Valley Creek Rail-to-Trail

Project Status:

The original 2012 Valley Creek Rail-to-Trail design is being revised to meet current accessibility standards and reflect best practices in trail development. Trail design is 30% complete and should be finalized by summer 2026.

Project History Overview:

The Valley Creek Rail-to-Trail is a 4.5-mile multi-use trail planned in west Birmingham, ultimately connecting the Birmingham CrossPlex to Red Mountain Park.

The Valley Creek Rail-to-Trail was originally planned as part of a large Department of Transportation grant awarded to the City of Birmingham in 2012, but while it was designed, the project was never constructed. Thanks to a $4 million investment by Congresswoman Terri Sewell in 2023, this project is finally able to be completed.

In 2025, the project took a big step forward when the City of Birmingham successfully purchased a $1.1 million inactive rail line needed for the trail. $270,000 of the $1.1 million was contributed from Councilors Clarke (formerly District 8), Alexander (District 7), and Smitherman (District 6) from their discretionary ARPA funds. The remaining $830,000 was independently raised by Freshwater Land Trust.

Proposed Valley Creek Rail-to-Trail Route.

Project Details:

• The accessible trail will allow walking, running, biking, and other non-motorized uses.
• The asphalt trail will be flat and approximately 8–12 feet wide.
• Lighting is not included but can be considered in the future if usage increases.
• Dogs must be leashed while using the trail.
• Emergency response will use location-based trail signage, as approved by EMS Services, instead of call boxes.
• The Valley Creek Rail-to-Trail will connect to the established High Ore Line (near Midfield High School), ultimately connecting the Birmingham CrossPlex to Red Mountain Park via 7.5-miles of off-road trails.
• The Valley Creek Rail-to-Trail will connect to the BRT CrossPlex Transit Station, supporting multimodal transit access.