A Call To Action
You may have seen the article in the Huntsville Times or on AL.com (May 10th) about the delay of thirteen Huntsville road projects. These projects include the overpasses at Lily Flagg and the Parkway and Byrd Spring and the Parkway in
addition to extending Interstate 565 past Moores Mill and Shields Road and an overpass at Mastin Lake Road and the Parkway.
Of particular importance to south Huntsville are the proposed overpasses at Lily Flagg and the Parkway and Byrd Spring and the Parkway. These projects have been scheduled for years. The Alabama Department of Transportation (ADOT) previously pushed the schedule for these improvements back to the 2015-2019 time frame and now have pushed them back to the 2016-2020 time frame. These overpasses would improve the traffic flow and provide safer travel in south Huntsville. Continued delay of these projects will result in a continuation of the "blighted" areas along the Parkway as businesses are not going to locate or make improvements until the road work is complete. By delaying this work, we are delaying economic development in south Huntsville. Huntsville has been patient - but it is time we get what we deserve from ADOT and Montgomery. ADOT's reason for delaying the Huntsville road projects is a decline in gas tax revenues in the State. We do not question that
gas tax receipts may be down. But we should also realize that Madison County (to include city of Huntsville and Madison) generated approximately $72 million per year on average from 2000 through 2012 while receiving back funding for new
construction from these taxes on average $26 million per year (36%).
We call on our local State representatives to take action for us in this matter. It is time to take a stand and fight for our fair share. We encourage citizens of south Huntsville to contact our representatives below and ask them to join in the discussions with the Governor and the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to insist that these projects be funded immediately and not further delayed. It is important to our economic development, our safety, and our growth.
Contact the representatives below and let them know you want these projects funded and ask them to take action and communicate this to the Governor and ALDOT.
It is important to make contact today. The funding will be awarded within the next 30 days.
Representative Mike Ball
256-539-5441 Legislative Office
256-772-8730 Home
mikeball@knology.net
Howard Sanderford
256-533-1989 Office
256-881-8390 Home
Mac McCuthcheon
256-539-5441 District
256-655-3764 Cell
c.mac.mccutheon@gmail.com
Paul Sanford
334-242-7867 State House
256-539-5441 Business
paul.sanford@alsenate.gov
Clay Scofield
334-242-7876 State House
256-582-0619 Business
clay.scofield@alsenate.gov
Honorable Robert Bentley, Governor
334-242-7100 Office
334-353-0004 Fax
http://governor.alabama.gov/contact.aspx
ALDOT Transportation Director - John Cooper
334-242-6776 Office 334-242-6890 FAX
jcooper@dot.state.al.us