October 2nd, 2026 | Volume 60, Number 1 | |
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 1st 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.
| | South Alabama RPO Updates | | |
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.
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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.
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Congress is in recess.
NHTSA Relaxes Fuel Emission Standards for Automakers
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a final rule on Wednesday to relax fuel emissions requirements for automakers. The new rule lowers fuel efficiency requirements for new passenger vehicles for 2031 from 50.4 miles per gallon (mpg) to 34.9 mpg. The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) says this change will save Americans an average of $1,300 on new vehicles. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg responded to the decision by pointing out that despite these potential savings, USDOT estimates that drivers could pay up to $1,600 more in fuel costs over the life of a vehicle due to decreased efficiency and elevated gas prices. He further argued that American automakers will be discouraged from innovating due to the lax standards, leaving them at a competitive disadvantage to Chinese automakers.
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Senator Introduces Transit-Oriented Housing Development Act
Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced a bill last Friday to expand affordable housing construction near transit hubs. The Transit-Oriented Housing Development Act would invest $300 billion over the next ten years in the national Housing Trust Fund to support construction of transit-oriented housing for low-income households. Construction projects authorized under the bill would need to be within half a mile of a major transit hub and would need to reserve all units for households under a specified income threshold. The Housing and Community Development Network of NJ praised the legislation for "building homes where people can connect to jobs, transit, and opportunity" and helping "communities attract and retain workers."
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Governor Ivey Authorizes Construction for Major Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project, Sets Groundbreaking Date
MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday announced that she has formally authorized the start of construction on the major Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project, paving the way for the project’s groundbreaking this week. With a construction cost of $3.2 billion, the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway is the largest transportation infrastructure project in Alabama history and necessary to support Alabama’s Gulf Coast region and beyond.
“At long last, we are officially moving from talking about the need for the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project to actually building it,” said Governor Ivey. “This project will transform travel through Baldwin and Mobile counties, strengthen a vital interstate corridor and benefit Alabama for generations to come. This is a win for the citizens in Baldwin and Mobile counties, a win for the state of Alabama and a win for the Gulf Coast region. It’s time to build the bridge, y’all!”
To formally authorize construction, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), on behalf of the Alabama Toll Road, Bridge and Tunnel Authority, issued a notice to proceed to the Kiewit Massman Traylor (KMT) design-build team on Friday, September 25. This action follows the successful close of bond sales and federal financing earlier this month and marks the final procedural step needed before beginning construction.
Full Press Release HERE.
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Mobile’s Second Line Transit trolley hits the streets of downtown | |
by: Kathryn Bruch
Posted: Sep 30, 2026 / 10:26 PM CDT
Updated: Sep 30, 2026 / 10:26 PM CDT
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Mobile’s new Second Line Transit System is officially rolling, and city leaders took its only trolley through downtown Wednesday as the system entered its first week of service.
The blue and green trolley has wooden benches and room for about 24 passengers. A ride costs $1.25.
“This historical look, the history of the trolleys in San Francisco. The history that we had here. It brings a piece of nostalgia with,” Mobile Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis said.
Cheriogotis also discussed how the city hopes Second Line Transit can grow over time.
“Every time somebody decides to call on a micro transit vehicle, hop on a bus, hop on a trolley that’s putting money back into the system that we can reinvest in, either making it the frequency increase, or by buying more vehicles, or by expanding the network,” Cheriogotis said. “And I want this microtransit network to cover the entire city.”
The trolley is currently the only one of its kind operating as part of Second Line Transit for Mobile. The city has applied for more than $1.3 million in federal grant funding to help add about five more, but the funding has not yet been awarded.
Continue reading here.
| | Creola has been selected as the ONLY Alabama host city for the FREEDOM 250 Mobile Museum | | |
We are incredibly excited to welcome this special traveling exhibit to our community as America celebrates 250 years of freedom, courage, and the American spirit.
October 22–24, 2026
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
9615 Old Highway 43, Creola, Alabama
251-675-8142
The Freedom 250 Mobile Museum is bringing history to life and giving families an opportunity to experience and celebrate the story of our great nation.
This is more than an exhibit—it is an opportunity for our community to come together, remember where we came from, celebrate where we are today, and look forward to the future.
COME BE PART OF HISTORY!
Bring your family, invite your friends, and help us spread the word!
CREOLA — ALABAMA’S HOST CITY FOR FREEDOM 250!
Let’s show them how Creola celebrates America!
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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.
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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
| | MobTown Burger Week, October 2nd-11th | | |
28 local restaurants are participating in the 8th Annual Mobtown Burger Week - a competition for local burger enjoyers to vote on their favorite burger in Mobile! The event begins today, October 2nd and runs until Sunday, October 11th. Better yet, a portion of each burger sold benefits Restore Mobile, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing and revitalizing vacant, deteriorated homes in Mobile’s historic neighborhoods.
Click here to learn more! MobTown Burger Week 2026 | Restore Mobile
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