Statement By Dr. Robert D. Bullard On The Voluntary Resolution Agreement Between Fhwa And Alabama Department Of Transportation

I want to thank Secretary Pete Buttigieg and USDOT FHWA officials for getting a binding commitment from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to fix the flawed US 84 Highway expansion project that has flooded the historically Black Shiloh community since 2018. This is a good first step. But it's not good enough and it's only a partial victory since fixing the US 84 Highway flooding problem ALDOT created does not fix or compensate for the loss and damages to homes, businesses, and property, and the mental stress experienced by Elba, Alabama Shiloh residents over the past six years. It's quite understandable if the Shiloh highway flood survivors do not see the Voluntary Resolution Agreement (VRA) as a cause for mass celebration or resolving painful years of suffering and being disrespected and drowned by a highway paid for in part with their tax dollars. The gas pipeline problem close to homes also needs to be resolved.  To achieve a just solution, the Shiloh residents need to be made whole beyond fixing the highway flooding.

The Bullard Center is committed to working with its allies and city, county, state, and federal government agencies to assist the Shiloh residents in getting full justice and a fair resolution to the problems created directly or indirectly by the US 84 Highway expansion project, no matter how long it takes.

To read the entire Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) press release regarding the binding commitments secured from the Alabama Department of Transportation to construct a drainage project addressing stormwater issues, please visit FHWA Press Release.

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