Rainbow Bridge future still uncertain, remains closed Rainbow Bridge future still uncertain, remains closed
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – The historic Rainbow Bridge remains closed to drivers in Birmingham, but pedestrians and bike traffic are still allowed. The major downtown artery was closed almost 18 months ago, and city leaders expected many to speak out about the closure. However, up until recently, there was a shockingly low number of complaints […]
AL: City funds free fares for Birmingham Xpress bus
Riding the Birmingham Xpress routes to and from the Fair Park neighborhood, downtown and Woodlawn will be free again, at least for awhile. On Tuesday, the Birmingham City Council approved an amendment to the current agreement between the city and the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority, adding $300,000 to cover the cost of suspending fares […]
Birmingham leaders say future of Smithfield community includes Parker High School
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin is putting rumors to rest that Parker High school is closing. He says that the school is not closing. In a post on his Facebook page, Mayor Woodfin said the city is putting in for a $50 million grant from the federal government hoping to kickstart major […]
Birmingham City Council May Suspend Fares for Bus Rapid Transit System
The Birmingham Times Riders who utilize both the fixed-route MAX Transit buses and the Birmingham Xpress (BX) Bus Rapid Transit system currently pay separate fares for each. But that could change this week. Today, [Monday June 12] the Birmingham City Council’s Transportation Committee and the Budget and Finance Committee will consider an item to amend […]
Behind the Spat Between Mayor Woodfin, City Councilor Over $8 Million From Transit Authority
The Birmingham Times The city of Birmingham could collect $8 million from the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA), despite concerns from a city councilor and the organization’s CEO, who said the money “probably should never have been agreed to.” In February 2018, Mayor Randall Woodfin and Barbara Murdock, who was then CEO of the BJCTA, […]
Birmingham city leaders share potential ordinance changes to downtown towing and parking
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Birmingham city leaders are drafting a new parking and towing ordinance after hundreds of complaints from downtown visitors and business owners. The city is hosting a town hall on June 7 for people to voice complaints and hear proposed ordinance changes. Birmingham’s transportation committee said most of this predatory towing is […]
Birmingham City Council forgives $130,000 in loans to small businesses
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The Birmingham City Council forgave tens of thousands of dollars in loans for local businesses on Tuesday, in a move that Councilman Hunter Williams is questioning. ”I guess my overall question is, why do the taxpayers need to be on the hook for this?” he said. The resolution approving loan forgiveness for a […]
Market Lofts on Third to bring affordable housing to downtown Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — A building constructed in the 1940s is getting new life in downtown Birmingham and is being touted as an answer to the city’s affordable housing crisis. According to census records, Birmingham’s population has decreased by more than 18% since 2000. One of the reasons cited is more affordable housing options elsewhere […]
Birmingham city leaders looking to tackle waste management issue
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – The last thing you want to see as you look out from your window at home is a pile of garbage. However, that is a view that many possess for days on end. Waste management remains a huge point of contention in the Magic City. Some folks have recently been complaining […]
Local business owners hope potential changes to Birmingham’s parking ordinances help predatory towing
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Parking pains are growing in downtown Birmingham. The city has gotten hundreds of complaints over the years from residents, visitors, and local business owners about predatory towing. Now, city leaders told WBRC that they are working to upgrade the city’s towing ordinance. “I probably drive people up to that tow lot four […]
