[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6619534,"mediaKeyId","2834972-ea60c6753ce08e80fca3d6c248f6a3be","parentId",2834972,"title","Birmingham approves $48,741 cost-share with Norfolk Southern for safety devices at West Side rail crossings","audioSeconds",219,"startMs",2636000,"endMs",2855000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2834972-ea60c6753ce08e80fca3d6c248f6a3be&start=2636&end=2855","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2834972-ea60c6753ce08e80fca3d6c248f6a3be/thumbnail_2636000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6619534/Birmingham-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Birmingham-approves-48741-cost-share-with-Norfolk-Southern-for-safety-devices-at-West-Side-rail-crossings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619534-4cae4ef5b7c6cc28ac773cf7d6ae783c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158189&Signature=R~ctxSmqXhLQ82fGUR8Xrz9sxDN4FgtKzGJ2orNL3H92ZUZbcBfQfzu4cAAx5nRWOGBfmxFRpw5P3Ql7CGOBLk04Z1yFxCXKIWvtJ3~qXN2aqi8j0Dd8pWARRogHhoC~hAlzzqg6stzduURhHn8kfR-eoPGAi4TBg1Lz6dO2kI2DQ-uoLSb2M6duOZ2T3mtu9zTnTd5RD7zxk5LEt1vDjgIP2jzpEWgXZi6yf6riAS1Pq1VASjvCDUCEGxiwmeC1VOReVK7k56xNRcHtIxjUHDltXPKxlcCinDE6rQzR2sQ-9RuEV~60nkR0RFMLwbW9LkWwtPtFknIR857wPk9CXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Birmingham","date","2025-04-01T00:00:00Z","article","The Birmingham City Council approved a cost‑sharing agreement with Norfolk Southern on Tuesday to install median‑channel (\"quick curve\") devices at several railroad crossings on the city’s West Side.

The resolution authorizes Norfolk Southern and the city to split the cost for the work; the transcript records Norfolk Southern contributing $48,741 and the city contributing $48,741 for a combined project total of $97,482. The locations named in the item include crossings near 31st Street Southwest, Clifford Avenue, 24th Street Southwest and Pearson Avenue to Jefferson Avenue.

Council President Pro Tem Tim Alexander asked that the item be removed from the consent agenda so nearby residents would be aware of the additional safety work. \"This just adds another layer of safety,\" Alexander said, asking the council to notify residents of the planned changes.

Council President O'Quinn (presiding) described the devices as a center‑line curve with reflective bollards intended to discourage drivers from going around lowered gates. He also said trains in that stretch can travel at higher speeds and that drivers trying to bypass gates have contributed to fatal crashes there.

The council and staff also discussed a related effort to install train‑detection devices that would feed information to common navigation apps. That system is intended to help drivers avoid encountering blocked crossings by routing traffic around them.

No roll‑call vote tally with individual names was read into the record; the chair called the question and the motion carried. The transcript shows a motion to approve and the item was adopted on a voice vote.

Discussion vs. decision: council commentary described the expected safety benefits and cited past fatalities in the corridor as rationale; the formal action approved the city’s half of the cost‑share and authorized executing the agreement with Norfolk Southern.

Implementation details and funding: speakers referenced use of ARPA funds in related railroad‑safety efforts elsewhere on the West Side, and said District 7 and other districts coordinated to cover the city share. The resolution number referenced in the reading appears in the record as a follow‑up to a December 2023 council resolution approving an earlier version of the agreement; the transcript did not provide a full, unambiguous citation beyond that mention.

What the council did not state in the record: the item as read did not name a project schedule or contractor beyond Norfolk Southern’s participation, nor did it specify an effective date or conditions for final payment beyond the cost share. The transcript did not list a formal roll‑call tally by member name.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Birmingham - Regular City Council Meeting - Apr 01, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Birmingham City Council approved a cost‑sharing agreement with Norfolk Southern to install median‑channel devices at multiple railroad crossings on the city’s West Side, with each party contributing $48,741.","taxTitle","Birmingham City, Jefferson County, Alabama","taxId",3652,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6619526,"Votes at a glance: council confirms art‑board appointment, approves temporary parking‑lot zoning and adopts consent agenda",151,2980000,3131000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2834972-ea60c6753ce08e80fca3d6c248f6a3be&start=2980&end=3131","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2834972-ea60c6753ce08e80fca3d6c248f6a3be/thumbnail_2980000.jpg","/articles/6619526/Birmingham-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Votes-at-a-glance-council-confirms-artboard-appointment-approves-temporary-parkinglot-zoning-and-adopts-consent-agenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619526-86644cf679f18dffb0b23b9c2a70691c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158189&Signature=heUWct3Gc6tkvVnXgOK4UzZBcmFIrljz3sdEGbpZ30epWICI8yzbfjRbTPRaH7S59FsdOSGb0ONWZn7WKlPZ0aNr2fH-90MO7lgrIyX9X2ZGxoAiQk2JFKYWRUHV4jZYwuf1Fvan6IQM3c8MPsUctqWBP3O2H8JEhdM7jhclhZ-lqMe~3Nai8PRuou7z-U3OnnmKMtnkaQH466tS1qrsnyzkBT7gVP93w0Vhsi575D1GZ2SbvpuAX23hnkl-vpGw-Y2qlLL8h8ipmmUOd~-iFDeW3QA14Sglgz3NHBpIwuVNysGhuFdX7Gtad0yPvotzD6SpqR6qqU1~jeleWUkxGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Birmingham City Council recorded several final actions during its April 1 meeting. Below are the items announced in the meeting record and the outcomes as read into the public record.

Appointment to Birmingham Museum of Art board (Item 40)
- Action: Confirm the appointment of Jack Watson Echols III to the board of directors of the Birmingham Museum of Art to fill an unexpired term.
- Term: Expires 08/31/2026 (as read at the meeting).
- Context: The council was told the prior appointee resigned to take a position out of state; the museum recommended Echols to fill the vacancy.
- Motion/vote: A motion to confirm was moved and seconded on the floor and the council approved the appointment by voice vote. The transcript records the appointment as confirmed; no roll‑call tally with individual member votes was read into the record.

Temporary parking lot — special exception of use (Item 74)
- Action: Case ZAC2025‑1 (temporary parking lot; special exception of use).
- Motion/vote: The council called the question and approved the item on a voice vote; the transcript records \"Item 74 is approved.\" No written vote tally was entered into the public record during the meeting.

Consent agenda
- Action: The council approved the consent agenda as read, with one item (Item 23) pulled for discussion and one addendum item added to consent. The clerk read numerous consent entries and noted corrections to certain line‑items and general ledger account numbers; the consent agenda passed by voice vote.

What the record does and does not show
- The meeting transcript records motions and voice approvals for these items and identifies the appointed individual and the case number for the zoning item. For the appointments and zoning case, the transcript did not provide individual yes/no vote tallies by member name; approval is recorded by the chair via voice vote.","At its April 1 meeting the council confirmed a museum board appointment, approved a temporary parking‑lot zoning case and adopted the consent agenda. Details and recorded motions are listed below.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6619531,"Mayor Woodfin highlights homeownership events and launches city sustainability planning website",323,233000,556000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2834972-ea60c6753ce08e80fca3d6c248f6a3be&start=233&end=556","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2834972-ea60c6753ce08e80fca3d6c248f6a3be/thumbnail_233000.jpg","/articles/6619531/Birmingham-City/Jefferson-County/Alabama/Mayor-Woodfin-highlights-homeownership-events-and-launches-city-sustainability-planning-website","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6619531-69c784f4fbd3e6ae61a1684ef3493afc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158189&Signature=Kr9XgQUON~nQMBNqwsMD1LK--Ze~UGJ4ymNSOrKe-ITjCLuLCNm6rOGixjyaY0u6zGzgV6aQoaOh3YXuno9BfAVjGx2xhIfPwymQ3RL1m72LRQ~eD1kLzNPFEN7vG4sEK5OcmWuH9GEgRoWxIf1eM4Uo6AF9seZDC2wYu1HD5fS~EAogCyvSilj~-69y~7luSYVmrnVnTfCxGtuD5efh6ptEEsK8N7rYRff53iuJNhkN~gWHJEUlnQSD5TtQ96SstkAwmtYMMg0MIRxxB8vC-VFCe8Y~BDr-wgZOgFx72IBMc4e~1EvMpw7H7SsCZxV6MqpU08Bs3z6gxwrRrdsQpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Randall L. Woodfin used his remarks at the April 1 Birmingham City Council meeting to promote forthcoming homeownership events and to announce a city sustainability planning process.

Woodfin said the Birmingham Land Bank will present a \"Building Birmingham: Accelerate Your Dream to Homeownership\" housing expo on Tuesday, April 8 from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art. The mayor’s remarks named partner organizations that will attend, including the Department of Community Development, Habitat for Humanity, and other local housing partners; the city posted a reference to birminghamlandbank.org for more information.

The mayor also promoted Neighborfest, a free festival on Saturday, April 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lynn Park. Woodfin said the event will include live entertainment, family activities and a Home Ownership Village where experts will offer on‑the‑spot prequalifications and guide prospective buyers through a home‑buyer readiness quiz.

On the sustainability effort, Woodfin said the City of Birmingham is launching a formal sustainability plan described as a strategic roadmap to address urban heat islands, stormwater management, energy efficiency and green job creation while aiming for equitable, citywide benefits. He said the process will include robust community engagement across all 23 communities and that the goal is to have the plan completed by April 26. The administration also launched an online project hub at bhamsustainabilityplan.com for updates and engagement opportunities.

The mayor framed these items as part of economic and quality‑of‑life efforts: promoting homeownership and connecting residents to resources, while developing a city plan to address pressing environmental and resilience challenges.

The statements were delivered as mayoral announcements rather than items requiring council action; no votes were recorded on these presentations during the meeting.","Mayor Randall L. Woodfin urged residents to attend upcoming homeownership and neighborhood events and announced a city sustainability plan with community outreach across 23 neighborhoods and an expected completion goal of April 26.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Birmingham approves $48,741 cost-share with Norfolk Southern for safety devices at West Side rail crossings

Votes at a glance: council confirms art‑board appointment, approves temporary parking‑lot zoning and adopts consent agenda

Mayor Woodfin highlights homeownership events and launches city sustainability planning website