What’s planned to keep trains from blocking roads between Woodlawn and Trussville

If you’ve ever been stuck behind a train that wasn’t moving, you’re not alone. Blocked railroad crossings have been a serious problem across Central Alabama for years, with trains sometimes stopping for hours and trapping residents in their neighborhoods, particularly in Shelby County and Trussville.

Officials have tried several fixes. A 2022 bill that would have fined railroads for blocking crossings for two or more hours passed the Alabama House 95-1 but stalled in the Senate. In January, Birmingham began installing electronic message boards at four west-side crossings to warn drivers when a train is coming and how long delays are expected. That came the week after a freight train struck a minivan at a Birmingham crossing, killing two women and injuring three children.

Now, two cities are coming together to try and reduce blocked railroad crossings. On Monday, Oct, 19, Birmingham and Trussville announced that they picked an engineering firm to design a project between Woodlawn and Trussville.

Officials announced the selection of Kimley-Horn at an event at Sloss Furnaces. The firm will lead the design and environmental review phase of REDESIGN Alabama — the acronym stands for “Reduce Extended Delays; Enhance Safety; and Invest in Growing Neighborhoods.”

Officials didn’t say how much the project would shorten wait times. Norfolk Southern Vice President of Transportation Rodney Moore said he didn’t have a number but called reducing blocked crossings the most important part of the project.

What’s planned for the Woodlawn to Trussville rail corridor

The project will include:

• Closing 9 rail crossings between Woodlawn and Trussville and rerouting traffic to new grade-separated crossings
• Building an underpass at Brussels Avenue and a pedestrian underpass near 59th Street
• Extending 5th Avenue South to Brussels Avenue and adding a sidewalk along 5th Avenue from 56th Street to Brussels Avenue
• Extending a railroad siding track in Trussville two miles into Norfolk Southern’s Norris Yard so trains can pass without blocking motorists
• Building a bridge at Mary Taylor Road

Officials said train horns will no longer be required along the corridor, which should make the Harris Homes and Woodlawn neighborhoods quieter.

How REDESIGN Alabama is funded

The project was announced in 2023 after Birmingham’s Department of Transportation received an $8M Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Norfolk Southern is contributing $1.5M toward the local match, and Birmingham and Trussville are covering the rest, about $250,000 each. Together that is roughly $10M.

When construction for the REDESIGN project could start

The city says design and National Environmental Policy Act review should take about two years. After that, Birmingham and its partners will pursue federal and other funding for construction. The Trussville Tribune reported earlier this year that construction is not yet funded and that the total project has been estimated at around $150 million.

Moore said Norfolk Southern hopes more projects like this will follow but didn’t give a date.

What officials said about the plan to improve railroad crossings

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said the project is about easing access for residents:

“Together, we are focused on improving access for residents to get to work, school, and receive emergency services… This project is about removing barriers and making it easier and safer for people to move through their own neighborhoods.”

Trussville Mayor Ben Short pointed to the safety stakes:

“Blocked railroad crossings have created frustrations for our residents and presented real concerns for public safety and emergency response. This project represents an important step toward delivering a long-term solution to a problem that has impacted our communities for decades.”

Norfolk Southern Vice President of Transportation Rodney Moore said the project shows what the railroad and communities can do together:

“This investment will enhance safety, improve quality of life, strengthen supply chain connectivity and help ensure that Birmingham continues to thrive as an important rail and economic hub for decades to come.”