Multimodal transportation board reviewed

By Grace Lovins

Following over a decade in action, Birmingham’s multimodal transportation board (MMTB) has been the recent topic of discussion from the city’s commission as commissioners have set out to review and potentially redefine the scope of the board, the topic of a joint meeting of both boards on Thursday, December 11.

The MMTB was established back in 2014, according to city planner Leah Blizinski, after the city’s first multimodal transportation plan was adopted. Blizinski explained that after city staff had the opportunity to do some digging, they feel the MMTB has fulfilled its original purpose of encouraging the city to be more mindful of different modes of transportation and create a safe way for different modes of transportation like walking and biking.

Blizinski pointed out that the purpose of Thursday night’s workshop was for both boards to discuss whether they feel the city needs a regular MMTB, and, if so, what the board should be doing or what service they should be providing to the city.

Several members of the city commission, along with multiple city staff members, quewtioned the MMTB’s previous function of providing input on road improvement projects, such as if a street should be improved or unimproved, as well as the cost of the projects. Assistant city manager Mark Clemence in particular stated that it is unfair to the MMTB to make them “listen to residents and be beat up about costs” when they have no control over it.

After back and forth conversations between city staff, the commission and MMTB, all agreed that the MMTB should remain a board, but there were still differing opinions on what its focus should be. Several commissioners said they feel the board should start with reviewing the multimodal transportation plan that was adopted in 2013.

City staff noted throughout the meeting that there are parts of the plan that need updating, and that MMTB would be fit for the task of reviewing the document.

Ultimately, the commission and MMTB reached the same page that the MMTB could begin looking at revisiting the multimodal transportation plan, reviewing and discussing what the next ten years could look like for the city. A formal follow-up was not set during the workshop.