Red Rock Trail System takes huge step forward with Rails-to-Trail purchase in Birmingham

Huge news for the Red Rock Trail System! On Tuesday, October 1, the Birmingham City Council approved an agreement allowing the City to purchase a section of an inactive railroad in western Jefferson County.

The section of land is integral for the development of the Valley Creek Rails-to-Trail project—a portion of the Red Rock Action Plan that aims to create a walking trail loop around the city of Birmingham.

Birmingham approves sales of railroad corridor

Per the agreement, the City of Birmingham will purchase an inactive railroad corridor—about three miles in length—from CSX Transportation, Inc., a freight railroad company headquartered in Jacksonville, FL.

The total price of the railroad corridor is $1.1M, with $270,000 contributed from City Council discretionary ARPA funds:

• $250,000 from District 8 — Councilor Carol Clarke
• $10,000 from District 6 — Councilor Crystal Smitherman
• $10,000 from District 7 — Councilor Wardine Alexander

“My neighbors and I are excitedly awaiting the Valley Creek Trail Extension from Midfield into Five Points West. Today’s city council action made it much more real.”

Carol Clarke, Birmingham City Councilor, District 8

As part of the agreement, Alabama non-profit Freshwater Land Trust will provide consulting services to the City of Birmingham in connection with the project.

A huge step for the Red Rock Action Plan

Announced by the Freshwater Land Trust in 2023, the Red Rock Action Plan aims to create a Greater Birmingham Trail Loop—36 miles of connected trails around the city of Birmingham.

The plan calls for adding 19 miles of new trail to seven priority trail projects:

1. Smithfield to Downtown 
2. 20th Street Corridor 
3. Red Mountain Park to UAB 
4. High Ore Line to Valley Creek Rail-to-Trail 
5. Ruffner Mountain Rail Trail
6. Irondale to Jemison
7. Red Mountain to Shades Creek 

Once complete, the 4.5-mile Valley Creek Rails-to-Trail project will connect Red Mountain Park to the Birmingham CrossPlex via the existing High Ore Line Greenway. The result? 7.5 miles of interconnected, non-motorized trails that serve over 58,500 Birmingham residents + residents from the cities of Midfield, Fairfield, Brighton and Lipscomb.

In late 2023, the Valley Creek Rails-to-Trail program received $4M in federal funding secured by Rep. Terri Sewell.

Excited to see the Valley Creek Rails-to-Trail program take a big step forward? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!