GDOT proposing Atlanta rail? (Savannah, Macon: cost, train, suburban)

[caragitana]

The GDOT has an interesting article about rail from Atlanta to Chattanooga. They also have an Atlanta to Charlotte study.
I think it is pretty interesting. I don't particularly care about ATL to CHA but if this is successful it can give Cobb the push they need to alleviate our traffic woes.

See the link below

Atlanta to Chattanooga

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by caragitana

The GDOT has an interesting article about rail from Atlanta to Chattanooga. They also have an Atlanta to Charlotte study.
I think it is pretty interesting. I don't particularly care about ATL to CHA but if this is successful it can give Cobb the push they need to alleviate our traffic woes.

See the link below

Atlanta to Chattanooga

Yeah, this stuff has been around for a while now. GDoT has had a commuter rail plan since, at least, 2006. We've had a state intercity rail plan for about that long too.

Sadly, I think the study for Atlanta -> Charlotte high-speed rail is about the only truly active plan, other than MARTA, of course.

[atltechdude]

Good luck getting the gold dome to fund any sort of high speed rail in this state with it's current makeup.

[whodean]

That attitude is changing

[Carolina Knight]

Originally Posted by caragitana

The GDOT has an interesting article about rail from Atlanta to Chattanooga. They also have an Atlanta to Charlotte study.
I think it is pretty interesting. I don't particularly care about ATL to CHA but if this is successful it can give Cobb the push they need to alleviate our traffic woes.

See the link below

Atlanta to Chattanooga

If Atlanta to Chattanooga rail is under consideration, what is the likelihood of rail service extended to Knoxville and to Nashville?

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

If Atlanta to Chattanooga rail is under consideration, what is the likelihood of rail service extended to Knoxville and to Nashville?

I don't think there's any official plans for it, but I've seen various special-interest groups propose it, more as standard Amtrak service than as HSR, though that may be on the table.

[krogerDisco]

I'm skeptical. So much talk about the Brain Train in the past (Athens-Atlanta), and nothing comes of it.

[MattCW]

Atlanta-Chattanooga is not the first segment I'd consider for an Atlanta-centric HSR system. I'd propose Savannah first, and it has the advantage of being mostly straight, flat farmland, with the suburban development being less dense than the south Cobb area any Chattanooga HSR will have to punch through. I could also propose Atlanta-Jacksonville first before I could propose Atlanta-Chattanooga. Given the intermediate stops on both, you might be able to convince the rural representatives to fund it. Numerically, they do have the advantage in our Legislature.

Now, I could definitely see an upgraded regional rail running Atlanta-Chattanooga. Upgraded meaning existing line with more track in a few places, but at a maximum speed of 79mph. That would be cheaper than any HSR on any route.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by MattCW

Atlanta-Chattanooga is not the first segment I'd consider for an Atlanta-centric HSR system. I'd propose Savannah first, and it has the advantage of being mostly straight, flat farmland, with the suburban development being less dense than the south Cobb area any Chattanooga HSR will have to punch through. I could also propose Atlanta-Jacksonville first before I could propose Atlanta-Chattanooga. Given the intermediate stops on both, you might be able to convince the rural representatives to fund it. Numerically, they do have the advantage in our Legislature.

Now, I could definitely see an upgraded regional rail running Atlanta-Chattanooga. Upgraded meaning existing line with more track in a few places, but at a maximum speed of 79mph. That would be cheaper than any HSR on any route.

If anything is to come fist, it will likely be Atlanta -> DC HSR by way of Charlotte. Regional rail should certainly be established, and with MARTA's Lovejoy line hopefully getting going soon enough, we'll have a good start on reaching passenger service to Macon, and maybe further to Savannah.

The Atlanta -> Macon route is getting pretty clogged with freight traffic, and the Macon -> Savannah route is already at capacity. Both need to be expanded to handle the port expansion (truck only lanes aren't the best plan even if the state is considering it first). If we double-tracked the route all the way from Atlanta to Savannah, we'd have TONS of room for freight as well as standard passenger service.

If we put some effort into seriously untangling Howel Y and a few other interlockings within the city, then we'd be setting ourselves up well for the future.

[MattCW]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

If anything is to come fist, it will likely be Atlanta -> DC HSR by way of Charlotte. Regional rail should certainly be established, and with MARTA's Lovejoy line hopefully getting going soon enough, we'll have a good start on reaching passenger service to Macon, and maybe further to Savannah.

In terms of what's easier, I don't think so. ATL to even CLT is long, complex, through denser, mountainous areas. ATL-SAV or ATL-JAX is through fields or highways (I-16 has a decent amount of space). In terms of what is more politically possible, it seems ATL-CLT is unfortunately. I'm afraid that the higher cost will turn people off to the idea entirely and won't even consider something like ATL-SAV because of it.

The Atlanta -> Macon route is getting pretty clogged with freight traffic, and the Macon -> Savannah route is already at capacity. Both need to be expanded to handle the port expansion (truck only lanes aren't the best plan even if the state is considering it first). If we double-tracked the route all the way from Atlanta to Savannah, we'd have TONS of room for freight as well as standard passenger service.

If we're talking HSR, then neither route's capacity matters except around terminal areas where HSR may use existing tracks to access central stations.

If we put some effort into seriously untangling Howel Y and a few other interlockings within the city, then we'd be setting ourselves up well for the future.

That needs to happen regardless of passenger, but if the state funds it, then maybe they can slip some clauses about passenger capacity into the funds.