Project Overview: Birmingham to Mobile

As Alabama’s population continues to grow, the state faces increasing congestion along its roadway networks. Restoration of passenger service between Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile, Alabama will connect the state’s growing economic hubs and increase passenger access to resources and economic opportunities. The Birmingham to Montgomery corridor would extend from the Amtrak station, which is located within downtown Birmingham’s Intermodal Transportation Terminal, to a proposed station in Montgomery, and to the Mobile station.

Once established, the station in Mobile will connect Alabama’s ridership to passenger rail services throughout the Gulf Coast Corridor.

Project Status

• AECOM completed a feasibility study in 2020 that examined three options:

  –         ONE: Amtrak service restoration (Gulf Breeze) sharing a track with CSX with an average speed anticipated of 48mph and a capital cost of $345 million

  –         TWO: CSX corridor with an average speed anticipated of 70mph and a capital cost of $1.3 billion

  –         THREE: Interstate 65 alignment on a newly constructed track with an average speed anticipated of 101mph and capital cost of $9.5 billion

• The ridership forecast concluded that higher speeds and higher frequencies result in higher ridership

• Next steps include further planning and outreach; identifying sponsors; conducting an alternatives analysis; meeting NEPA requirements; final design; funding agreements; right-of-way acquisitions; and construction

• The City of Anniston has reconstructed the parking area and extended the existing platform at the station

• The City of Birmingham has completed the enhancement and construction of pedestrian corridor connecting the downtown Intermodal Facility to the Amtrak platform.