September 25th, 2026 | Volume 59, Number 11

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 : 100040267 ( CN ) Federal aid number : NHF I010 (357) County : MOBILE

Project Description : ADDITIONAL LANES ON I-10 FROM 1 MILE WEST OF MARCH RD TO CR-39 (MCDONALD RD) INCLUDING BRIDGE REPLACEMENT OVER MARCH ROAD (BIN 8124 AND 8125) AND ITS

Old Engineers Estimate : $24,162,721.00 New Engineers Estimate : $51,567,879.51

Project : 100076783 ( TR ) Federal aid number : UMTAC TR24 County : MOBILE

Project Description : SECTION 5310 CAPITAL APPORTIONMENT YEAR 2023 PROGRAM OF PROJECTS

Old Delete Indicator :    New Delete Indicator : D

Project : 100076033 ( CN ) Federal aid number : NH I010 County : MOBILE

Project Description : ADDITIONAL MEDIAN LANES ON I-10 FROM SR-188 TO 1 MILE WEST OF MARCH ROAD AND INTERCHANGE MODIFICATION AT SR-188 (EXIT 4)

Old Engineers Estimate : $33,106,816.00 New Engineers Estimate : $56,121,459.45

The South Alabama Rural Planning Organization (RPO) met on September 17, 2026. During the meeting, the RPO amended the Transportation Plan to incorporate updated needs lists for all three counties. The FY 2027 RPO Work Program was adopted, along with the Escambia County Safety Action Plan and updates to the 2024-2027 Human Services Coordinated Transportation Plan.

These documents are available HERE.

Over the coming year, staff will work with local elected officials to update the RPO Transportation Plan. Staff will also support ALDOT in conducting public meetings for the State Long Range Transportation Plan update.

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 session. The House is in recess.

House Passes Bill Requiring Extensive Reporting on "Boondoggles"

A federal transparency bill requiring additional reporting on major cost overruns—above $1 billion—and project delays is awaiting the President's signature after passing the House of Representatives. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who introduced the legislation, included an earlier version in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act focused only on transportation projects. In response to those requirements, the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) previously outlined 15 projects across highways, aviation, rail, and transit that were over budget or behind their timeline. Senator Ernst's own subsequent report on USDOT's findings highlighted only the rail and transit projects as "taking taxpayers for a ride." The legislation will expand the reporting requirement beyond USDOT to all federal agencies.

How BUILD America 250 Could Impact Rural Transit

BUILD America 250, the proposed multi-year House surface transportation reauthorization bill, could represent a setback for rural transit systems, according to a new article from Grist. The legislation does not include the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's "advance appropriations" for rail and transit projects, reducing potential funding in those areas by 45%. This change could have a disproportionate impact on rural transit systems, which rely on federal funds more than their urban counterparts. Funding changes at rural transit agencies could leave rural and disabled residents socially isolated by service cuts. An expert from the National Campaign for Transit Justice also pointed out that the transit cuts could create long-term financial strain on rural American families, who might be pushed to buy an additional car or more gas.

Amid price spike, Ivey tells ALEA to stop inspecting commercial vehicles for dyed diesel fuel



By Claire Harrison

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – As diesel prices soar nationwide, Gov. Kay Ivey has directed the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to shift its priority away from penalizing commercial vehicles for using dyed diesel fuel for the next 120 days.

The state typically only allows the use of dyed diesel fuel, also known as red diesel, in off-road equipment, machinery and certain city and county vehicles. Because operators don’t utilize the fuel on public highways, the fuel is exempt from taxes.

Operating a motor vehicle fueled by dyed diesel on a highway is normally punishable by a Class A misdemeanor and a civil penalty of $1,000 or $10 per gallon of fuel involved, according to the Code of Alabama. 

The average price of diesel fuel was $6.15 per gallon on Thursday, per AAA.

“In recent weeks, Alabama has experienced a significant increase in fuel prices, creating significant economic hardships for all Alabamians,” the governor wrote. “The increase in diesel fuel prices has been particularly sharp relative to other fuel prices, directly affecting Alabama’s agricultural and timber industries.”

Ivey told ALEA in a letter to conduct commercial vehicle inspections that “present a threat to public safety” instead of ones to identify the use of dyed diesel. She also directed the Alabama Department of Revenue to request penalty relief for the fuel from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

She said Alabama farmers will welcome the change, as their harvest season lasts until Nov. 15.

“As we are in the beginning of peak harvest season in Alabama, I am committed to doing what we can to support our state’s farmers and their families,” Ivey said. “When we can responsibly provide relief, I am all for it, and this is a measured, doable and commonsense action to help out Alabama’s agricultural and timber communities.”

Continue story HERE.

Alabama Airport Head: Air Taxis ‘Just a Matter of When’

Advanced air mobility has long been in consideration, and short-range service electric aircraft are “just a matter of when it’s coming,” the executive director of the Mobile, Ala., Airport Authority said.

September 17, 2026 • Lawrence Specker, al.com

(TNS) — The days when futuristic electric-powered aircraft begin providing short-range service at Alabama’s airports might not be all that far away, a Mobile airport leader said Wednesday.

“This indeed is the future of low-range aviation and it’s just a matter of when it’s coming,” J. Adam Hays, acting executive director of the Mobile Airport Authority , told the MAA board at its regular monthly meeting.

So-called Advanced Air Mobility has been a hot topic in aviation for a decade now, with most of the focus on the development of electric and hybrid aircraft that can take off and land vertically. The FAA says such aircraft tend to be “highly automated” and can often be termed air taxis.

Hays told the board that he had recently attended a conference in Montgomery where “what we essentially talked about was the future of aviation.”

“What we’re talking about is four- to six-passengers, relatively low range, but using electric vertical-takeoff and -landing air vehicles,” Hays said. “Just talking about what infrastructure an airport would require in order for us to accommodate something like this. There are countless companies right now that are going through prototyping and case studies.”

“So I was kind of skeptical at the beginning of the conference but before the end of the conference they had me completely sold,” Hays said.

After the meeting, Hays said many things have to happen before electric air taxis begin operating from airfields such as the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley. But the potential is real and momentum is building rapidly, he said.

“We were essentially talking about what infrastructure would be needed at airports in order to support the impending surge of these EVTOL vehicles,” he said. “And you know, I know the mayor really wants to have ferries go across the bay, but man, these things would be really cool to be able to take us from here to Orange Beach or whatever.”

“So yeah, we were in the room with a lot of like-minded people around Alabama,” Hays said. “Just you know, waiting on legislation to start taking place so that we can put some funding in for things like this.”

Helipad-like landing areas with charging stations are just two of the more obvious requirements, he said. But the FAA would have to develop “air maps” showing where such vehicles would be allowed to operate.

“We would need training for air traffic control, things like that,” Hays said. “So there’s a lot of things to do and everybody’s really excited about this industry that’s seemingly about to take off.”

Numerous companies have been developing eVTOL (electric, Vertical Take Off and Landing) vehicles. Some companies have begun demonstration flights, including Joby Aviation, whose six-rotor eVTOL craft has recently been on tour. Hays did not name Joby or any other specific manufacturers.

Continue reading HERE.

State senator from Baldwin proposes allowing Alabamians to claim tax credit for tolls

By Brendan Kirby

Published: Sep. 23, 2026

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - There is nothing state lawmakers can do to stop tolls on a planned Mobile River bridge and a newly reconfigured Bayway, but a state senator from Baldwin County is proposing a work-around.

Under draft legislation from state Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine), Alabama residents and most businesses would be able to claim a tax credit when they file their state income tax returns. It would be a dollar-for-dollar credit, meaning they would be able to get back the full amount they spent on tolls on Interstate 10 and the Bayway during the previous year – even if the amount they paid in tolls exceeded what they paid in income taxes.

“I think it’s the least we can do for the residents of coastal Alabama,” he told FOX10 News.

It is similar to a proposal Elliott made in 2019 amid a previous proposal to build a bridge. That plan fell apart.

For years, local transportation planners had said toll rates would remain fixed – first at $2.50 per crossing for passenger vehicles with ALGO transponders and more recently at $3. But FOX10 News reported last week that the Alabama Department of Transportation, as a condition for borrowing billions of dollars, agreed to automatic annual rate increases.

People who buy a $60-per-month pass will be granted unlimited use of the bridge and Bayway. The cost of that pass will not change for 10 years, but Elliott said the cost – $720 a year – still represents a significant hit for Baldwin County residents earning the median income.

Continue reading HERE.

Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT)

Application Deadline: October 9, 2026

The PROTECT Competitive Grant Program funds projects to improve the resilience of the surface transportation system, including highways, public transportation, ports, and intercity passenger rail. Program goals include protecting: surface transportation assets by making them more resilient; communities through resilience improvements and strategies that allow for the continued operation or rapid recovery of surface transportation systems; coastal infrastructure; and natural infrastructure that protects and enhances surface transportation assets. Eligible applicants are States, metropolitan planning organizations (MPO), local governments, federally recognized Indian Tribes, public transportation agencies, port authorities, and Federal Land Managing Agencies (FLMA) when applying jointly with a State or group of States.

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

Barnes and Noble is now open at McGregor Square!

The new store covers more than 20,000 square feet and carries books, games and gifts, along with a cafe.

Barnes & Noble Mobile AL (@bnmobileal) • Instagram photos and videos

Local author, Watt Key, attended the grand opening ceremony and helped with the ribbon cutting. More author appearances are scheduled through the weekend!

• Saturday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m.: Paula Lenor Webb.
• Saturday, Sept. 26, 1 p.m.: Leslie Anne Tarabella.
• Saturday, Sept. 26, 3 p.m.: Joe Cuhaj.

Learn more about the authors here: 

Barnes & Noble Mobile Store Opens at McGregor Square - South Alabama News