Birmingham, AL

Transportation | 2025

Expanded transit access to support healthy and independent aging. 

Access to transportation is pivotal to the health and well-being of older adults, helping them maintain social connections and access essential services. In Birmingham, Alabama, the transportation sector is striving to enhance access and convenience through thoughtful improvements. ConnectionHealth, an organization that trains community health workers from underresourced communities, appreciates the relationship between transportation and health and the need to understand how conditions vary across neighborhoods. To contribute to efforts to improve the transit system, ConnectionHealth analyzed the effectiveness of transportation services for older adults in three Birmingham neighborhoods: Pratt City, Ensley, and West End.

ConnectionHealth inventoried published transportation services in these neighborhoods. In close collaboration with community health workers, ConnectionHealth then surveyed older adult residents of each neighborhood to learn about transportation barriers, gaps, and unmet needs. Survey findings were supplemented by the health workers conducting focus groups with older residents and neighborhood leaders. Results indicated that a recent discontinuation of bus routes had negatively affected community mobility in Pratt City, and revealed significant gaps in the transportation services necessary to support independent living. To gather feedback and foster collaboration among residents, service providers, and policymakers, the community health workers shared findings and recommendations at two town halls organized in partnership with the City of Birmingham’s Community Resource Services Division.  

The City of Birmingham will consider project insights in plans to enhance its transportation infrastructure to improve traffic distribution and stimulate economic growth. ConnectionHealth is using project findings in discussions with AARP Alabama and the City of Birmingham on joining the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. Neighborhood associations will also use the findings to advocate for senior-friendly infrastructure and enhanced services, and nonprofit organizations like Travelers Aid of Greater Birmingham can refine and enhance their services to address barriers to using transit. This project will help stakeholder s across sectors advance access to dependable, affordable, and dignified transportation options for older adults. 

The City of Birmingham has plans to enhance its transportation infrastructure to improve traffic distribution and stimulate economic growth. This project will contribute insights into the transportation needs of older residents to this process, along with community recommendations for transportation improvements in the focus neighborhoods. Neighborhood associations will use the findings to advocate for senior-friendly infrastructure and enhanced services, and nonprofits can refine their services to address barriers to using transit. Together, the project will help people across sectors advance access to dependable, affordable, and dignified transportation options for older adults.