MOBILE — Alabama transportation officials are looking decades into the future as they update the state's long-range transportation plan, and they say public feedback will play a critical role in determining future priorities.

The Alabama Department of Transportation recently hosted a public open house as part of its effort to update the Statewide Transportation Plan, which evaluates transportation needs through 2050 and helps guide future investment decisions across the state.

James Gordon, communications and public relations coordinator for ALDOT, said officials were encouraged by the response from those who attended.

"We were very pleased with the turnout and the level of participation," Gordon said. "We had a good mix of residents, community leaders and stakeholders who took the time to learn about the Statewide Transportation Plan and share their thoughts. That's exactly what these meetings are for — listening to the people who use Alabama's transportation system every day."

The Statewide Transportation Plan examines Alabama's multimodal transportation network, including highways, bridges, transit, rail, freight, airports, waterways, bicycle infrastructure and pedestrian facilities. The plan serves as a long-range roadmap that helps identify future transportation priorities as population growth and travel patterns change. According to ALDOT, the plan guides future transportation decisions as funding becomes available but does not automatically authorize construction projects.

Gordon said many of the comments received during the meeting reflected concerns heard across Alabama.

"People want us to continue maintaining the roads and bridges we already have while also addressing traffic congestion caused by growth," he said. "Safety remains a top concern, and many residents also expressed interest in better connectivity, improved intersections, and transportation options that support walking and bicycling where appropriate."

He said public participation provides information that cannot always be captured through technical studies alone.

"Public input is one of the most important parts of this process," Gordon said. "We can study traffic counts, population trends and roadway conditions, but the people who drive these roads every day often provide valuable insight that data alone can't capture."

He said comments collected through public meetings, surveys and online feedback will be reviewed before the updated transportation plan is finalized.

For fast-growing areas such as Baldwin County, Gordon said ALDOT is coordinating with regional planning organizations and local governments to prepare for continued growth.

"Baldwin County is one of the fastest-growing areas in Alabama, and we're planning for that growth by working closely with the Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization, local governments and our legislative delegation," he said. "Our shared goal is to improve safety, reduce congestion and keep people and goods moving efficiently as the county continues to grow."

He said future improvements could include roadway widening, intersection upgrades, new bridges and operational improvements, depending on local priorities and available funding.

A transportation planning consultant working with ALDOT, who requested not to be identified in order to remain unbiased, said the planning effort is focused on anticipating transportation needs over roughly the next 25 years while relying on local residents to help identify priorities.

"We're looking out about 25 years, and we're looking at what's going to be needed based on where growth is happening, where new neighborhoods are coming in or new industries, and then also where things are changing," the consultant said.

The consultant also said maintaining an updated transportation plan is necessary for the state to remain eligible for major federal transportation funding.

"This plan is a federal requirement," the consultant said. "In order to get federal funding to do large transportation projects, you have to have a plan, and the projects have to be listed in the plan."

Gordon said the next step is combining public comments with technical analysis, traffic data, population forecasts and input from transportation partners before completing the updated Statewide Transportation Plan.

"We encourage residents to continue providing feedback through our website as the planning process moves forward," Gordon said.

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://tinyurl.com/yaf8yf5n.