Multimodal board to study stripe, island, bike‑route and cushion options after speed study for Shirley and Arlington

The Birmingham Multimodal Board voted to ask city staff to study a narrowed set of speed‑mitigation measures for Shirley and Arlington streets and to consult the City of Beverly Hills about modular speed cushions, after staff and police presented traffic counts showing little change in driver speeds after reconstruction.

City staff presented data gathered in January and December that, according to the presentation, show “the speed data that was done before and after is about the same,” said Julie (consultant). The packet and staff remarks note the city commission asked the Multimodal Board to review mitigation options after a commission motion on Aug. 26, 2024.

The nut of the discussion was whether to pursue low‑cost signage and striping, physical curb islands or bike facilities, or more intrusive vertical measures such as speed cushions or humps. The board voted to direct staff to study options labeled 2 (striped parking/shoulder), 3 (traffic calming islands), 4 (eliminate on‑street parking and add bike lanes) and 6 (cycle track on one side), and to request information from Beverly Hills on temporary or bolt‑on speed cushions. The motion carried with two recorded no votes and the…