Birmingham Highway 280 Fight

It may not be perfect, but the elevated toll road from Double Oak Mountain to I-459 is the only project on the table to relieve congestion on Highway 280.

The City of Hoover is officially on board but Birmingham City Council members are not fans...not even a little bit.

Their primary gripe...there's no plan to include light rail.

Councilor Johnathan Austin says to not include light rail would be a huge disappointment. "We're not saying we do not want the toll road. We're saying please present us with some options that are viable for the future of this city of this region as it regards to growth."

Council members say the plan isn't forward thinking enough and does nothing to reduce pollution.

Steven Hoyt says the plan should be green and find a way to reduce the number of cars commuting back and forth. "What you essentially want to do is be able to get to work on time and if you got light rail you can move as opposed to a hundred cars you can move a thousand people in maybe 15 to 20 minutes."

The price tag for the existing design is about $800 million. But ALDOT has not done a study to see what it would cost to include light rail.

Still Mayor William Bell says rail is a component that needs to be included or else.

"Birmingham is the key as to whether or not this road is being built. I don't care what the other four municipalities do. At the end of the day birmingham can stop this project in it's track at any point along the way."

Mayor Bell will meet with Governor Bob Riley in the next week to discuss including a light rail system.

Council members will vote whether or not to support the project next week.