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I only hope that the news continues to be good for North Alabama even if it is the Huntsville area.  Today they announce the expansion of the Toyota Engine plant and then sometime later on, early next year, Alabama could possibly win a new Toyota/Mazda assembly plant.  

When I heard this news I remembered a story not too long ago that said if Huntsville's growth from over the past several years continues at the rate it has been expanding then Huntsville would be the largest city in the State.  Not that being the biggest is a great deal but it sure wouldn't hurt the potential of North Alabama to get more of the States tax dollars and allotment of funds.

Be as the Bereans ( Acts 17:11 )

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Huntsville was on it's way of being the largest in Alabama and
would have been if not for the state voting Republican that flew
in the face of the thug LBJ, and has been Right every since.
 
Of course the JFK killer moved mission control and in hind sight
was that as bad now as it seemed to be then..??   

Huntsville passed Mobile in population and is now the third largest city in Alabama.  It should be larger than Montgomery in a few years.  By square miles, Huntsville is larger than Atlanta.  It will probably be a few more years before Huntsville grow larger than Birmingham, even though Birmingham has lost 100,000 in population.  Huntsville, at least, should refrain from electing a Democrat government -- which is a slow moving death sentence for most cities. 

It's too bad that the state of Al cannot throw a few bones (meaning jobs) into the Florence area. It seems like the state goes out of the way to keep any progress from coming to Florence.  I understand why this happens, but I would hope that the state cares more about the people than the Florence city gov't.

I would like to see a interstate from north of Hvs and  go west to I 65, build a cloverleaf exchange then head west by passing north of Athens, Rogersville, Killen & a little north of Florence, connect to savannah hwy 20 at Central then curve north and connect to the interstate that runs between Nashville and Memphis. This will open up a greatly needed road in and out of Florence as well as carry traffic to Nashville or Memphis' If Florence is to grow this is the only way. during one time frame years ago, hwy 72 was declared the worse 4 lane highway in Alabama and it hasn't gotten any better. The north & south interstate (to be build later) could connect in around Central and let people go to Memphis or Nashville. This is the way Ronnie Flippo had it designed back in the 1980's. There are already enough good 4 lane roads, some of interstate quality south of the Tennessee River now, to include Hwy 72/20, Hwy 24, Hwy 157, Hwy 280 and interstate 22.You have to ask that with a population that small in that area why do they need so many good quality hwys. Florence itself with Lauderdale county has more population than the 5 plus counties south of the river. Since Florence is flat broke & Lauderdale cty is close to being broke, this is the only way to grow and save Florence, an additional 1 cent sale tax will not save Florence. The mayors & city councils old way of doing business has failed and is failing & must change to make Florence grow again. It's time for the hold overs on the city council and the mayor to get with the program of growing Florence or resign and let someone else have a chance to make the city and life better for all.

If there ever was an interstate. limited access highway running from Athens/Huntsville north across the Shoals area you can bet there would be at least five law enforcement districts or agencies that would be running speed traps on it to boost some revenue for their towns.  That or they would find some way to bog them down with stoplights and intersections.

Last edited by gbrk

Yes, that is a true statement. But Killen, Rogersville and Athens are already holding speed traps. They why I said the interstate would have to bypass these towns enough to prevent that. Between the low speed limits and all the traffic lights in those towns it is a terrible drive back and forth. With the additional Toyota jobs and the announcement tonight of 700 new jobs for the rocket plant in Huntsville it is only going to get worse. Huntsville is having to import workers now for all the new jobs they have. I hate that drive and now it takes almost 30 minutes just to get across Florence from the new walmart to the old walmart. Sometimes I have to wait thru 3 traffic lights changes now just to get thru 1 light on Florence Blvd and Cox Creek Pkwy

,I went back and read my post again. I could not find the statement " is worried about a speed trap" as you stated. The thing is they are looking to make money in an area where outside of town the speed limit is too low. Looking for drunks, unlicensed and uninsured motorists is not the priority, only a secondary benefit.

Yes there are more communities south of the river but there are also 3 to 5 well build roads already there to serve a population that is less than Florence plus Lauderdale county. I would think a road would be built where there is the most traffic not people.

 

I don't think there are as many "speed traps" as used to be years ago.  When I think of speed traps I think of them as being where the speed limit is changed or set to some unrealistically low value knowing that people will usually exceed it and then set up patrolling officers in specific locations to hide and catch people.  I know, years ago, Killen was listed in many records to be a speed trap.   Also I've heard people cite Rogersville as another location specifically to the east of the town on 72 where the speed limit was set to 45 until you get past the Elk River bridge.   I believe though that the current speed through that area has been increased from 45 to 55 now with 45 being through the Rogersville area.  

One more note on "speed traps" and that is also to include areas or communities where no police force is warranted, due to size, but there exist a large number of officers or far more than warranted for the population and area.  In those instances I think it's fair to wonder if the local area isn't trying to increase it's revenue by tickets but there again I've just heard that was the case.

Lastly, I believe one thing that hurts this portion of North Alabama is what was alluded to by another and that is the traffic management (or lack of it) in the area.  Traffic engineering is sorely lacking but then I'm sure there are also reasons they put so many traffic light intersections and more so today those intersections are governed by in street sensors rather than traffic light timers as they were years ago.  In the case of timers you had lights changing at various times whether there was conflicting traffic waiting to cross or not.  The in-road inductance (presence) sensors now trigger lights only when presence of vehicles are sensed and that helps traffic flow.  Usually the inductance (presence) sensors also work jointly with timers also.  The setting of the sensors and timer combinations are part of traffic engineering.  Many companies though want fast access to interstates and this area is hampered because we aren't closer to an interstate and then another thing that hampers Northwest Alabama is the lack of a larger airport.  I'm sure  lot of things go into industries making decisions of where to locate such as education and training around the area they are locating and population of highly skilled workers.  

Weren't we supposed to be having a huge amusement/music park under way by now over in the Shoals area?   Yeah right.   Everyone knew that was a pipe dream that never would see the light of day.

 

Last edited by gbrk
jmmgj5 posted:

,I went back and read my post again. I could not find the statement " is worried about a speed trap" as you stated. The thing is they are looking to make money in an area where outside of town the speed limit is too low. Looking for drunks, unlicensed and uninsured motorists is not the priority, only a secondary benefit.

Yes there are more communities south of the river but there are also 3 to 5 well build roads already there to serve a population that is less than Florence plus Lauderdale county. I would think a road would be built where there is the most traffic not people.

 

Apparently you're worried if you deem it necessary to post it about these cities. Again, driving through these areas every day for years I have never heard of speed traps, and don't remember anyone mentioning them. Because you seem so bu**hurt over being contradicted I will point out that I posted IF you are worried. IF. IF you are worried about speed traps, go the limit. I have to drive in those areas, so IF they are indeed "trapping" speeders, good.

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