New Alabama rail corridor to link port, mega sites

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey earlier this week announced the creation of the A-USA Corridor, a proposed $231.6 million program of rail projects to upgrade economic development infrastructure in central and southern Alabama.

The first phase of the A-USA Corridor effort involves a $71.6 million initiative to link the Port of Mobile with the McCalla Intermodal Facility near Birmingham. The 280-mile rail corridor will also link mega economic development sites in Etowah, Shelby and Washington/Mobile counties, each totaling more than 1,000 acres, Ivey administration officials said in a press release.

A fourth site, in Jefferson County, will be the location for the development of 104 acres for up to 1 million square feet of warehouse space.

The Growing Alabama Tax Credit program has helped expedite the work required to make these sites immediately available for manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, Ivey administration officials said. To that end, Norfolk Southern Railway has partnered with the state and local economic development authorities by investing $5.7 million to the Etowah County Commission for improvements to the Little Canoe Creek Mega-Site.

While each of the sites are near major interstate highways, modern and efficient freight and intermodal rail infrastructure is necessary to meet the port’s rapid growth and the region’s economic expansion needs, Ivey administration officials said.

Phase One of the A-USA Corridor project involves 12 specific track, signal and yard improvements on NS rail lines between Mobile, Selma and Birmingham.

"Creating good port access to central Alabama is a key part of this initiative, and it can provide options for freight containers to reach new destinations inland, which our country has struggled with during the supply-chain crisis," said Ivey.