Mayoral hopeful David Crockett blames Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke for slowing the city’s momentum to getting a high-speed rail connection to Atlanta.
The core message of the three-time former councilman’s campaign to unseat Berke has been to fully embrace the idea of significantly boosting Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport flights by means of magnetic levitation trains that would draw passengers – and traffic congestion – away from Hartsfield- Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The proposed 30- minute rail connection would “profoundly” transform economic development in Chattanooga, he has said.
The project, which would require billions in Federal Railway Administration dollars to build, has been under consideration since 1998, back when Crockett served on the Chattanooga City Council. Since then, Chattanooga has put $1.3 million toward a $17.1 million environmental study conducted by the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Crockett cited President Donald Trump’s call to reinvest in America’s infrastructure and his focus on high-speed rail systems, like those found in Japan and Germany.
On Friday, Crockett voiced his allegations against Berke during a news conference held at the City Council building.