Key Points
- Northern Alabama’s population has grown dramatically due to public and private sector jobs.
- Both Republican and Democratic candidates expressed concerns that the population boom has strained the region’s infrastructure.
- Republican legislative candidates highlighted the need for additional funding for first responders and to update and expand the capacity for roads.
- Democratic candidates focused on the need for public transportation and to expand affordable housing options for the area.
The population boom in north Alabama and its strain on local infrastructure is a major issue in legislative races in and around Huntsville.
Candidates from both parties have heralded the growth but have also cited the need to address its effects on roads and healthcare, as well as the upper pressure it places on housing prices.
“I think the growing pains are simply that when you have rapid growth, it is very difficult for the infrastructure to keep up,” said Rep. Marilyn Lands, D-Huntsville. “We are hearing from a lot of folks about the traffic, and about the time on the road, and the quality of the roads, and all that is part of the growing pains in that our growth has outpaced the ability to provide adequate infrastructure.”…