Upon completion of the initial deliverables, notice to proceed will be given for construction

This Project Grant award, provided by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program (CFDA 20.325), will fund a series of rail infrastructure improvements in Alabama. The $11,101,381 award to the Alabama & Tennessee River Railway, LLC will enable the completion of the following key deliverables: (1) construction of a yard track and wye to handle increased rail traffic and reduce blocked crossings; (2) rehabilitation of a grade crossing surface; (3) reactivation of rockslide warning signals; (4) track upgrades to FRA Class 2, 25 MPH service between Birmingham and Ragland, Alabama; and (5) elimination of bridge defects on ten bridge structures. These improvements will significantly enhance the safety, efficiency, and reliability of freight rail operations in the region, benefiting stakeholders such as the National Cement Company of Alabama, the Town of Ragland, and the Alabama Department of Transportation.

The project will complete the following: (1) a yard track and a WYE sufficient to handle increased rail traffic while reducing blocked crossings (2) a rehabilitated grade crossing surface (3) reactivation of rockslide warning signals (4) tie and surfacing work necessary to upgrade the track to FRA class 2, 25 mile-per-hour (MPH) service between birmingham and ragland, alabama and (5) elimination of bridge defects on ten bridge structures. The alabama and tennessee river railway, LLC (grantee) will complete the following initial deliverables: a project management plan, final performance report, and final design documents (including updated cost estimate).the completion of these activities will almost completely eliminate switching-related blocked crossings. The project beneficiaries include national cement company of alabama, town of ragland, alabama, and the alabama department of transportation