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Alabama

The Rural Context For Transportation Consultations

Alabama is the 28th largest state in the U.S. in land area, 23rd largest in population, and 25th most densely populated. However, approximately 54 percent of Alabama's population and jobs, and 95 percent of the land, is non-urban. About 82 percent of its roads are rural. Federally owned lands amount to 3 percent of the state's land area.

Alabama is a slowly growing state, as measured by population, with a moderately growing rate of employment. The portion of the state's jobs in the uniquely rural agriculture and mining sectors is small (4 and 1 percent, respectively). Most jobs in Alabama's rural areas are in sectors also common in urban areas: construction, transportation & utilities (15 percent); manufacturing (29 percent); business & trade (23 percent); and services & government (29 percent).

Demographically, Alabama’s non-urban population is predominately white and African American (79 and 20 percent, respectively). Alabama has the 3rd highest proportion of non-urban adults who did not graduate from high school and the 7th lowest proportion who did graduate from college. The 19 percent of Alabama's non-urban people who are poor is more than in most other states. About 42 percent of the state's non-urban population is in non-working age groups (29 percent 18 years or younger, and 13 percent 65 years or older). Governmentally, Alabama has 64 counties, a fairly manageable number compared to many other states. The state also has 466 municipalities, but no towns or townships. It ranks about in the middle, 23rd highest, in terms of the number of sub-county governments. Alabama also has one federally recognized Indian tribe.

In addition, the 1997 U.S. Census of Governments has identified 27 independent, special-purpose governments in Alabama that have transportation responsibilities. This number is lower than in many other states. These special-purpose governments include 20 for airports, 1 for parking facilities, 3 for water transport, and 3 for transit. Alabama also has 27 other public transit providers serving rural areas and an additional 111 organizations that provide specialized transit services to elderly and disabled populations in those same areas.

Alabama has 12 regional councils that cover approximately 100 percent of the state, and 11 MPOs. These regional units help to coordinate the other local governments and play a role in rural transportation programs as described below.

Of Alabama’s 34,323 miles of roads, approximately 10 percent are state-controlled, while 3 percent are federal. Of the total miles of non-federal rural roads, 12 percent are state, 80 percent are county, none are township, and 8 percent are municipal and other.

Processes For Consultation And Cooperation With Local Officials In Non-Metropolitan Areas

The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is responsible for transportation planning in the state. A Statewide Transportation Plan Advisory Group, consisting of 40 members representing transportation stakeholders, is actively involved in developing the State Transportation Plan (20-year). ALDOT also develops a 5-Year Construction Program; the first three years constitute the STIP. A Joint Transportation Committee (JTC), consisting of 14 legislators (one House member and one Senator from each US Congressional District) approves the 5-Year Construction Program.

Alabama divides 8.9 cents of its 18 cents per gallon State tax on gasoline among the 67 counties and the municipalities within each county. ALDOT also provides $500,000 in Statewide Transportation Planning (STP) and Bridge (BR) funds to each county, and pays the majority of the county engineer's salary. The state also provides for a local option motor fuel tax. Each county can choose its local projects and implement them as long as they meet the FHWA eligibility requirements.

In Alabama, there are no formal rural transportation planning activities that are performed regionally or statewide. Projects funded with the state's share of state and federal funds are chosen by ALDOT and the JTC; the only authorities legislatively mandated to provide statewide transportation services. Citizens and transportation stakeholders have the opportunity to review and comment on the 5-year program and the STIP. The JTC also keeps ALDOT aware of constituents' concerns. Local officials also may direct comments or concerns directly to the ALDOT and the JTC.

Local officials are encouraged to, and do, express their concerns through the public involvement process, which includes several avenues for participation. The 40-member advisory group includes members from a broad range of interests throughout the state. Additionally, nine public meetings were held throughout the state to solicit comments on the State Transportation Plan update. Approximately 225 attended. The agenda included a presentation on statewide planning, a question and answer session, and informal one-on-one discussions with ALDOT staff. The draft 5-year construction program was also presented at these meetings. Handouts were provided, comments were accepted orally and in writing. Names and addresses were collected for inclusion on a mailing list. All state legislators, mayors, and county commissioners were given personalized invitations. Notices were sent to the MPOs and RDCs and ads were placed in 79 newspapers across the state. Additionally, newsletters were also mailed to 500 people and the draft State Transportation Plan was made available for comment at 21 locations and on ALDOT's website

The STP Advisory Group included the Alabama League of Municipalities, the Alabama Association of County Commissioners, and the Alabama Association of Regional Councils. Two individual members are elected officials. The Native American tribe in Alabama (the Poarch Band of Creek Indians) and the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Army Corps of Engineers, are also represented on the STP Advisory Group.

There is no state funding for transit; however, federal funds are used for transit. ALDOT requests, through the county commission, an annual application and public hearing process for all Section 5311 sub-recipients of federal funds. Each Section 5311 provider has a steering committee comprised of representatives from human service agencies. The county commission is the designating agency for the rural transit program.

Alabama uses the following practices:

State Hearings: Plans and programs are made available for formal review and comment; public meetings are held throughout the state; the ALDOT website was established.
Sub-allocation of Transportation Funds and Responsibilities: gasoline tax revenue is divided by "formula" to counties and municipalities within counties; federal STP and BR funds are sub-allocated to each county.
State Policy-Making and Advisory Bodies: Statewide Transportation Plan Advisory Group; Joint Transportation Committee.
Other Practices: Local officials can express their concerns directly to ALDOT or JTC members.

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