Mobile to contract Mott MacDonald to design downtown Amtrak station

The city of Mobile, Alabama, earlier this week announced plans to award a contract to Mott MacDonald to design a new downtown Amtrak station.

The news comes after Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey declined to provide the state funding needed to restore Amtrak's Gulf Coast service east of New Orleans.

Amtrak halted passenger service along the U.S. Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

However, Mobile's design plans are aimed at showing the governor that the city has a "shovel-ready" project, Mobile City Council President Levon Manzie told AL.com

Four Mississippi cities along the Amtrak route plan to improve or expand current stations for the restored service, while Mobile would need to build an entirely new one.

Next week, the Mobile City Council is slated to vote on the $233,000 contract with Mott MacDonald.