Mo BROOKS
sd sso
Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
September 10, 2018
's COMMITTEE
‘The Honorable Elaine Chao
Secretary of Transportation
U.S. Department of Transportation
West Building, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20590-9898
Re: City of Huntsville, North Alabama CRISI Grant Application
Dear Secretary Chao:
L write to express my full support for the City of Huntsville’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety
Improvements (CRISI) grant application for its Old Highway 20 Grade Separation Project. The project will
eliminate an at-grade railroad crossing at the intersection of Old Highway 20 and a Norfolk Southern rail
line located in Huntsville, Alabama. The project will be located in Limestone County, just east of the
Limestone County-Madison County border.
The project aims to address growing safety and congestion concerns at this crossing. Although these issues
are currently considered minimal, the opening of a 2,500 acre Mazda-Toyota manufacturing plant and a
Norfolk Southern railyard adjacent to the project site make the influx of traffic at the crossing imminent.
‘There were 29 accidents reported Limestone County and 32 reported in Madison County between 2009 and
2018 thus far. Of the 61 total reported accidents between the two counties, more than half were recorded as
highway-rail incidents (32), and all but one of these incidents took place at a public crossing site. Without
transportation infrastructure improvements this number is expected to grow.
In addition to safety concems, the project aims to address impending congestion issues at the project site if
the Old Highway 20 Grade Separation Project is not completed. Over 4,000 new jobs are expected to be
created when the manufacturer opens its doors for business. The overwhelming majority of Huntsville
residents commute to work by car, truck, or van, and this number is projected to increase with the opening
of the Mazda-Toyota facility. The Old Highway 20 Grade Separation Project is intended to improve safety
conditions at the highway-rail crossing and mitigate the anticipated congestion issues around the new
facility.
This project is essential to the economic development and vitality of Huntsville and the entire northem
‘Alabama region. Please give full consideration to this important transportation infrastructure project. If
you have further questions please contact my Legislative Counsel, Marshall Yates at
Marshall. Yates@mail.house gov.
Sincerely,
Mo Brrects-
Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05)