Atlanta's bid for high-speed rail is going to be wrecked.......by Georgia

[marmar]

from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:




For high-speed rail, Georgia may not be on fast track
By ARIEL HART

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sunday, April 19, 2009


News of Atlanta’s eligibility to win big federal funds for high-speed rail is spreading bittersweet excitement among Atlanta officials.

In Georgia, so little work has been done on potential projects that when Washington starts awarding grants for a high-speed rail network, officials here are just hoping to win more studies.

Compare that with North Carolina, where big bucks may end up funding construction of actual train lines that lead to Washington. Georgia and North Carolina each have legs of the same potential rail line.

“Let’s face it, our Department of Transportation has for years been primarily a department of highways,” said Chick Krautler, director of the Atlanta Regional Commission.

President Barack Obama announced plans Thursday for a national high-speed rail network that would include lines crisscrossing Georgia connected through a hub in Atlanta.

The plan would create a European-like system with trains that could run at more than 100 mph. Obama is pledging $8 billion toward development of the system as part of the economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/stories//2009/04/19/rail_atlanta_high_speed.html

[pscot]

1. Isn't Georgia one of those states

that wants to secede? Why would we be putting a big investment in high speed rail into a place that doesn't like us ?

[napi21]

2. No, I don't think so. You're thinking of SC. I live in Ga. now, and I'd

LOVE HS rail! I have no idea about cost to ride something like that, but it would HAVE to be cheaper than air, and a lot less hassel!

Anybody who has to drive I85 every day should be screaming at the Ga. DOT to go for it!!!!

[Laelth]

4. Sadly, yes. On a vote of 43-1 the GA Senate approved the "secession" bill.

But they knew it would never pass, and it's not the law.

I too would love the high-speed rail here. A line from Macon to ATL would be great for me.

:dem:

-Laelth

[BlooInBloo]

3. (shrug) People deserve what they vote for.

The money quote:

"Georgia leaders seemed more in tune with the Bush administration’s vision, which focused on toll roads and private investment. Georgia fought for and won a $110 million grant to put tolls on I-85 carpool lanes in Gwinnett County. The tolls are expected to be operational in a couple of years."

[Fumesucker]

5. Georgia is seriously schizophrenic..

Atlanta and some of the closer suburbs and a few other areas are fairly liberal, the rest of the state is very freeperlike..

There are a lot of issues here where Atlanta basically bucks the rest of the state.. The thing is that Atlanta is the economic engine that drives most of the state, the rural areas tend to be pretty depressed economically.

But since the legislature is primarily rural based (Georgia has more counties than any other state) Atlanta loses most of the battles in the legislature.

Edited for speling.