(The following story by Michael Tomberlin appeared on The Birmingham News website on November 7, 2009.)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After several weeks of all but disappearing from the limelight, activity over Norfolk Southern’s planned railroad hub in McCalla will once again become the center of attention with a series of meetings set for next week.
Those heavily in favor and staunchly opposed to the $112 million project — officially known as the Birmingham Regional Intermodal Facility — as well as those who remain undecided will have opportunities to voice their stance at three separate meetings.
On Monday, McCallaCan, a group of active supporters and undecideds on the project, will meet at 4:30 p.m. at the Moore Cabin on Moore Cemetery Road.
Newell Baker, an official with Norfolk Southern’s site selection team, will talk about why the company considers the McCalla site the best one for the project. Ashley Cousins, who is forming a community outreach group of McCalla leaders, will explain that process. Patrick Murphy of the Birmingham Business Alliance has also been invited to talk about the economic development aspects of the project.
“One of the important functions of this group is to give a nucleus of people true and accurate information to counter the misinformation and rumors that circulate,” said Phyllis Kennedy, one of the McCallaCan meeting’s organizers.
On Tuesday, opposition group No Hub 4 McCalla will hold a public meeting at McAdory Elementary School at 7 p.m. It will be the first public meeting the group has held since August.
One of the group’s founders, Johnny Jones, said in an e-mail notice of the meeting the group was hopeful the railroad company was seriously considering an alternate site in Bibb County that No Hub 4 McCalla had proposed.
“We have been quiet due to the implications from Norfolk Southern that the Hub would be relocated to Bibb County,” Jones said in the notice. “As most of you know that site has been passed over and (Norfolk Southern) says McCalla is where it is going.”
Norfolk Southern spokesman Rudy Husband told The Birmingham News last month that the Bibb County site had too many issues and the McCalla site remains much better suited for the project, which will be used to transfer large shipping containers between trains.
The No Hub 4 McCalla meeting will be used to prepare opponents for a public information meeting the Alabama Department of Transportation is hosting with Norfolk Southern Thursday. The meeting will be 4-7 p.m. at the Bessemer Civic Center.
“This is probably the most important meeting because we are going to discuss our positioning against (Norfolk Southern) for the ALDOT meeting,” Jones wrote in his notice. “At the No Hub 4 McCalla meeting we plan to give out 1,200 candles for a vigil representing the 1,200 students that the rail yard will impact and their lifetime of possible bad health.”
Opponents allege the increased diesel emissions from the truck and train traffic will be harmful to the air at the neighboring school. Norfolk Southern denies the claim, pointing to their own data that shows the impact will be minimal and well below allowable levels.
At Norfolk Southern’s first public information meeting in August, placards full of information and experts on a variety of subjects were positioned around the Bessemer Civic Center to answer the public’s questions. No Hub 4 McCalla members turned out with bright yellow “No Hub” T-shirts and surgical masks with “No Hub” written on them.
Meeting format
Husband said the format of Thursday’s meeting will be similar. He said attendees should be aware that there are experts on various subjects throughout the auditorium and one person may not be able to answer every question, but nearly every question should be addressed by the proper experts.
“The purpose of the meeting will be for ALDOT and (Norfolk Southern) to provide an update on the project to the public, to obtain public comment and information on the project so as to comply with procedural legislation required by the National Environmental Policy Act and other relevant statutes,” an announcement from ALDOT stated.
Cousins, one of the speakers at the McCallaCan meeting on Monday, is looking for nominations for the community outreach group. Members of that group will be selected to have an organization that can meet and have discussions with Norfolk Southern on behalf of the community.