CONGRESSMAN DAVIS, ALDOT HOST

This spring, U.S. Representative Artur Davis and the Alabama Department of Transportation sponsored meetings with elected officials and community leaders from Black Belt counties throughout the 7^th Congressional District to discuss emerging regional transportation needs.

The meetings were the brainchild of Congressman Davis, who has worked to foster more dialogue between municipalities and state agencies about infrastructure improvements for the Black Belt including healthcare, education, and transportation.

“Everyone appreciates that improving the transportation infrastructure in the Black Belt is one of the keys to growing local businesses and recruiting outside industry,” Davis said.  “We won’t be able to get things done if people aren’t talking to one another.”

Representatives from nine counties attended the meetings in Montgomery including Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter and Wilcox.  Several attendees noted that this was the first time they had an opportunity to meet with the state about these types of issues.  The diverse list of representatives included county commissioners, city engineers, mayors and members of chambers of commerce.

Examples of issues brought to ALDOT’s attention included the continued expansion of Highway 80 in Perry County, expanding Highway 41 in Dallas County for the industrial park, and placing a traffic light at the intersection of State Street and Centreville Street in Hale County.

In 2005, Congressman Davis presented ALDOT with $11 million for Highway 80 – the largest one-time allocation for an interstate road in the Black Belt.  He says that was just the start, and these meetings highlighted the wide range of issues associated with transportation in the region.

“We hope that this is just the first in an ongoing series of conversations concerning transportation issues between state officials and local leaders in the Black Belt,” Davis said.  ”With more attention being paid to the region than ever before, I believe that the entire Black Belt is beginning to turn a corner.”

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