A long-shot idea of a bullet train linking Atlanta and Chattanooga appears to have been derailed.
Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke told The Times Free-Press there's neither the funding or the political will for the project, which was first dreamed up in 1998.
"Any kind of intercity rail doesn't happen without large-scale federal investment," Berke told the newspaper. "It's pretty clear that the federal government is not in a position right now to do large-scale infrastructure investments."
The Tennessee city has pumped about $1.3 million in local funds toward a study of the 110-mile route linking Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Chattanooga, and state and local agencies in Atlanta have put in another $2 million. That money helped lock down a $13.8 million federal grant to research the plan.
But Berke told the newspaper he hasn't heard much in the way of developments, aside from assurances that the studies are ongoing. (Another phase of studies is set to begin later this year.)
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has talked up the benefits of the link between the two cities, though he's also openly explored the idea of a high-speed train to Savannah.
(FYI, a version of this post ran in this morning's jolt, which you can also find here.)
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