Atlanta Mayor Dickens: “Thank you to Sen. Ossoff for his leadership and advocacy for Georgians.”
Savannah Mayor Johnson: “This is game-changing for Savannah. We appreciate Sen. Ossoff’s efforts and advocacy at the federal level.”
U.S. High Speed Rail Coalition: “Sen. Ossoff represents the next generation of high-speed rail leadership in the U.S. Senate.”
Atlanta, Ga. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff has succeeded in his effort to begin the planning of a high-speed rail link between Atlanta and Savannah.
Sen. Ossoff’s initiative passed the U.S. Senate with bipartisan support on Thursday evening. He has championed efforts to expand high-speed rail across the Southeast to drive economic growth and increase mobility and connectivity.
The initiative passed the U.S. House last night.
Sen. Ossoff secured $8 million for the Georgia Department of Transportation to begin the first key study to determine feasibility of the project.
“This is a major milestone for Georgia transportation, winning bipartisan support in the Senate. This historic first step will assess the viability of a high-speed rail connection between Atlanta and Savannah, connecting these great cities and communities in between,” Sen. Ossoff said.
“The paths to our shared futures have always been paved with connectivity. Atlanta, the state of Georgia and its cities can only benefit from forward-thinking policies like high-speed rail expansion,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said. “Thank you to Sen. Ossoff for his leadership and advocacy for Georgians.”
“This is game-changing for Savannah. We appreciate Sen. Ossoff’s efforts and advocacy at the federal level, which will lead to high-speed rail becoming a reality in our city. This effort will drive economic activity and opportunity for hardworking Savannahians, and I look forward to continued work with Sen. Ossoff to get this done,” Savannah Mayor Van R. Johnson, II said.
“The Georgia Department of Transportation recognizes the importance of a multimodal future,” said Russell McMurry, GDOT Commissioner. “This grant will allow the Department of Transportation to evaluate the feasibility of passenger rail, its environmental impacts and any potential impacts to our robust freight network.”
“We believe this will be a significant investment in rural counties in the I-75 Corridor. It will help economic development, freight and passenger mobility and relieve the congestion in one of the busiest corridors in Georgia,” said Monroe County Chairman Greg Tapley, outgoing President of the I-75 Central Corridor Coalition.
“Sen. Ossoff deserves our thanks for delivering a project that will help all Georgians connect to new opportunities and help the all the citizens of the I-75 Corridor move more efficiently and safely,” said Stockbridge Mayor Anthony Ford, incoming Chairman of the I-75 Central Corridor Coalition.
“As a champion of the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor, I am pleased to see the Atlanta-Savannah planning funding included in the Omnibus Appropriation. With a fast-growing population and a long overdue demand for transportation options beyond personal vehicles, high-speed rail in the Southeast is a critical need, and I applaud the leadership of Senator Jon Ossoff for obtaining this commitment of funds,” said Anthony Foxx, Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation and Co-Chair of the U.S. High Speed Rail Coalition.
“As a son of Decatur, Georgia, I am delighted that Sen. Ossoff has persuaded Congress to launch serious planning for high-speed rail from Atlanta to Savannah,” said Ezra Silk, Political Director, U.S. High Speed Rail Coalition. Sen. Ossoff represents the next generation of high-speed rail leadership in the U.S. Senate.”
“Congratulations to the State of Georgia in securing high-speed rail planning money to begin the early works. Sen. Ossoff has shown bold leadership in advancing a high-speed rail line that will link major population hubs, drive economic growth, and increase mobility across Georgia,” Andy Kunz, President & CEO, U.S. High Speed Rail Association said.
# # #
