Georgia Rail Passenger Program

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The Georgia Rail Passenger Program (GRPP) was a set of plans, as yet unbuilt, for intercity and commuter rail in the U.S. state of Georgia.

## Commuter Routes

[edit]

Seven commuter routes were proposed to serve the Atlanta suburbs and nearby cities.

### Athens to Atlanta ("Brain Train")

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The Athens, Georgia route will connect nine of Georgia's colleges and universities, including Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, Emory University, Georgia Gwinnett College, and the University of Georgia. Furthermore, the commuter rail will link the Centers for Disease Control, the new Paul D. Coverdell Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences, as well as the emerging BioScience Corridor along Georgia State Route 316.

The route is estimated to divert 1.8 million drivers from the highways by 2025.[1] As many as 8,000 individuals or more could conceivably use the system every day, and it could remove 5,300 cars daily from already overtaxed roadways during peak travel times. Also, previous studies have indicated that commuter rail is 25 times safer than driving.

The Georgia Brain Train Group is a non-profit organization with the goal to educate the general public about the opportunities surrounding commuter rail. The group is made of community activists, business leaders, and professionals from every county and city along the proposed route. The group is led by self-described entrepreneur, re-developer, and former Georgia state representative Emory Morsberger of the Morsberger Group.[2] Morsberger projects have previously included the revitalization of downtown Lawrenceville.[3]

As currently proposed, the route will cost $383 million as determined by a 2005 estimate. This price projection includes construction, rail stations, and rail cars. While tickets sales alone will not fully fund the $5 million in operating costs, it is important to note that no mass transit system in the United States operates without some form of government subsidies. Transit advocates often interpret transit subsidization as parallel to road building, which is typically totally subsidized, although ongoing operating costs may be lower.

### Atlanta to Lovejoy and Macon

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The Atlanta to Macon route was, as of 2006, seen as the first line ready for implementation, primarily because the railroad owner, Norfolk Southern had shown more interest than had CSX, the owner of the Athens line. In addition, the Clayton County Commission had offered to fund much of the operating costs of the line, over $106 million in funding was available from the U.S. Department of Transportation, and environmental assessment had been completed.[4]

#### Funding Delays

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In April 2006, a line was slipped into the state budget forbidding the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) from spending any funds on commuter rail without direct approval from the General Assembly. Rail advocates saw that as a last-minute sabotage of the program, as the General Assembly only meets for 40 days once a year.[5] In addition, the Clayton County Commission in January 2007 withdrew its commitment to fund the operating costs of the line.

#### Revived Interest in 2008

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There has been revived interest in the Lovejoy line in 2008 and the governor backed it in June.

In January 2008, a delegation of GDOT members visited Philadelphia and Chicago to see how commuter rail systems in those cities was implemented. They also visited the LYNX light rail line in Charlotte.

In early June, that delegation passed a mostly symbolic resolution urging state leaders to pass a transit policy.

In June 2008, under intense pressure from businesses and Atlanta residents along with other politicians, Governor Sonny Perdue backed the Lovejoy line and said he wants it to be pursued aggressively. This may have been partially spurred by a visit the Governor previously had to rep. David Scott's office. David Scott warned that the deadline for acting on the federal dollars would run out soon.[6]

#### Clayton County and MARTA

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In 2014, Clayton County voters approved a one-cent sales tax increase allowing the county to join the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority with the promise of MARTA buses and the long-awaited commuter rail train from East Point to Jonesboro.[7] In December 2018, MARTA officially approved the Clayton County commuter rail.[8] Norfolk Southern Railway had come to an agreement with Georgia Department of Transportation for use of its right-of-way in constructing a commuter rail train back in 2006.[9] Right-of-way sharing is very common across the country, especially since many railroads received eminent domain land grants when originally constructing their railroad lines.[10] According to the Association of American Railroads, "half of commuter systems operate at least partially on freight-owned track, and approximately 25% of the miles on which commuter railroads operate are owned by freight railroads."[11] However, as the project approached, by 2021, Norfolk Southern decided they were no longer willing to offer their railroad frontage. This loss would add $600 million to the project's total cost.[12] Because federal regulations require "voluntary" agreements between railroad and forbid eminent domain usage, MARTA could not fight this opposition in court.[13] The escalating cost led MARTA to replace the plan for rail transit with a Bus rapid transit system based on surface streets around Clayton County.[14][15]

### Bremen to Atlanta

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The Southern Railway operated this line heading west toward Birmingham, Alabama. The line continues to be used today for Amtrak's Crescent. Into the mid-1960s, the line had local service provided by the Frisco/Southern joint Kansas City-Florida Special and the Southern's #11/#12 train.[16]

### Canton to Atlanta

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This line of rail will run from Canton and connect into the Western and Atlantic Railroad line that runs from Atlanta to Acworth, then continue along the Western and Atlantic through Marietta, Smyrna, Cumberland, Vinings, and then the Bolton district of Atlanta, West Midtown (near Georgia Tech), then connect into either Midtown via Atlantic Station or continue to Five Points, or both. Outside the city limits of Atlanta along this route, city populations total over 200,000 people if the high-density Cumberland district of Cobb County is included. Additionally, outlying areas would bring even more commuters.

A funding mechanism has been found for build up to Marietta from Atlanta by using future years' revenue from CSX to pay back the initial costs of a quick build-out. [1]

### Gainesville to Atlanta

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This line included a commuter operation until the early 1930s. It continues to be used by Amtrak for daily passenger service with the Crescent. Into the 1960s the Southern Railway ran this and other trains such as Piedmont Limited, Peach Queen, Southerner, daily along this same route. The Norfolk Southern Railway operates freight service on this line.

### Atlanta to Social Circle

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Traditionally, this was the Georgia Railroad main line heading east towards Augusta.[17]

### Atlanta to West Point

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Traditionally, this was the Atlanta and West Point Railroad, heading southwest in the direction of Montgomery, Alabama. Trains such as the Southern Railway's Crescent and Piedmont Limited made stops at West Point and some of the intermediate towns en route.[18]

## North Georgia Commuter Rail (NGCR)

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The North Georgia Commuter Rail is a new proposed commuter rail network composed of seven lines.

Gainesville Line

North Atlanta station, a major stop on the Gainesville line

Overview
Status| Proposed
Locale| Atlanta
Fulton County
DeKalb County
Gwinnett County
Hall County
Termini|

* Five Points
* Gainesville

Stations| 16
Service
Type| Commuter rail
System| North Georgia Commuter Rail
Operator(s)| North Georgia Commuter Rail
Depot(s)| Inman Yard
Rolling stock| Diesel-Electric push-pull locomotives
Technical
Line length| 53.06 mi (85.39 km)
Character| Grade-separated and At-grade
Track gauge| 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

Route map

Legend

|  |  |

|  |

| Amtrak

to New York

|  |

|  | Gainesville |

|  |

|  | Westside/Lee Gilmer Airport
|  |

|  |

SR 53

|  |

|  | Oakwood
|  |

|  | Flowery Branch
|  |

|  | Rest Haven
|  |

|  | Buford
|  |

|  |

SR 20

|  |

|  | Sugar Hill
|  |

|  | Suwanee
|  |

|  | Duluth
|  |

|  |

Pleasant Hill Road

|  |

|  | Norcross
|  |

|  |

SR 140

|  |

|  |

I-285

|  |

|  | Chamblee |

|  |

|  | Brookhaven |

|  |

|  | Lenox |

|  |

|  |

SR 400

|  |

|  |

US 19 / SR 9

|  |

|  | North Atlanta
|  |

|  |

I-75

|  |

|  |

US 41 / SR 3

|  |

|  |

| Rome Service/Tallapoosa Corridor

to Rome and Tallapoosa

|  |

|  |

US 19 / US 41 / SR 3

|  |

|  |

| LaGrange Line

to LaGrange

|  |

|  | Georgia Tech
|  |

|  |

US 29 / US 78 / US 278 / SR 8

|  |

|  |
|  |

|  |

| Macon Service

to Macon

|  |

|  | Georgia MMPT |

|  |

|  |

| Athens Line/Covington/Madison Line

to Athens and Madison

|  |  |  |  |  |

Bus connections at some stations

This diagram:

* view
* talk
* edit

Tallapoosa Corridor

The EMD F125, one of the two locomotives proposed for NGCR

Overview
Status| Proposed
Locale| Atlanta
Fulton County
Cobb County
Douglas County
Carroll County
Haralson County
Termini|

* Five Points
* Tallapoosa

Stations| 14
Service
Type| Commuter rail
System| North Georgia Commuter Rail
Operator(s)| North Georgia Commuter Rail
Depot(s)| Inman Yard
Rolling stock| Diesel-Electric push-pull locomotives
Technical
Line length| 61.98 mi (99.75 km)
Character| Grade-separated and At-grade
Track gauge| 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

Route map

Legend

|  |  |

|  |

| Amtrak

to New Orleans

|  |

|  | Tallapoosa
|  |

|  |

SR 100

|  |

|  |

US 78 / SR 8

|  |

|  |

US 27

|  |

|  | Bremen
|  |

|  | Temple
|  |

|  | Villa Rica
|  |

|  | Douglasville
|  |

|  | Kellogg
|  |

|  | Lithia Springs
|  |

|  |

US 278 / SR 6

|  |

|  | Austell
|  |

|  | Mableton
|  |

|  | Cooper Lake
|  |

|  |

I-285

|  |

|  | Scott's Crossing
|  |

|  |

| Rome Service

to Rome

|  |

|  | Knight Park
|  |

|  |

| Gainesville Line

to Gainesville

|  |

|  |

US 19 / US 41 / SR 3

|  |

|  |

| LaGrange Line

to LaGrange

|  |

|  | Georgia Tech
|  |

|  |

US 29 / US 78 / US 278 / SR 8

|  |

|  |
|  |

|  |

| Macon Service

to Macon

|  |

|  | Five Points |

|  |

|  |

| Athens Line/Covington/Madison Line

to Athens and Madison

|  |  |  |  |  |

Bus connections at some stations

This diagram:

* view
* talk
* edit

Athens Line

The University of Georgia in Athens

Overview
Status| Proposed
Locale| Atlanta
Fulton County
DeKalb County
Gwinnett County
Barrow County
Oconee County
Clarke County
Termini|

* Five Points
* Athens

Stations| 18
Service
Type| Commuter rail
System| North Georgia Commuter Rail
Operator(s)| North Georgia Commuter Rail
Depot(s)| Inman Yard
Rolling stock| Diesel-Electric push-pull locomotives
Technical
Line length| 68.34 mi (109.98 km)
Character| Grade-separated and At-grade
Track gauge| 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

Route map

Legend

|  |  |

|  | Athens

|
|
|
|

|  |

|  |

US 129 / SR 10

|  |

|  |

US 129 / SR 15

|  |

|  | Cleveland Road-West Athens
|  |

|  | Bogart
|  |

|  |

SR 211

|  |

|  | Statham
|  |

|  |

SR 11 / SR 53

|  |

|  | Winder
|  |

|  | Auburn
|  |

|  |

SR 324

|  |

|  | Dacula
|  |

|  |

SR 316

|  |

|  |

SR 20

|  |

|  | Lawrenceville
|  |

|  |

SR 120

|  |

|  |

US 29 / SR 8

|  |

|  | Yorktown
|  |

|  | Ansley Brook
|  |

|  | Lilburn
|  |

|  |

US 29 / SR 8

|  |

|  | Tucker
|  |

|  | Northlake
|  |

|  |

I-285

|  |

|  | North Druid Hills
|  |

|  |

US 23 / SR 155

|  |

|  | North Decatur
|  |

|  | West Decatur-Scott Blvd
|  |

|  |

US 78

|  |

|  |

US 278 / SR 10

|  |

|  |

| Covington/Madison Line

to Madison

|  |

|  | Edgewood/Candler Park |

|  |

|  |

US 23 / SR 42

|  |

|  |

I-75 / I-85 / SR 401 / SR 403

|  |

|  |
|  |

|  | Five Points |

|  |

|  |

| North Georgia Commuter Rail Trains

to Gainesville, Tallapoosa, Macon, LaGrange and Rome

|  |  |  |  |  |

Bus connections at some stations

This diagram:

* view
* talk
* edit

Covington/Madison Line

A Siemens diesel trainset

Overview
Status| Proposed
Locale| Atlanta
Fulton County
DeKalb County
Rockdale County
Newton County
Walton County
Morgan County
Termini|

* Five Points
* Madison

Stations| 15
Service
Type| Commuter rail
System| North Georgia Commuter Rail
Operator(s)| North Georgia Commuter Rail
Depot(s)| Inman Yard
Rolling stock| Diesel-Electric push-pull locomotives
Technical
Line length| 67.71 mi (108.97 km)
Character| Grade-separated and At-grade
Track gauge| 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

Route map

Legend

|  |  |

|  | Madison

|
|
|
|

|  |

|  |

SR 83

|  |

|  | Rutledge
|  |

|  |

SR 11

|  |

|  | Social Circle
|  |

|  |

I-20

|  |

|  | Covington
|  |

|  |

SR 81

|  |

|  |

I-20

|  |

|  | Almon
|  |

|  |

SR 138

|  |

|  | Conyers
|  |

|  |

SR 124

|  |

|  | Lithonia
|  |

|  | Redan
|  |

|  | Stone Mountain
|  |

|  |

SR 10

|  |

|  | Wilshire-Hambrick Road
|  |

|  | Clarkston
|  |

|  |

I-285

|  |

|  | Scottdale
|  |

|  |

SR 155

|  |

|  | Agnes Scott College
|  |

|  |

US 278 / SR 10

|  |

|  |

| Athens Line

to Athens

|  |

|  | Edgewood/Candler Park |

|  |

|  |

US 23 / SR 42

|  |

|  |

I-75 / I-85 / SR 401 / SR 403

|  |

|  |
|  |

|  | Five Points |

|  |

|  |

| North Georgia Commuter Rail Trains

to Gainesville, Tallapoosa, Macon, LaGrange and Rome

|  |  |  |  |  |

Bus connections at some stations

This diagram:

* view
* talk
* edit

## Intercity Routes

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Routes proposed for intercity transportation include:

* Albany to Jacksonville:[19]
* Albany to Tallahassee:[19]
* Atlanta to Athens:[19]
* Atlanta to Augusta (to Columbia & Charleston ):[19]
* Atlanta to Birmingham:[20]
* Atlanta to Charlotte:[20]
* Atlanta to Chattanooga:[20][21]
* Atlanta to Columbus (High Speed Rail):[20]
* Atlanta to Greenville:[19]
* Atlanta to Louisville:[20]
* Atlanta to Macon:[19][21]
* Atlanta to Montgomery:[21]
* Atlanta to Nashville:[21]
* Atlanta to Jacksonville:[20]
* Augusta to Savannah:[19][21]
* Columbus to Americus:[19]
* Griffin to Columbus:[19]
* Macon to Savannah:[19]
* Macon to Jesup:[19]
* Macon to Albany:[19]
* Savannah to Jacksonville:[19]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2008)

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## References

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1. ^ Finding of No Significant Impact - Athens to Atlanta Commuter Rail Project
2. ^ Morsberger Group
3. ^ Horton Team Real Estate: October 2007
4. ^ GDOT 2006 Fact Sheet - Lovejoy to Atlanta Rail Line
5. ^ Georgia Rail Passenger Group Blasts "Great Train Robbery"
6. ^ At last, Gov. Perdue on board for commuter rail
7. ^ Vock, Daniel C (2014-09-17). "The Driver Behind Public Transit's Transformation in Atlanta". Governing. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
8. ^ Wickert, David. "MARTA approves plans for Clayton County commuter train". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
9. ^ "Congressman David Scott Applauds New Commuter Rail". U.S. Congressman David Scott. 2006-11-15. Archived from the original on 2006-11-29. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
10. ^ Federal Railroad Administration (July 2019). "Shared-Use of Railroad Rights-of-Way" (PDF). United States Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
11. ^ "Freight Rail & Amtrak: Providing the Foundation for Passenger Rail". Association of American Railroads. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
12. ^ Wickert, David; Stafford, Leon. "MARTA may scrap plans for Clayton County rail line". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
13. ^ Prozzi, Jolanda; Walthall, Rydell; Kenney, Megan; Warner, Jeff; Morgan, Curtis (2014-12-01). "Public Use of Rail Right-of-Way in Urban Areas" (PDF). Texas A&M Transportation Institute. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
14. ^ Wickert, David; Stafford, Leon. "MARTA may scrap plans for Clayton County rail line". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
15. ^ Wilkins, Tyler (2022-11-17). "MARTA again chooses bus rapid transit for Clayton County expansion". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
16. ^ Southern Timetable, April 1964 http://streamlinermemories.info/South/SRR64-4TT.pdf
17. ^ Official Guide of the Railways, Georgia Railroad section May 1945
18. ^ Official Guide of the Railways, Atalanta and West Point section, May 1945
19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Intercity Rail Program". Archived from the original on 2008-02-23. Retrieved 2008-02-17.
20. ^ a b c d e f "Planning::High Speed Rail". www.columbusga.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
21. ^ a b c d e "Amtrak Connects Us". Amtrak Media. Retrieved 2023-02-16.

## External links

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* Georgia Association of Railroad Passengers
* Georgia Brain Train Group Archived 2006-04-30 at the Wayback Machine
* Sierra Club Atlanta Building Environmental Community program \- a prominent advocate for commuter rail
* Proposed Rail Map