As Chattanooga grows, transportation needs grow with it, making a multitude of available options all the more important, according to city officials.
Thursday, Jan. 24, Chattanooga Department of Transportation Administrator Blythe Bailey is holding a second public meeting to gain community input on the idea of an intra-city railroad service to ease congestion woes.
"You will see three alternatives for different forms of rail in the city based on different initial concepts," Bailey said of those who attend the meeting. "Some of the alternatives are going to better address mobility and traffic, others will address economic potential as the city grows and then thirdly, will explore existing infrastructure."
The rail study, funded largely by a Federal Highway Administration Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant, will evaluate the community benefits of rail adaptation across Chattanooga, as well as whether implementation of a railway - which would take an expected 10 years - is feasible.
Although residents attending the initial meeting in October expressed frustration that the initial plan did not encompass the North Shore and showed limited access in the East Hamilton area, Bailey said those things could come later, should a railway prove to be successful and popular.
"Any alternatives proposed have to be feasible. North Shore would not be feasible right now because we would have to redo bridge infrastructure," Bailey explained. "It's not that it's not needed or that we don't want to do it, but that right now it probably isn't possible."
Alternatives do encompass access to the Chattanooga Airport, Enterprise South and the Brainerd area, he noted.
"Chattanooga as a whole needs to have more options. Congestion issues around growth in our city are largely related to a lack of alternatives," said Bailey. "[Designing the railway] smartly and feasibly is important as a step one.
"We know step one won't service everybody, but it's step one. We need good feedback and input from everyone for it to move forward and do this in the best way possible."
The rail study meeting is being held at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Imperial Ballroom at 5:30 p.m. For more information about the study, visit chattanooga.gov/rail. To engage with the project on Twitter, use #ReturnToRail and #PassengerRail. For SMS updates, text "RAIL" to 83224.
Email Gabrielle Chevalier at gchevalier@timesfreepress.com.