Ossoff Pushes for High-Speed Rail Through Athens

[TexasTowelie]

As President Joe Biden’s $1 trillion infrastructure plan continues stalling in Congress, Georgia U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff is hoping to get $10 billion included in the budget reconciliation bill for high-speed passenger rail for Georgia and the Southeast.

Last month, Ossoff wrote a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, and U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-WA., who chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

“As this Congress makes historic investments in America’s infrastructure, we should allocate robust resources for high-speed rail necessary to advance the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor, a long-planned project of national significance necessary to connect the fast-growing American Southeast,” Ossoff wrote. “I strongly urge the Senate’s proposal to include at least $10 billion in dedicated funding for high-speed rail planning and construction.”

Planning is currently underway for an intercity rail line between Atlanta and Charlotte, NC, with a proposed stop in Athens.

Read more: https://flagpole.com/featured/2021/10/18/ossoff-pushes-for-high-speed-rail-through-athens/

[CottonBear]

1. Athens has a multi-modal station (w/existing tracks) ready for passenger train service.

The city used to have 5 train stations. There are train tracks and train lines all through downtown and across the county.
There is a large amount of freight traffic through Athens on the main lines. It would be fantastic to be able to travel by train.