03/05/2025
Neighborhood Cut-Through Traffic:
The intersection of West Oxmoor Boulevard and West Oxmoor Road across from Mayfield has long been a focal point as a primary source of cut through traffic (both inbound and outbound). We have continued to evaluate this area and consider potential solutions and improvements. In addition to local cut-through traffic there are several large delivery trucks that routinely come through this route. Targeted enforcement via Homewood PD is not a viable resolution to the issue due in part to the dynamic duties these officers serve throughout the entire city 24/7.
The reality is that any change will impact ALL that live, work or play in this part of Homewood. In theory, West Oxmoor Boulevard exists to bypass traffic and circumvent the cut-through traffic in the neighborhood when people do not have a true purpose/reason to come through. The neighborhood and surrounding area has changed drastically since these roads were put in place decades ago.
Cut-through traffic does in many ways negatively impact our neighborhood, with those living closest to this intersection being disproportionately impacted by the issues that come from this (pedestrian safety, noise, litter, etc.) problem. The attached draft sketch illustrates the changes to several key aspects of this intersection including:
1. 𝑵𝒐 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄 𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑩𝒂𝒓𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝑾𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑶𝒙𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒓 𝑹𝒐𝒂𝒅
2. 𝑵𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒘𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝑾𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑶𝒙𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒓 𝑩𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑶𝒙𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒓 𝑹𝒐𝒂𝒅
3. 𝑵𝒐 𝒘𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑶𝒙𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒓 𝑹𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝒖𝒏𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝑾𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑶𝒙𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒓 𝑩𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
These changes would still allow eastbound traffic to enter the neighborhood on West Oxmoor Road with a protected right hand turn from West Oxmoor Boulevard when coming from Forest Brook and the WHAC/Megafield/Ball Park area. Egress from the Patriot Park/lower West Homewood area access would still be found to westbound West Oxmoor Boulevard via Scott Street or Cobb Street. Eastbound access would remain unchanged leaving the neighborhood including West Oxmoor Road, Scott Street, Cobb Street and Raleigh Avenue.
Some additional things to consider:
In the very near future there will be an increase in population and additional traffic coming from the new, 310 unit, Birmingham apartment complex on West Oxmoor Boulevard. We would like to be forward thinking and proactive as we look to improve the issue. We respectfully ask for your feedback on the design presented here. Thank you!
