Huntsville updates

[HSVTiger]

Originally Posted by Colin Giersberg

I believe that light rail running on existing NS mainline tracks would be unwise. The traffic issues of the different types of trains is begging for an accident. Yes, freight and passenger trains ran the same tracks years ago, but then there wasn't anywhere near the freight density then as there is now. Perhaps, an elevated track system would work, but the added expense of the system would make that prohibitively expensive.
Our highways already cost $2 million a mile (minimum) for any major construction, and throw a bridge or two in the project, and the cost goes up fast, especially if the bridge is tall, long, or of a unique design.
If memory serve correctly (it probably doesn't), the US. 72 bridge over the Elk River at the Lauderdale / Limestone County line cost around $26 million, and it was built several years ago, and it is a relatively simple bridge in design.
The cost went up with the supports near the river channel, which involved drilling into the mud, and then several feet into solid rock. This helps prevent undermining of the supports in strong currents. So you can see that the costs would make an elevated light rail line very unlikely. And I don't know that NS would even allow light rail to run on their tracks.

Regards, Colin

adding to the problem

"GINNY MacDONALD
News staff writer
The number of road-building projects funded by the Alabama Department of Transportation dropped significantly through the first half of this year because of the rising cost of fuel and petroleum-based construction materials."
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1217319319233240.xml&coll=2