Thanks to the efforts of hundreds of transportation advocates, many forward-thinking state leaders and shifting public opinion on the need for alternative transportation, commuter rail in Georgia is now closer to implementation than it has been in nearly a decade. Truly, these projects are the most viable, non-road option in the state to provide new capacity in an economically responsible, environmentally friendly mode that is 25 times safer than the automobile.

Since George Zier, assistant attorney general, presented a new funding opportunity for commuter rail tied to the state-owned Western & Atlantic (W&A) rail corridor (which the state currently leases to CSXT) on April 10, the first commuters who would choose to use the service could enjoy permanent congestion relief by the end of 2009.

Due to federal funding secured in part by former congressman Mac Collins, service between Lovejoy and downtown Atlanta would be first on-line, followed by an extension to Griffin in 2010.

While several spokes in the proposed commuter rail network have sufficient ridership projections to support development, to attempt to "jump lines" in terms of priority will further complicate the path to implementation. It will also delay the delivery of new transportation capacity, congestion relief and positive economic development opportunities for the entire state.

The Georgia Rail Passenger Authority (the state authority charged with the implementation of the Georgia Rail Passenger Program) assigned the Atlanta-Athens corridor (the "Brain Train") as one of the first two corridors of seven for development and implementation almost a decade ago.

Findings of no significant impact and environmental assessment documents for both the Atlanta-Macon and the Atlanta-Athens commuter rail corridors have been accepted by the Federal Transit Administration.

The Georgia Legislature has agreed, vis-a-vis SR 263 (2007) and HR 1631 (2008). SR 263 urges Congress "to provide funding for the engineering, construction, land acquisition, and other necessary costs for commuter rail connecting Athens to Atlanta."

SR 263 passed the Senate unanimously. HR 1631 urges that "the members of the Georgia Transportation Board help ensure that the existing plans for the Macon-to-Atlanta-to-Athens commuter rail lines are implemented with urgency." It was adopted by an overwhelming 143-12.

Further, during its August 2007 meeting, the state transportation board unanimously approved a directive to staff "to move forward with the implementation of the Atlanta-Lovejoy and Atlanta-Tucker commuter rail lines and identify funding sources for maintenance and operations."

It is essential that Georgia stick with the plan submitted to, and accepted by, the federal government before further commuter rail corridor start-up is requested.

We applaud the members of the state transportation board and others for their leadership on the issue.

It has been the position of Georgians for the Brain Train that we hope to provide a model for cooperation and activism for each of the commuter rail lines radiating out of Atlanta.

Our mission is to bring about the advent and implementation of commuter rail in the Athens-Atlanta-Macon corridor and beyond. It is our intention to continue to pursue this mission through the appropriate channels and actions until the option for commuters to choose rail over roads in this corridor becomes a reality.

Paul Snyder is a public affairs specialist with A. Brown-Olmstead Associates representing Georgians for the Brain Train.

 MICHAEL DABROWA / Staff
Illustration of a train