Mobile City Council advances downtown street-optimization contract amid parking, access concerns

At a June pre-meeting of the Mobile City Council, members discussed implementation details and community concerns for a downtown street-optimization plan and authorized a contract to begin construction work.

The plan, developed after public workshops led by outside consultants, would convert several one-way streets to two-way traffic, add dedicated on-street parking and alter striping and signal layouts. Councilmember (unnamed) said, “there’s been quite a few phone calls about the street optimization plan” from residents and businesses worried about parking and deliveries.

The Downtown Alliance representative (unnamed) and city staff said the concept grew from a study led by urban planner Jeff Speck and was informed by public charrettes. Nick (staff member) said, “some of that actually was by design by the by the urban planner, the Jeff Speck … the thought process was … it would slow the traffic down and be more pedestrian friendly.”

Staff described specific trade-offs in narrow segments: some blocks are on average three to four feet narrower than typical streets, and when parking occurs on both sides only one vehicle can pass at a time. Nick (staff member) told the council the plan adds about 60 dedicated on-street parking spaces overall and that the configuration is intended to slow traffic and improve the pedestrian experience.

Councilmembers pressed staff on outreach and near-term impacts. One councilmember asked whether residents and businesses had been surveyed and whether the implementation would delay repaving contracts; staff replied that the Downtown Alliance produced the conceptual design and that some resurfacing work already reflects the plan. Staff cautioned that changes to the plan would delay construction: “If there’s plan changes, yes. Absolutely,” Nick said.

City staff said they have “a sheet by sheet, block by block layout” and are willing to review specific blocks flagged by councilmembers. The fire department has signed off on the design, staff added, noting that ladder-truck outriggers and emergency access were considered.

The council introduced and authorized a construction contract (agenda item 21862) with McElhenney Construction to begin downtown street-optimization work, including removal and reconfiguration of some traffic signals. Staff said they would reexamine problem blocks immediately if property owners or businesses raise insurmountable issues during construction.

Councilmembers said they want rapid outreach to affected residents and businesses and agreed to a two-week window for additional contact in narrowly contested blocks before making broader changes. Staff said most tweaks could be handled during construction but acknowledged that significant plan revisions would require consultant work and could delay paving.