capital · May 16, 2026

East Birmingham Rail Plan Advances With Council Funding Approval

The Birmingham City Council approved funding for the design and engineering phase of a rail safety project to reduce blocked crossings in East Birmingham on May 14, 2026. The project is tied to an $8 million federal CRISI grant awarded in 2022, with the city and Trussville each contributing $250,000 and Norfolk Southern Railway providing 15% or $1.2 million. The project targets eight crossings by closing at-grade crossings and creating alternative routes to improve safety and traffic flow. This phase is expected to take three to five years, with total costs estimated at $150 million.