The Cobb County Board of Commissioners decided recently to appeal to state officials to maintain control of the rail corridor from Midtown Atlanta through Cobb County to Chattanooga.
The alternative would be for state officials to renew their lease with CSX for 50 years, beginning in 2020.
The county resolution says state control is needed “given the long-range interests in exploring passenger rail connectivity under a Comprehensive Transportation Plan.”
The state owns the 137-mile railroad right of way but it currently is leased to CSX Transportation. With this 30-year lease set to expire in December 2019, the state is in negotiations with CSX to enter a 50-year lease, according to a county statement.
The rail corridor intersects an existing rail line that runs from Marietta through Canton to Jasper, Ellijay and Blue Ridge that might could be used “in future regional transportation solutions, including passenger connectivity.”
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