Red Rock Ridge & Valley Trail System

The Red Rock Ridge & Valley Trail System is a proposed network of walking trails and bicycle paths for the Birmingham area developed by the Freshwater Land Trust and unveiled in February 2012.

Preliminary planning was undertaken with broad public input, under the "Our One Mile" program. Additional inspiration came from the 1924 Olmsted Brothers plan for a system of parks and protected ridgetop views and flood plains.

As planned, the system would include 250 miles of greenway trails and 500 miles of on-street walking and cycling paths connecting numerous neighborhoods with arterial greenways and recreational destinations in 29 cities. Six major corridors would follow streams and rivers across the district, and also make use of abandoned rail corridors and re-designed streets. "Blueways", also envisioned as part of the system, would accommodate canoeing and kayaking.

The entire project is estimated to cost over $200 million to construct over three decades or more. The Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham will incorporate the system into its long-range transportation improvement program, facilitating applications for federal grant funding for specific projects within the comprehensive system.

In June 2023 the Freshwater Land Trust announced that 129 miles had been completed. In August they unveiled a "Red Rock Action Plan" to prioritize completion of a 36-mile continuous loop from Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve to Red Mountain Park. A health, transportation and economic benefits analysis of the Action Plan by Alta Design + Planning of Portland, Oregon claimed that the amenity could provide up to $25 million in annual benefits to the region.

Major proposed routes

• Turkey Creek Trail
• Shades Creek Trail
• Northern Beltline Trail
• Five Mile Creek Trail
• Cahaba River Trail
• Jones Valley Trail
• Village Creek Trail

Red Rock Action Plan

• Corridor A: McLendon Park Downtown Birmingham via Smithfield and the Civil Rights District. Much of this corridor is to be developed as part of the Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant awarded in 2023
• Corridor B: Downtown Birmingham to Vulcan Park via 20th Street
• Corridor C: Red Mountain Park to UAB campus, via Titusville
• Corridor D: High Ore Line Trail to Valley Creek via Fairfield and Midfield with a spur to the Miles College campus. $11.7 million in funding for a 3.8 mile segment of this corridor along Dr Martin Luther King Drive, Vinesville Road and 52nd Street Ensley was awarded to the City of Fairfield through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program.
• Corridor E: Downtown Birmingham to Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve via Woodlawn.
• Corridor F: Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve to Jemison Park along Shades Creek via Irondale
• Corridor G: Red Mountain Park to Jemison Park

References

• Spencer, Thomas (February 21, 2012) "Jefferson County trail system plan includes bike lanes, sidewalks, greenways." The Birmingham News
• Natta, André (February 22, 2012) "Get to know the “Red Rock” trail system plan" The Terminal
• Thrailkill, Laurel (August 22, 2023) "Next phase planned for Red Rock Trail System." Birmingham Business Journal
• Gann, Heather (August 22, 2023) "Birmingham nonprofit announces 36-mile trail loop to connect the region." AL.com
• Gann, Heather (June 30, 2024) "$11 million trail aimed at livability and opportunity coming to Birmingham suburb." AL.com

External links

• Red Rock Ridge & Valley Trail System website