The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is asking Georgians to visit the department’s website and participate in a survey on the future of railroads in the state.
Participants will be asked about community impacts, freight rail, passenger rail service, and safety.
GDOT will use the results to identify potential rail-related economic-development benefits that will be integrated into the Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan and the Georgia Statewide Transportation Plan.
The results also will be used to update the Georgia State Rail Plan. The plan, which hasn’t been updated since 2015, outlines GDOT’s goals and needs for passenger and freight rail service through 2050. It helps integrate rail elements into the state’s multimodal transportation infrastructure.
The survey must be completed by Jan. 10 and is available in both English and Spanish.
Georgia has more than 4,600 miles of active rail lines, 465 miles of which are owned by GDOT and leased to short-line operators.
GDOT received more than $7 million in 2018 from the U.S. Department of Transportation Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program for five different projects to rehabilitate sections of state-owned rail lines.
Annually, more than 100 million tons of freight are shipped in Georgia.
GDOT administers the federally funded Railway-Highway Crossings Program.