Plans to build a rail hub in McCalla have begun to unfold after a $105 million federal grant was given to the Departments of Transportation in Alabama and Tennessee.
The area was selected for the project after an extensive site search of the Birmingham region.
According to Norfolk Southern, the railway transportation company building the hub, the McCalla site is the only location that meets the necessary criteria for the hub.
"They evaluated different areas and had to find a place that was large enough for the rail line," said Carma Jude, executive director of the Jefferson County Economic and Industrial Development Authority.
Northern Southern said the location will also allow for improved service between the hub near the Gulf Coast and the Northeast and will provide the region with access to the global marketplace.
Although big plans are in store for this new facility, some people from the area are worried about noise and pollution.
The 316-acre area where the hub will be built sits 150 feet away from the area's elementary school and the entrance to the hub sits at the back of many 5-acre-lot homes.
Ronnie Acker, president of the Bessemer County Chamber of Commerce, said people are worried about the safety of their children and the potential threat to their home investments.
"People think the noise and pollution from the trucks will affect the property value," Acker said.
Acker said about 400 trucks will go in and out of the facility twice a day.
However, while 400 trucks may seem like a lot, Norfolk Southern said it's not.
Last September, Norfolk Southern created a Web site called thefutureneedsus.com, explaining how the company is actually striving for a greener way of life.
"The site outlines how upgrading the Crescent Corridor - the existing 2,500-mile rail route from the Southeast to the Northeast -will support a stronger economy, less highway congestion, cleaner air, and fuel savings," according to a Norfolk Southern press release,
In addition, Norfolk Southern's Web site explains how Alabama is one of the many states that will benefit from this rail route upgrade.
The $112 million facility will bring significant economic growth and thousands of jobs to Alabama, said Susan Terpay, a Norfolk Southern representative.
"Over the next 10 years, the new facility is expected to create 8,600 jobs and have a cumulative economic impact of more than $4 billion," Terpay said. "Not only that, but 607,000 fewer long-haul trucks will be on the highways annually."
This means more than 17 million gallons of gas will be saved each year, according to Norfolk Southern.
Another benefit to the McCalla site is that it is located across from the area's industrial park, Jude said.
Jude said this would be beneficial for the greater Birmingham region and the entire state of Alabama, as it would create new jobs and transportation opportunities for area businesses.
"Because of the hub, businesses will want to locate in the industrial park," Acker said. "There may be more than 3,000 jobs generated."
The plans to build the rail hub are expected to be complete by 2012.
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