WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (AL-07) announced that a $10 million TIGER grant was awarded to the City of Birmingham to repair and complete a regional multimodal street network. This project known as the “Road to Recovery” is a cooperative proposal designed to promote the Birmingham area’s recovery from the devastating tornadoes of April 27, 2011.  It will upgrade and strengthen the transportation system and enable residents to travel more efficiently throughout the region. The U.S. Department of Transportation funds will be awarded by the Federal Transit Administration.

“This is great news for the City of Birmingham and surrounding communities affected by last year’s devastating tornadoes. This exciting project will provide the necessary infrastructure that will connect residents with jobs, transit and commercial destinations. I applaud the collaborative efforts of all of our regional partners in working together to rebuild our community. This grant reflects the extraordinary outcomes possible when the public and private sector partners together to transform a community. The strength and resilience of Alabamians is a testament to what is truly achievable when communities work together,” said Rep. Sewell.

“This initiative is the result of an unprecedented cooperative effort led by a broad coalition of groups and local governments throughout the Birmingham area.  It will have economic development, cultural and recreational benefits throughout our region.  This represents visionary thinking, not just because of the ambitious scope of the project but because of the way it has brought so many parties together to work for the common good of all of our citizens,” said Congressman Spencer Bachus.

“I am grateful to Rep. Sewell and Secretary LaHood for their support of this critical need and our Road to Recovery project. This represents a giant step toward a healthier and safer community not to mention the amount of jobs it will create,” said Mayor William Bell.

“Congresswoman Sewell has continued to be a champion for Birmingham and the State of Alabama.  This latest effort on behalf of Pratt City is phenomenal.  She has certainly earned her keep as a working Congressperson and I’m delighted to be called her friend,” said Councilor President Roderick Royal.

“What a remarkable win for our community. We applaud Congresswoman Sewell’s leadership in this effort and the extraordinary coalition of partners who came together to make this possible. We especially want to thank Mayor Bell and the City of Birmingham for submitting a successful grant application that will be truly transformational for our community. And our heartfelt thanks to the mayors of Homewood, Midfield and Fairfield whose visionary leadership were crucial in forging this partnership,” said Wendy Jackson, Executive Director of Freshwater Land Trust.

 “We are proud to be part of the important public-private partnership in providing the local match for this important TIGER IV grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. When we look at the Results we all are working toward — from vibrant communities to healthy lives — we see potential for true transformation with this investment,” said Kate Nielsen, President of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham.

According to the project description, this funding will provide access to multiple transportation sources and allow the City of Birmingham to replace damaged roadways and build new streets, sidewalks and bike lanes. A more formal announcement with additional details will be forthcoming on Friday, June 22nd.

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Contact: Breelyn Pete;   breelyn.pete@mail.house.gov;   202.225.2665