Birmingham Regional Intermodal Facility

The Norfolk-Southern cargo loading terminal is a planned cargo hub under development by the Norfolk Southern Railway on a 316-acre site adjoining the Jefferson Metropolitan Industrial Park in McCalla between McAdory Elementary School and McCalla. The $112 million project, set to be completed in 2012, will accommodate the loading of shipping containers from flatbed trucks onto railcars. It is expected that the facility will have an overall economic impact of $4 billion for the region by 2020. The project is part of the railroad's overall plan to develop the Crescent Corridor from Louisiana to New Jersey. Railroad officials project that the corridor's development could create as many as 600 direct jobs, and as many as 8,000 additional indirect jobs in the area.

Opposition

In 2009 as the project site was being announced, a group of McCalla residents calling themselves "No Hub 4 McCalla" began meeting in opposition. The group, led by residents of the Sadler Ridge subdivision, claims that the county's master plan indicates non-industrial uses for the property and objects that the project would produce traffic congestion, create air and noise pollution, and lower property values. Spokesman Larry Argo told the group that they could "expect Eastern Valley Road and U. S. Highway 11 to look like Tarrant City."^1. The railroad's land use is governed by federal law and is therefore not subject to county planning decisions.

In July the McAdory Elementery School PTA voted unanimously for a resolution asking the railroad to find another site to protect schoolchildren from the possible dangers of diesel fumes.

Governor Bob Riley has expressed support for the project and confidence that Norfolk-Southern can satisfy the concerns of neighbors.

Notes

1. Tomberlin - July 8, 2009

References

• Tomberlin, Michael (June 12, 2009) "Norfolk Southern eyes Birmingham area for major hub." Birmingham News
• Tomberlin, Michael (July 8, 2009) "Norfolk Southern railroad hub project irks McCalla residents." Birmingham News
• Tomberlin, Michael (July 11, 2009) "McCalla residents take fears about Norfolk Southern hub to county planning group." Birmingham News
• Tomberlin, Michael (July 11, 2009) "McCalla chosen as site of cargo hub." Birmingham News
• Tomberlin, Michael (July 17, 2009) "Planned Norfolk Southern cargo hub attracts business interest." Birmingham News
• Tomberlin, Michael (July 28, 2009) "McCalla railroad hub would boost economy, Alabama governor Riley says." Birmingham News

External links

• No Hub 4 McCalla website
• proposed site on Google Maps