BUILD

The City of Tuscaloosa requests $20 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for a BUILD grant for the Tuscaloosa Landing Area Project. The purpose of this multimodal project is to provide safer and more connected access to various modes of transportation, including river, pedestrian, and automobile. Funding through the DOT BUILD program will allow for increased modes of transportation to further citizen safety, the further development of the Riverwalk and improve the potential economic development for the largest underserved geographical area within the City of Tuscaloosa.

The existing Riverwalk cost under $6 million to build and has resulted in nearly $100 million of private development adjacent to it, north of Jack Warner parkway. The Riverwalk is currently a 4.5-mile paved pedestrian pathway along the south edge of the Black Warrior River. The Riverwalk uses include lodging, mixed use developments, offices, and restaurants as well as the Riverwalk itself and River Market, uses include an event venue and weekly farmer's markets, and the 7400 seat Amphitheater. In addition, there has been significant public development south of Jack Warner Parkway.