What to be above US280

Last Wednesday, for the first time I was in the middle of reverse commute traffic of US 280 on the way to church. It was a little bit flowing, and I assume LA is far worse than Birmingham.

But, still, it's waste of time and gas. Assuming the traffic is heavier in the morning, it's really bad. And wide spoken solution is to build a toll elevated road right above US 280. Commuters from Shelby County can use the toll road to get to downtown faster while local traffic of Homewood and Mountain Brook can use the highway with reduced congestion.

Don't you think it's funny? The fact that solution to congestion of highways is always another highway. Think about it. If you are looking at growth by the new highway, isn't it matter of time until even this new toll road will be filled as badly as it is now?

How many of those commuters to Birmingham ever think of commuter rails or other forms of mass transit? When you are stuck in the traffic on 280, imagine a commuter rail running above you, carrying hundreds of people just like you, free from traffic, much faster than cars barely moving.

Think in another way, One car with only one people in it occupies 6-7 times as large space as he  does in train. And cars from all around Shelby County gather on 280 and I-65. Don't you think it's smarter to have train stations in Pelham and Alabaster, where they can park their car and get on trains and 20-30 minutes later you are in downtown Birmingham. The terminal in downtown can be above the Amtrak station or underground.

Of course you have to pay for that project and it's expensive. But Rather than building a toll road that will get bad traffic, it would be better to have a solution that is built to last, such as commuter rails. If you want a rail connecting Birmingham and Montgomery or even Mobile, just extend the rail from Pelham. If trains get more crowded, simply increase the frequency of services, or add more passenger cars.

I know many are doubtful on transit system due to failing BJCTA, but transportation leaders need to think comprehensively.