Part of the "FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH" initiative
Reconsider and advance the proposal for a high speed passenger rail from Atlanta to Columbus, with a stop in Newnan, in order to create faster and more convenient transportation opportunities for commuters. The proposal suggests reconnecting with prior feasibility work, updating the study for current conditions, pursuing federal and state funding, and working with regional transportation partners so Columbus can become connected to Atlanta and other major areas through rail. This would give young professionals access to larger job markets while maintaining Columbus’ lower cost of living and quality of life.
Tracks staff or contractor roles needed to support implementation, including grant writer, Columbus grant coordinator, lobbyist/activists, and rail planning support.
Tracks community education and outreach efforts, including educational meetings and promotional materials.
Tracks the environmental benefit of a more eco-friendly transportation method compared with single-driver car commuting.
Tracks supplemental Columbus grant coordinator costs over three years.
Tracks whether the updated feasibility study confirms that the project is still worth pursuing under current conditions.
Tracks named funding programs and grant sources identified for the passenger rail proposal.
Tracks Columbus train station design and construction.
Tracks the rail project’s ability to let young professionals live in Columbus, access Atlanta job opportunities, and still build community locally.
Tracks the proposed Columbus-to-Atlanta rail connection with a stop in Newnan.
Tracks coordination with Newnan, Atlanta, City of Columbus Consolidated Government, GDOT, U.S. DOT, FRA, Amtrak, and other rail developers.
Tracks support for technology cluster growth through improved connection to Atlanta and other cities.
Tracks broader labor markets and a wider network of employers connected through passenger rail.
Tracks projected use and ridership interest for the proposed rail project.
Tracks the expected job-market benefit of allowing more people to live in Columbus while working in Atlanta or accessing broader employment markets.
Tracks economic development generated along the train route and additional spending in Columbus.
Tracks tourism growth from Atlanta-area visitors reaching Columbus faster by rail, spending more time in Columbus, and taking overnight stays.
Tracks regional connectivity between Columbus, Atlanta, Newnan, and the broader Georgia rail network.
Tracks completion of proposal phases including grant writer designation, HNTB reconnection, feasibility study update, lobbying, grant applications, partnership planning, study completion, operator decision, and construction.
Tracks community support for the rail project and evidence of interest in ridership to support the initiative.
Tracks DOT Regional Partnership Challenge Grant income for construction of train station/terminals.
Tracks cost for hiring lobbyist/activists to make the case for the Columbus rail line to state government.
Tracks the cost to revisit and update the feasibility study for current conditions.
Tracks site designation, including purchase or repurposing of land for commuter station rail right-of-way.
Tracks approval and coordination among federal, state, and local governments, rail providers, Amtrak, and other partners needed to begin work on the project.
Tracks DOT Community Planning Grant income for feasibility study and community outreach materials.
Proposed passenger rail budget includes $250,000 to revisit the feasibility study and update for current conditions, $25,000 to hire lobbyist/activists, $30,000 for supplemental Columbus grant coordination over three years, $10,000 for community education and outreach, $500,000 for site designation, $1.5 million for Columbus train station design and construction, $42,000 DOT Community Planning Grant match, $100,000 DOT Regional Partnership Challenge Grant match, $208,000 DOT Community Planning Grants income, $1.6 million DOT Regional Partnership Challenge Grants income, $200,000 Atlanta Regional Partnership Challenge Grant match, and $100,000 Newnan Regional Partnership Challenge Grant match.