Long-Awaited Railroad Crossing Project Moves Forward in Pelham
A major infrastructure project with the potential to significantly improve traffic flow and emergency response times in Pelham is officially moving forward. At a recent Pelham City Council meeting, City Manager Gretchen DiFante announced that long-awaited federal funding for the Railroad Crossing Elimination Project on Shelby County Road 52 has now been fully obligated, clearing the way for the next phase of work to begin.
The City of Pelham was awarded a grant through the Federal Railroad Administration’s Crossing Elimination Program, covering 80 percent of the project’s estimated $52.4 million cost. The remaining 20 percent of the cost will be covered by local funding. The project will permanently eliminate two CSX railroad crossings at County Road 52 and Lee Street, locations that frequently cause traffic backups and delays for emergency responders.
The project was placed on hold in early 2025, when federal grants nationwide were temporarily paused for review. DiFante explained that over the past year, federal agencies evaluated existing grants to ensure compliance with current executive orders. With that review now complete, the Federal Railroad Administration has authorized Pelham to move ahead.
“This is an exciting day for Pelham,” DiFante told the Council. “Committed funds mean the project is moving forward, but when funds are obligated, that means we can begin spending money. We are officially on the clock.”
The Railroad Crossing Elimination Project will realign County Road 52 and construct a bridge over the existing rail lines, eliminating the at-grade crossings. The project also includes reconfiguring the intersection at U.S. Highway 31, roadway widening east of Highway 31, and additional corridor improvements. County Road 52 is a critical east–west route linking Pelham, Helena, and Interstate 65, and it currently carries more traffic than any east–west roadway in the area aside from I-459.
When trains block crossings, emergency responders on one side of the tracks cannot respond to calls on the other, creating serious public safety concerns and forcing neighboring cities to respond. The community has long voiced concerns about these delays, and the project is designed to address those risks while improving daily traffic flow.
While the project has received substantial federal support, it also requires a local funding match of approximately $10.6 million. The Federal Railroad Administration grant covers 80 percent of the total project cost, with the remaining 20 percent funded locally. City officials note that part of the rationale behind Pelham’s one-cent sales tax increase approved in 2024 was to help the city meet its share of major infrastructure investments like this one. The sales tax increase passed by a 3–2 vote of the Pelham City Council and helps ensure Pelham can leverage large federal grants to address long-standing safety and mobility challenges.
Development Services & Public Works Director André Bittas, who has led the project since its inception in 2022, emphasized the scale and impact of the work ahead.
“This is the largest project awarded in the country under this grant program—about $52 million worth of work,” Bittas said. “It’s going to improve traffic flow, access management, and most importantly, give public safety reliable access across the tracks.”
Bittas noted the extensive coordination required among multiple partners, including Shelby County, the Alabama Department of Transportation, CSX, and federal agencies and consultants.
“There’s a lot of coordination and documentation involved,” he said. “Because this is a federal grant, everything must be detailed and thorough. We want to make sure we receive every penny and deliver this project the right way.”
As the sole recipient of the federal grant, the City of Pelham will serve as project manager and administrator for the duration of the effort. Work will begin with environmental assessments, engineering, utility coordination, and right-of-way acquisition, processes that take time but are required for federally funded projects.
“This was one of the best examples of teamwork I’ve seen in my career,” DiFante said, crediting regional emergency services, local governments, state partners, CSX, consultants, and past City leadership for their collaboration. “Now, our work really begins.”
The project timeline extends through 2031, with environmental assessment and design scheduled over the next several years, and construction expected to begin in 2029. The entire project must be completed by April 30, 2031. The City plans to create a dedicated project page on its website and provide regular updates to both the City Council and the public.
“This project is going to make a huge difference along this corridor,” Bittas said. “I’m excited to get it started.”