MONTGOMERY — The train is a’comin’, comin’ around the bend.
And, with the help of a $1 million grant, the Huntsville Madison County Railroad will continue to be coming around bends and through the Rocket City providing a key link to area industries and the economy.
“The Consolidated Railroad Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Grant that the Huntsville & Madison County Railroad Authority (HMCRA) recently received will be a game changer for rail service in north Alabama,” said Mark Lumb, chairman of the HMCRA board. “The CRISI Grant will allow the HMCRA to improve, update and upgrade its facilities and capabilities and become a key player providing rail service and future recreational opportunities in Huntsville and Madison County and position itself as the shortline rail service provider of choice across North Alabama.”
According to Gov. Kay Ivey’s office, the grant is through the Appalachian Regional Commission and will assist the railroad upgrade its services and improve the transportation of raw materials and finished products.
“The Huntsville and Madison County Railroad Authority has been an important short-line railroad that for years has dutifully served multiple industries,” Ivey said. “I am pleased to announce this funding for the upgrades that will help the rail system continue providing vital service for area industries for years to come.”
Lumb said the grant will allow the replacement of the Aldridge Creek Bridge, a key component of the plan to restore rail service to Saint-Gobain’s manufacturing plant and the upgrade of track that’s been in place for more than 100 years.
“The track that HMCRA operates within the City of Huntsville was laid down in the 1890s as part of the then-Nashville, Chattanooga and St Louis Railway,” he said.
A concrete bridge will replace the wood bridge and enhance rail safety while also enabling rail cars to transport larger loads. With the decrease of permitted cargo tonnage over the bridge because of its age and condition, Saint-Gobain has had to rely on truck transportation to bring in sand – a major component of the company’s operation.
Overall, HMCRA provides rail service for about 10 companies, and authority officials say there is the potential to attract additional industrial clients with the improvements.
The self-funded, nonprofit railroad, was created to support industrial developments in north Alabama. The system will also install more than 10,000 cross ties and make improvements at its rail yard as part of its total upgrade.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the ARC grant.
“With the economic boom that Huntsville and Madison County are currently experiencing, the Huntsville and Madison County Railroad Authority figures prominently into that growth equation,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA and Gov. Ivey are thankful to the Appalachian Regional Commission for funding this project that will continue to produce many economic benefits for north Alabama.”
ARC is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments. The agency’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. Thirty-seven Alabama counties, including Madison County, are part of the ARC region and eligible for funds.
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