Red Rock Trail System growing, 30 miles of sidewalks and bike lanes added

YEARS IN THE MAKING. IN ORDER TO CONNECT RESIDENTS TO TRAILS LIKE THIS ONE, OVER 30 MILES OF SIDEWALKS AND BIKE LANES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE TRAIL SYSTEM SINCE THE COMPLETE STREETS ORDINANCE PASSED IN 2018. THE GOAL IS TO CONNECT RESIDENTS TO GREEN SPACES WITHIN A MILE OF THEIR HOME. ADDING SIDEWALKS AND BIKE LANES MAKES THOSE GREEN SPACES ACCESSIBLE REGARDLESS OF THEIR MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. ONE FOCUS FOR FRESH WATER LAND TRUST CURRENTLY IS THE RED ROCK ACTION PLAN, WHICH COULD TAKE 10 TO 15 YEARS TO COMPLETE. IT’S THIS IDEA OF A 36 MILE TRAIL LOOP AROUND THE GREATER BIRMINGHAM AREA. IT WOULD CONNECT OUR MAJOR THREE PARKS AND IT WOULD CREATE A LOOP AROUND THE DOWNTOWN AREA TO PROVIDE BETTER ACCESS TO ALL OF OUR UNIVERSITIES. OUR MAJOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS OUR RECREATIONAL SPACES. SOME PROJECTS WILL BE COMPLETE SOONER. FRESH WATER IS ANTICIPATING THE START OF A NEW PROJECT JUST BEFORE SUMMER. WE SHOULD BE BREAKING GROUND ON A PROJECT IN ALONG SHADES CREEK IN THE CRESTLINE NEIGHBORHOOD WITHIN THE NEXT SIX, 6 TO 8 WEEKS. SO THAT WILL PROBABLY BE THE THE ONE THAT’S MOST LIKELY TO FINISH FIRST. THAT’S A 1.3 MILE TRAIL, AND IN THAT SIDE OF BIRMINGHAM. AND THEN WE ARE ALSO HOPEFULLY GOING TO BE BREAKING GROUND IN ABOUT A YEAR ON A WEST BIRMINGHAM PROJECT AROUND THE CROSSPLEX FRESH WATER LAND TRUST IS AIMING TO COMPLETE THE SHADES CREEK PROJECT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, OR AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR AT THE LATES

Over 30 miles of sidewalks and bike lanes have been added to the Red Rock Trail System after Birmingham's Complete Streets ordinance passed in 2018. Through the complete streets program, the city adds bike lanes and sidewalks every time there's a major roadway project. The goal of the Red Rock Trail System is to connect Birmingham residents to green spaces within a mile of their homes. The system of sidewalks and bike lanes will make these green spaces accessible for all modes of transportation. The current focus for Freshwater Land Trust, which oversees the Red Rock Trail System, is the Red Rock Action plan, which could take 10 to 15 years to complete. "It's this idea of a 36-mile trail loop around the greater Birmingham area. It would connect our major three parks, and it would create a loop around the downtown area to provide better access to all of our universities, our major employment opportunities, as well as our recreational spaces," said Carolyn Buck, the director of Freshwater Land Trust. Some projects will be complete sooner. Freshwater Land Trust is eyeing a project to begin this summer. "We should be breaking ground on a project, along Shades Creek in the Crestline neighborhood within the next six to eight weeks. So, that will probably be the one that's most likely to finish first. That's our 1.3-mile trail in that side of Birmingham. And then we are also hopefully going to be breaking ground in about a year on a west Birmingham project, around the CrossPlex," said Buck.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —

Over 30 miles of sidewalks and bike lanes have been added to the Red Rock Trail System after Birmingham's Complete Streets ordinance passed in 2018.

Through the complete streets program, the city adds bike lanes and sidewalks every time there's a major roadway project.

The goal of the Red Rock Trail System is to connect Birmingham residents to green spaces within a mile of their homes.

The system of sidewalks and bike lanes will make these green spaces accessible for all modes of transportation.

The current focus for Freshwater Land Trust, which oversees the Red Rock Trail System, is the Red Rock Action plan, which could take 10 to 15 years to complete.

"It's this idea of a 36-mile trail loop around the greater Birmingham area. It would connect our major three parks, and it would create a loop around the downtown area to provide better access to all of our universities, our major employment opportunities, as well as our recreational spaces," said Carolyn Buck, the director of Freshwater Land Trust.

Some projects will be complete sooner.

Freshwater Land Trust is eyeing a project to begin this summer.

"We should be breaking ground on a project, along Shades Creek in the Crestline neighborhood within the next six to eight weeks. So, that will probably be the one that's most likely to finish first. That's our 1.3-mile trail in that side of Birmingham. And then we are also hopefully going to be breaking ground in about a year on a west Birmingham project, around the CrossPlex," said Buck.

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