Georgia transportation officials are advancing plans for a high-speed rail line connecting Atlanta and Savannah, after holding a public feedback report on the idea.
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has launched a feasibility study into the project that would cut travel time and costs between two major hubs, and become part of the Corridor Identification and Development program, which is expanding high-speed rail networks across the country.
Why It Matters
If managed correctly, Atlanta could become a hub for high-speed rail in the Southeast, as several other projects are revolving around the city as part of the Corridor Identification and Development program. The federally managed initiative is investigating the possibility of routes from Atlanta to Charlotte, North Carolina, and from, Atlanta to Chattanooga, Tennessee, which would be in turn connected to Memphis.
What To Know
The new report, released on Saturday, would determine the best way to approach building a high-speed rail line that would connect Atlanta’s metropolitan area, the largest in the state, to Savannah, which is a distance of roughly 250 miles.
GDOT identified the route as a potential corridor for passenger and economic demand, after more than 4,000 responses were given at an initial public interest forum hosted in January…