Senators Warnock, Ossoff announce $1.5 million in federal funding to explore new Georgia passenger rail corridors
U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff have announced the awarding of $1.5 million in federal funding to explore the development of three new passenger rail corridors in Georgia.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (41NBC/WMGT) — U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff have announced the awarding of $1.5 million in federal funding to explore the development of three new passenger rail corridors in Georgia.
The funding, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is aimed at increasing connectivity across the state and with major Southeastern cities.
The grants, distributed by the Federal Rail Administration, will fund studies for proposed rail corridors linking Atlanta with Savannah, Charlotte and Chattanooga.
“When completed, these routes would provide additional public transit options between economic centers in the state like Savannah, Macon, Augusta, Athens and Atlanta, and provide Georgia residents with increased mobility options to reach some of the Southeast’s largest cities, including Nashville, TN; Memphis, TN; Chattanooga, TN; and Charlotte, NC,” a news release stated.
“Creating new transit options with routes connecting Atlanta to Savannah, Charlotte, Chattanooga, and cities in between would be a boon to our state and economy,” Senator Warnock said.
“Through the bipartisan infrastructure law, Senator Warnock and I are accelerating progress toward passenger rail networks to serve Georgia and the Southeast region,” Senator Ossoff added. “This is a long-term project that will require cooperation and strong execution at all levels of government, but it has the potential to unlock huge gains in mobility and quality of life for Georgians.”
Senator Warnock, a member of the Senate Commerce & Transportation committee, has been an advocate for improving rail access and safety in Georgia. His initiatives include supporting a potential passenger rail corridor connecting Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashville and Memphis.
In June, Senator Warnock was joined by Senator Ossoff in announcing $3.2 million in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for projects in Chatham, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties to improve mobility by eliminating railway-highway crossings and study construction alternatives to address safety, connectivity and environmental sustainability.
Senator Ossoff has also focused on expanding passenger rail across the state.
In March, Senator Ossoff delivered $8 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to begin the planning of a high-speed rail link between Atlanta and Savannah
The new funding will fuel the Phase 2 Study of the Atlanta-Savannah rail project.
Click here for a table showing more details on new passenger rail investments coming to Georgia.
