MACON, Ga. — Georgia could be one of the next states in line for billion-dollar federal funding for high-speed commuter rail service, according to the U.S. secretary of transportation.
But questions emerged Friday about what region should get the coveted rail line first.
A crowd of legislators and key players in statewide transportation meeting Friday appeared to agree that an Atlanta-to-Macon connection made the most sense.
But in Chattanooga, there’s been scant mention of such a line. Instead, most talk has focused on a Chattanooga-to-Atlanta leg. And folks in Savannah think a connection from the coast to Middle Georgia makes a lot of sense.
It’s that sort of bickering that could cost its shot a high-speed rail altogether, said U.S. Secretary Ray LaHood.
“They need to be together. If they are together, their priorities will be funded,” LaHood said.
He said Georgia has missed out on nearly $10 billion in previous high-speed rail funding because it lacked leadership in its high-speed rail efforts.
But as far as U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall, D-Macon, is concerned, Macon’s leg of the rail line is first in line for that money when it becomes available.
“It’s much farther along as far as planning and feasibility is concerned,” Marshall said. “It’s way ahead of the other projects and, if it works, then the other projects can follow.”
LaHood was in the Middle Georgia city Friday, speaking on the future of transportation at the Georgia Intermodal Leadership Summit. The event was put on by state Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.
Mullis doesn’t share Marshall’s view on where the first rail line should be laid.
“The Chattanooga-Atlanta line is very important in a bi-state cooperative manner,” Mullis said.
Having the political will of both Georgia and Tennessee behind the project strengthens its chances, he added.
But building the Macon leg first seems “logical” to Georgia Transportation Commissioner Vance Smith.
“Everybody wants a line,” Smith said. “This is the first inning of the ballgame. Everyone has to start here, and the leg has to go somewhere. If there is already money earmarked — and there is money earmarked — that kind of makes logical sense.”
LaHood said a $50 billion stimulus expenditure on infrastructure recently pitched by President Barack Obama is just a “down payment” on a $500 billion spending package planned over six years. The half-billion expenditure won’t add to the federal deficit, he said.
But if Georgia wants in on the action, LaHood said, the state needs to “get its act together.” He noted that the federal government this week gave $50 million to Atlanta for street cars.
“Atlanta had its act together,” LaHood said. “If Georgia wants high-speed rail … you can make it happen.”
He said a proposed 1 cent statewide sales tax was a step in the right direction. Georgia voters must decide in August 2012 if the tax is necessary, but LaHood said that model made sense in light of the steady decline in gas-tax revenue over the past few years.
“The people want high-speed rail in America,” LaHood said. “It’s got to be a common agenda. That’s how I define ‘getting your act together.'”
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