Passenger Rail Connecting Memphis to Atlanta Gains Momentum

Initial Steps Taken Towards the Anticipated Railway Project

In a major move towards establishing a new passenger railway in Tennessee, an official Request for Qualification (RFQ) was submitted to the City of Chattanooga. The RFQ marks the first concrete step in a plan to connect Memphis to Atlanta with stops in Nashville and Chattanooga. This application was submitted on behalf of the Free Railroad Administration (FRA) and seeks to identify suitable firms to assist with early planning and design stages of this potential rail corridor. This project, referred to as the “Sunbelt-Atlantic Connector,” aims to chart the best rail route spanning the Southern cities of Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashville, and Memphis.

The Important RFQ and its Key Players

Ellis Smith, the director of intergovernmental and external affairs in Chattanooga, highlighted that this RFQ will help in identifying a high-calibre firm to kick off the project’s planning phase. Formation of the RFQ is seen as a collaborative effort, with representatives from all four cities and from both the Tennessee and Georgia state governments participating in the process. The RFQ submissions will be open until June 11, a timeline detailed in the application.

The RFQ’s submission in Chattanooga, rather than Memphis, is in line with the role the city has played since the beginning of the project. The Mayor’s office in Chattanooga and the City of Chattanooga took the lead in initiating the application process for the Corridor ID for this region. As such, the early planning stages will go through the city’s municipal procedures, as elucidated by Smith.

Implications for Tennessee’s Railway Infrastructure

The FRA had earmarked an amount of $500,000 in December 2023 for a feasibility analysis of the new railway project. The project’s primary objective is to expand passenger lines across selected corridors in the country. The Tennessee cities of Memphis, Nashville, and Chattanooga were designated as hubs for the proposed passenger rail following a statewide study in 2023. The proceedings from the awarded grant will go towards the RFQ and facilitate further developments in the project across both Tennessee and Georgia.

Potential Job Creation and Economic Boost

This envisioned passenger railway network is much more than mere transportation infrastructure, as it is expected to considerably boost the economy by creating new jobs. According to an Amtrak study conducted in 2023, the anticipated rail line through the Nashville-Chattanooga-Atlanta region could potentially generate an estimated 10,684 jobs. In addition, an estimated $81.5 million in economic activity is expected to be generated over a two-decade span.

Next Steps in the Railway Project

The forthcoming study will be instrumental in outlining the project’s full scope. It will detail the most effective way to erect a passenger line connecting the four Southern cities and will act as a blueprint for all future plans related to the railway project. The future holds exciting developments as this pivotal project progresses.