across America ahead of a busy Labor Day travel weekend.

The FAA is delivering 191 grants to airports in 36 states and two territories through the Airport Infrastructure Grants program, including:

• $100 million to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia for runway, taxiway and terminal reconstruction and runway safety area improvements.
• $32.5 million to Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky to reconstruct the terminal.
• $30.3 million to San Diego International Airport in California for terminal construction.
• $14.2 million to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport in Wisconsin for taxiway construction and rehabilitation.
• $8.7 million to El Paso International Airport in Texas to rehabilitate the apron.
• $2.5 million to general aviation airports in Wisconsin for terminal reconstruction, runway and taxiway rehabilitation and snow-removal-equipment building reconstruction.

“From our regional hubs to some of America’s busiest airports, we are investing in critical infrastructure that will provide American families with a more seamless, efficient travel experience for years to come,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Upgrading our runway infrastructure is part of our work to usher in the Golden Age of Transportation.”

“We’re investing in airport infrastructure that keeps travelers safe and airports operating efficiently,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “These grants will help airports across the country meet the demands of today’s travelers while preparing for the future.”

Additional Information:

AIG funding can be used for airport planning, development, terminal improvements, baggage system upgrades, runway and taxiway rehabilitation, roadway and access improvements, and other safety-related infrastructure needs.

View a data visualization of the airports receiving funding.

FHWA Unveils August Redistribution for State DOTs

September 3, 2026

The Federal Highway Administration recently issued its much-anticipated “August Redistribution” of federal-aid highway program obligation limitation to state departments of transportation for fiscal year 2026.

According to FHWA, just over $7.5 billion in obligation limitation has been made available from the Highway Trust Fund or HTF for distribution for FY 2026; money that state DOTs must “obligate” for transportation projects by September 25.

This “redistribution” occurs late in the federal fiscal year when HTF’s “allocated programs” – federal programs for national purposes separate from formula dollars to states such as discretionary grant programs – do not fully use their share of funding during the year, which is subsequently redistributed to state transportation agencies.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has previously expressed growing concern regarding “increasingly large” annual redistributions of HTF obligation limitation to state DOTs each August due to the “narrow timeframe” allowed for allocating that funding.

“Such a large redistribution created significant difficulty due to the very narrow timeframe of about a month for state DOTs to effectively program these dollars before the end of the federal fiscal year,” AASHTO noted in a letter to FHWA in January 2023.

The organization subsequently made resolving some of the challenges surrounding August redistribution one of its key surface transportation funding reauthorization policy recommendations to Congress in 2025.

AASHTO also noted that FHWA has provided in recent years an initial estimate of August Redistribution amounts to state DOTs at the beginning of the calendar year – an advance notification that is helping state DOTs to “better optimize” their programming of federal dollars throughout the year and reduce the risk of funding lapse, the organization said.

Norfolk Southern completes expansion work on Alabama rail capacity

By Liz Carey  |   September 3, 2026

Norfolk Southern announced recently it has completed a package of new infrastructure investments across Alabama designed to increase freight capacity, improve network fluidity and strengthen the state’s rail corridors.

The work began in 2024, officials said, and included a number of separate projects along Norfolk Southern’s 3B Corridor connecting markets in northern and central Alabama with the Port of Mobile. Projects included a mix of terminal and track-based infrastructure improvements.

“The investments we have made to our 3B Corridor over the last two years are reflective of NS’ commitment to meeting demand and delivering safe, reliable and efficient service for our customers,” Norfolk Southern AVP Strategic Planning David Lehlbach said. “This work – the largest comprehensive corridor improvement project that NS has undertaken in a decade – strengthens a corridor that is essential to Alabama’s economy, ensuring the state’s businesses have the supply chain infrastructure they need to continue to compete and grow.”

The investments ranged from an extension of siding in Shelby County as part of the Lacey Siding Extension and Relocation project to the installation of CTC and the extension of four sidings in Shelby, Wilcox and Clarke counties as part of the Fremont, Catherine, Sunny South and Jackson Siding Extensions.

“Norfolk Southern’s completed infrastructure upgrades represent exactly the kind of private-sector commitment that strengthens Alabama’s economy for the long term,” Alabama Secretary of Commerce Ellen McNair said. “By following through on its promise to expand capacity, improve freight movement, and support continued growth around the state, Norfolk Southern is helping make Alabama more competitive while also delivering meaningful benefits to the communities where it operates.”

Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation & Improvement Program II

What is the ATRIP-II program?

The purpose of the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program-II (ATRIP-II) is to rehabilitate and improve transportation infrastructure by funding projects of local interest, proposed by one or more local governments, related to the state-maintained highway system. Projects may include local roads and bridges essential to such projects.

The program's goal is to address critical needs projects across the state to rehabilitate and improve the in-place facilities and in some cases provide new facilities at locations throughout the state. The program's focus is an emphasis on the public safety, economic growth, and stability of the state and its roads and bridges.

Procedural Guidelines

Application

FAQ

All applications must be submitted electronically no later than 5:00 pm on November 13, 2026.

Applications should be sent in through https://aldot.submittable.com/submit

Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Pilot Program (ICAM)

Application Deadline: September 9, 2026

The FTA’s ICAM Pilot Program seeks to improve access to public transportation by building partnerships among health, transportation and other service providers. This program provides competitive funding to support innovative projects for transportation disadvantaged populations that will improve the coordination of transportation services and non-emergency medical transportation services. 

View the NOFO HERE.

Today is Google's Anniversary!

The Google story begins in 1995 at Stanford University. Larry Page was considering Stanford for grad school and Sergey Brin, a student there, was assigned to show him around.

By some accounts, they disagreed about nearly everything during that first meeting, but by the following year they struck a partnership. Working from their dorm rooms, they built a search engine that used links to determine the importance of individual pages on the World Wide Web. They called this search engine Backrub. Soon renamed Google. 

Read more about the story of how Google went from an idea to a technology that people use every day here : How we started and where we are today - Google - About Google