FRA selects Tenn.-Ga. HSR route (Atlanta, Jackson: appointed, 2014, credit)

[Airforceguy]

The FRA’s decision comes as part of the Tier I combined Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision (FEIS/ROD) for the High-Speed Ground Transportation (HSGT) project, and marks the completion of the Tier I environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

“This project will benefit both Atlanta and Chattanooga with more efficient transportation, while also providing rail access to the rural communities in the region,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao, in a statement. “This has been a long time in the making and represents a response to numerous transportation needs along the I-75 corridor.”

The HSGT project would run approximately 120 miles along Interstate 75 and provide what FRA terms “a competitive and more reliable transportation choice for people traveling between Atlanta and Chattanooga.”

The corridor includes eight rail stations and is estimated to take 88 minutes of travel time from the first to last station. The route would begin on the east side of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA) at the proposed HJAIA/Southern Crescent Station and end at a proposed downtown Chattanooga station.

“This combined FEIS and ROD is a product of nine years’ work from FRA and its state partners,” said FRA Deputy Administrator Heath Hall. “The administration is working diligently to remove barriers which slow down the environmental process, so that people can get to work rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure.”

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) studied the corridor as part of that state’s 1997 Intercity Rail Plan; GDOT and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) later identified 15 corridors between Atlanta and Chattanooga. A screening process ultimately narrowed down three corridors for the FEIS.

http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/...hsr-route.html

[cqholt]

And this study will go nowhere.

[NC2ATL60]

So what exactly does this mean?

[cwkimbro]

In the short run it means very little.

In the long-run, should attention or investment in the public Federal level ever be attracted into doing a real tangible test project to build a inter-regional maglev it puts that route into a front-runner position to be it.

This is unlikely to happen, unless there is a major shift in spending for these type of transportation projects at the federal level.

Now the long-range benefits are pretty good. One critical thing about this route is it is not currently a part of an Amtrak route and those freight tracks are extremely congested. Just going to Chattanooga is not as important, but if this trial worked it could be the first segment towards an Atlanta-Chicago Link, which would link the inland hub of the Midwest to the inland hub of the Southeast with an extremely fast passenger connection. This could be critical for high speed passenger rail to work at a range beyond 400 miles, however that will never happen in our life times even with full funding. This would be a shorter pilot project to give it a practical test.

Now locally... I think it would be amazing to have some type of non-MARTA/HRT connection with Downtown and the airport that offers direct non-stop service. There is probably alot of money into selling $5-$15 tickets for a more comfortable ride for passengers with luggage, but such a benefit would be limited to Downtown and possibly a distant stop in Cobb.

It would also benefit some distant Northwest commuters that could afford to pay a premium for daily commutes to the airport and Downtown. It would likely out-price the general populace in terms of operations and service availability, but it could serve select premium commuters and non-daily occasional commuters.

[Need4Camaro]

I wish they would do this, as well as expand another line to Athens / Greenville / Charlotte NC.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by cwkimbro

In the short run it means very little.

In the long-run, should attention or investment in the public Federal level ever be attracted into doing a real tangible test project to build a inter-regional maglev it puts that route into a front-runner position to be it.

This is unlikely to happen, unless there is a major shift in spending for these type of transportation projects at the federal level.

Now the long-range benefits are pretty good. One critical thing about this route is it is not currently a part of an Amtrak route and those freight tracks are extremely congested. Just going to Chattanooga is not as important, but if this trial worked it could be the first segment towards an Atlanta-Chicago Link, which would link the inland hub of the Midwest to the inland hub of the Southeast with an extremely fast passenger connection. This could be critical for high speed passenger rail to work at a range beyond 400 miles, however that will never happen in our life times even with full funding. This would be a shorter pilot project to give it a practical test.

Now locally... I think it would be amazing to have some type of non-MARTA/HRT connection with Downtown and the airport that offers direct non-stop service. There is probably alot of money into selling $5-$15 tickets for a more comfortable ride for passengers with luggage, but such a benefit would be limited to Downtown and possibly a distant stop in Cobb.

It would also benefit some distant Northwest commuters that could afford to pay a premium for daily commutes to the airport and Downtown. It would likely out-price the general populace in terms of operations and service availability, but it could serve select premium commuters and non-daily occasional commuters.

If this is a greenfield route, there is no reason it couldn't be combined with commuter rail. Some of those commuter rail lines in the NY metro aren't cheap.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by bu2

If this is a greenfield route, there is no reason it couldn't be combined with commuter rail. Some of those commuter rail lines in the NY metro aren't cheap.

This is kind of the operating profile that GA is looking to do with the Atlanta -> Charlotte route. Express trains, semi-express, and local trains. Additional transit such as commuter rail and state-specific intercity rail could absolutely make use of the infrastructure put in place for high speed rail, or vice versa.

Blended services are fairly common in countries with highly regarded HSR systems, as well as here in the states with what limited services we have. The NE Corridor blends services, and the CAHSR plan is to have blended sections on approach to major cities.

Of course, maglev doesn't really allow for any of that.

[tikigod311]

Originally Posted by cqholt

And this study will go nowhere.

You're likely right. But at least this is something that a Trump cabinet secretary is signing off on. That could place this on short list of transportation projects that is Trump approved. We all know he will go for whatever he can take the most credit for, so that major character flaw may actually be to our advantage here.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by tikigod311

You're likely right. But at least this is something that a Trump cabinet secretary is signing off on. That could place this on short list of transportation projects that is Trump approved. We all know he will go for whatever he can take the most credit for, so that major character flaw may actually be to our advantage here.

I don't think the FRA has had a Trump-appointed Administrator. The previous administration's pick left with the change in leadership, and the Executive Director, who was brought in in 2014, is the Acting Administrator.

Just saying, this doesn't look like anything that Trump did...

[primaltech]

Definitely not holding my breath, but if it ever does happen, man would that be awesome for those of us who live near Cumberland/Galleria. An express, high-speed rail service with a stop in Downtown and a stop at the airport? Awesome.

Of course, ticket would probably be too expensive for most daily commuters. It would likely be geared more towards accessing the airport, and occasional visits to Atlanta (big sports events and whatever).