Huntsville's passenger rail future

Huntsville is taking the first steps toward intercity passenger rail with a new feasibility study.

Why it matters: Rail service could make a significant impact on Huntsville's overall transit picture as the city continues its exponential growth.

Zoom in: Huntsville City Council will weigh an almost $350,000 contract with DB E.C.O. North America to study potential corridors for rail service to cities like Nashville and Birmingham.

• The Huntsville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization will be funding the study, per the city, which notes that this is not local light rail for commuting, but a "very long-range plan for city-to-city passenger rail similar to Amtrak."

What they're saying: "The study will ensure that the Huntsville metro is included in any future plans for expanding passenger rail service," the city said in a statement to Axios.

• "This initial study is expected to be completed by September 2027, though the actual implementation of passenger rail service has no timeline."

How it works: The study will evaluate the feasibility and demand of intercity passenger rail to areas like Birmingham, Nashville, Chattanooga and the Shoals.

• It will gather data on how many folks are traveling the potential routes, which mode they prefer to travel, and what that demand will look like in five, 10 and 25 years.
• From that, it will recommend potential routes to establish that rail service, as well as a potential "Funding Roadmap."

Context: The MPO's long-term TRiP 2050 plan includes a goal of an "Intercity Passenger Rail Corridor Study to examine future passenger rail service" by 2029.

• By 2040, the TRiP plan aims to conduct preliminary route descriptions and negotiations based on the study's findings.

By the numbers: An April 2022 report from the MPO on high-capacity transit estimates the cost to construct new light rail facilities at $80 million-$100 million per mile.

Yes, but: Existing freight rail line corridors will be studied as well, the TRiP plan says.