Who can request a study?

Parents, school officials, neighborhood associations, and property owners adjacent to the school zone can request a study.

How long does a study take?

Timing varies by priority and resource availability; the city pages do not give a fixed timeline (not specified on the cited page).

Will the city install traffic calming measures?

If the study finds a safety need, the city may approve measures subject to engineering review, funding, and maintenance considerations.

Request Traffic Calming Study - Birmingham Ordinance

Transportation Alabama 3 Minutes Read · published February 10, 2026

In Birmingham, Alabama, parents, school officials, and residents can ask the city to evaluate school-zone safety and consider traffic calming measures near schools. This guide explains who to contact, how a request is processed, the legal basis in the Birmingham Code of Ordinances, and practical next steps to get a traffic calming study started in a Birmingham school zone.

Who is responsible

The City of Birmingham Department of Public Works, Traffic Engineering division, administers traffic operations, signage, and traffic-calming evaluations within city jurisdiction. For state-maintained roadways the city coordinates with the Alabama Department of Transportation. For local procedures and program details see the city Public Works pages^[1] and the Birmingham Code of Ordinances for traffic rules^[2].

Start by documenting specific safety concerns and school hours for the zone.

When to request a study

Request a study when there is evidence of speeding, high pedestrian volumes at dismissal/arrival times, a history of crashes involving pedestrians or bicyclists near a school, or observable risk to children. Include time-of-day details, vehicle speed observations, crash dates, and nearby pickup/dropoff patterns.

How the city evaluates requests

Typical evaluation steps the city uses include a site review, traffic counts, speed studies, pedestrian counts, and assessment against engineering warrants or city policies. The city may prioritize studies by risk level, school population, and available budget.

Penalties & Enforcement

The following summarizes enforcement and penalties related to traffic violations and unlawful signage or obstructions in Birmingham school zones. Where specific penalty amounts or escalation rules are not listed on the cited official pages, the text notes that fact and cites the source.

Fines for moving violations in school zones: not specified on the cited page. See municipal traffic regulations and state statutes for moving-violation fines.^[2]
Escalation: city pages do not list a standardized escalation table for repeat or continuing offences; courts typically handle repeat moving violations. If a specific municipal fine schedule exists it will appear in the municipal code or court fee schedules.^[2]
Non-monetary sanctions: the city may issue removal orders for illegal signs, orders to remedy obstructions, civil enforcement actions, or refer violations to municipal court; specific remedies are not itemized on the referenced city page.^[1]
Enforcer and complaint pathway: Traffic Engineering, Department of Public Works, investigates requests and enforces city traffic control devices; file complaints or service requests via the Public Works contact page.^[1]
Appeals and review: appeal routes generally run through municipal court or administrative review where applicable; the official pages do not list exact time limits for filing appeals related to traffic-calming decisions (not specified on the cited page).^[2]

Applications & Forms

The city does not publish a single standardized traffic-calming study application on the cited Public Works pages; some cities accept written petitions or service requests and supporting data. For Birmingham, an online service request or direct email to Traffic Engineering is the standard route according to the Public Works contact information (no named form number specified on the cited page).^[1]

If you represent a school, include an official letter from school administration to expedite prioritization.

Action steps

Collect evidence: dates/times of concern, photos, and witness statements.
Request counts: ask Traffic Engineering for speed/volume counts during school arrival and dismissal.
Propose measures: suggest crosswalks, curb extensions, speed humps, reduced speed limits, or additional signage for the study.
Submit request: use the Public Works contact route or official service-request portal listed below.

FAQ

Who can request a study?: Parents, school officials, neighborhood associations, and property owners adjacent to the school zone can request a study.
How long does a study take?: Timing varies by priority and resource availability; the city pages do not give a fixed timeline (not specified on the cited page).
Will the city install traffic calming measures?: If the study finds a safety need, the city may approve measures subject to engineering review, funding, and maintenance considerations.

How-To

Document the issue: record dates, times, photos, and a short statement of risk.
Gather support: obtain a letter from the school (if possible) and signatures from nearby residents.
Submit a service request or email to Traffic Engineering with attachments.
Follow up with the Public Works contact and provide any requested data for counts or site visits.
Review the study results and, if approved, coordinate implementation with the city and school.

Key Takeaways

Start with clear documentation of times and risks.
Traffic Engineering in Public Works handles study requests.
There is no single published form for Birmingham; use the Public Works contact route.