The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is hiring a Denver-based company to conduct a $182,000 revenue, cost and ridership study for a potential passenger rail line between Birmingham and Montgomery. The study’s cost is being split between federal funds and the City of Birmingham, the City of Montgomery and Montgomery County.

“They’re bringing it back up to see if it’s feasible,” ADECA spokesman Jim Plott told the TimesDaily on Thursday. “It’s another alternative to provide transportation in Alabama.”

Plott said the study could take nine months to a year to complete.

“They’re going to look at the need, the revenue sources,” he said. “There are a lot of factors involved before they can decide to undertake (a rail line).”