Georgia has received a $4.1 million federal grant to continue studying a future rail line between Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C. The state will also contribute about $1 million toward the more advanced study, according to state Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jill Goldberg.

The future of intercity rail funding is uncertain. Members of Congress last month struck a deal to eliminate the next $8 billion installment of President Obama’s high-speed-rail plan.