Could Central Georgia see a rail system?

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by NewtownMacon

I saw the article about the DOT pushing for plans to connect ATL and Chatt via High speed rail. However, I'm not sure why in the Hell would the state of GA push for this type of development to a city that's not even in GA and drive all the growth that would follow to TN instead of driving to one of it's own cities like Macon, Augusta, Columbus or even Savannah. That make no sense to me... Why Chattanooga??????

The short answer is: water.

The suit between Florida and Georgia over water access rights to the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers has entered the federal court. Should Florida win the case, Georgia, and Atlanta by rather direct affect, will have caps placed on its use of water from the river. That will put a halt to growth in North Georgia.

That is, unless an alternative source of water can be secured. For a multitude of reasons, the the Tennessee River just above the Georgia boarder is the next best source. Georgia has proposed accessing this source before, and met a solid 'No' from Tennessee.

Georgia has threatened to take Tennessee to the Supreme Court over access, even going so far as to threaten federally backed redrawing of the northern boarder to fix inaccuracies in the original survey work that established it.

"So", you ask, "where do the trains come in?"

That's the thing. Neither Georgia nor Tennessee WANT to go through the courts, but Tennessee isn't just going to let Georgia pull from its water sources. So, Georgia offers to build high-speed rail to Chattanooga, in exchange for putting a pipe in the Tennessee River.

Chattanooga gets connected to the regional economic powerhouse, and all the amenities that come with that. That's all the companies, logistics centers, convention centers, banks, office facilities, and the airport. That also points a route north, for a potential Atlanta -> Chicago high-speed rail line via Chattanooga, Nashville, Louisville, and Indianapolis.


Atlanta to Macon to Savannah is STILL very much on Atlanta's mind, and the (likely) construction of MARTA Commuter Rail Transit in Clayton County would be a large step in the right direction, essentially acting as Atlanta's buy-in for such a line.

Even so, Atlanta -> Charlotte high-speed rail is more so on Atlanta's mind than Atlanta -> Chattanooga.

All that said, we may very well see the Atlanta -> Chattanooga route used as a political leverage item for securing natural resources for the continually growing North Georgia region.

[the tiger]

Everybody always wanting the future to be now. Nobody built rails to connect to distant towns. It works the other way around - towns got developed because of rail. I think that our mayor has done a great part in trying to bring in intercity rail service to Macon-Bibb. Though when the topic of passenger rail is brought up it always seems to be the most interesting headline and major discussion. It surely is an attention grabber. Many of the people that I talk with always have a positive plus about the idea of one day that our city could be connected with the city of Atlanta by way of passenger rail. It is only one component of the spectrum of our transportation network. You have to consider other components also; such as: children walking to school, bikes on trails, bus and rail, commuters, trains, airplanes, and cargo ships - which are all part of our transportation network. For one top heads will have to come together with a common goal. As far as local, state, and federal level of funding. To get the ball rolling. One of the issues is that first of all the city of Atlanta hasn't broken ground to building a multimodal terminal as of yet. It was first said that the terminal was to be built at Hartsfield Jackson International airport. Then the project switched to a downtown Atlanta proposed location. For one the elephant in the room is freight rail. The idea of passenger rail sharing the lines here in the state with freight rail is kinda left field when it comes to the rail line company's of Norfolk and CSX. The freight rail industry in the state employ's 600,000 workers and brings in $54 billion dollars a year. 190 million tons of freight a year and an estimated 217 million tons of freight by 2040. The plans to build a multimodal terminal has halted. The terminal was supposed to be being built, but the land and rail lines that Norfolk Southern gave to the city of Atlanta in preparation for the project they withdrew the presentation of the deal. Mainly because the deepening of the Savannah seaport.

[oobanks]

Atlanta hasn't broken ground on its First Commuter Rail line just within the Atlanta Metro Area so don't look to see anything of that Capacity done to the Macon Area any time soon. That's just reality

[the tiger]

Originally Posted by oobanks

Atlanta hasn't broken ground on its First Commuter Rail line just within the Atlanta Metro Area so don't look to see anything of that Capacity done to the Macon Area any time soon. That's just reality

That's the reason that the multimodal terminal was supposed to be being built. The first commuter rail line service would of reach to Lovejoy.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by oobanks

Atlanta hasn't broken ground on its First Commuter Rail line just within the Atlanta Metro Area so don't look to see anything of that Capacity done to the Macon Area any time soon. That's just reality

CoA is getting there, though. Well, MARTA is, at least.

The MMPT, while it would be nice, is not necessary for service between Macon and Atlanta. MARTA is planning on building its line with the intention to let others use it going south, like GRTA commuter trains, or Intercity trains to Macon and Savannah.

In addition to the MMPT, though, we / y'all need to really be looking at track capacities. The lines between Savannah and Atlanta are well used, but Norfolk Southern is already building / planning to build in additional capacity to handle freight volumes. Where the state could come in is with additional funding to future-proof the lines for even more freight, and buy in passenger train rights. After all, a vast majority of the rail in the state is single-tracked, and the state might be able to strike a deal to double-track the whole shebang, with federal money as well. That is, if NS will let it. Otherwise, it's all new track.