Railroad branch greenway multi-use trail along an abandoned railroad corridor from the flint river to smokey hills court in madison county

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) awarded the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) a Formula Grant of $491,634.46 on May 29, 2025, under the Highway Planning and Construction program (CFDA 20.205) to develop the Railroad Branch Greenway Multi-Use Trail along an abandoned railroad corridor extending from the Flint River to Smokey Hills Court in Madison County, Alabama. This project represents a multimodal transportation infrastructure improvement that converts an underutilized railroad corridor into a public recreational and active transportation asset, supporting FHWA's objectives to enhance alternative transportation network development and improve community connectivity.

The grant funding supports the design, construction, and development of the multi-use trail facility, which will provide pedestrian and bicycle transportation infrastructure while promoting economic revitalization and public access along the former railroad right-of-way in Madison County. As the primary awardee administering the project, ALDOT leverages its extensive experience managing federal transportation infrastructure projects to deliver this initiative in compliance with applicable environmental reviews, planning requirements, and federal oversight protocols established under the Highway Planning and Construction program.