Rail
​Georgia State Rail Plan

Georgia's Comprehensive State Rail Plan Update

In continuation with its commitment to enhancing Georgia's rail infrastructure, GDOT is embarking on a comprehensive update to the State Rail Plan. This vital document, last revised in 2021, outlines Georgia's strategic vision, objectives, and requirements concerning both freight and passenger rail services within the state. Aligning with federal guidelines, the plan encompasses an overview of Georgia's rail network, its associated economic and transportation advantages, and a blueprint of proposed investments slated to propel the rail system forward through 2050. Boasting over 3,000 miles of track, Georgia's robust rail network is essential in fostering economic growth and connectivity.

At its core, the State Rail Plan underscores Georgia's commitment to cultivating a safe, efficient, and dependable rail infrastructure, one that facilitates enhanced accessibility and mobility for both cargo and commuters, thereby fortifying the state's economic prowess.

2025 Georgia State Rail Plan Community Feedback

Help Shape the Future of Georgia’s Rail Network

Thank you for your interest in the 2025 Georgia State Rail Plan. Your input is vital to shaping the development of Georgia’s freight and passenger rail services. To review the meeting materials, including a recording of the recent stakeholder workshop, and to provide your comments, please visit the link below.

You’ll also find updates on future engagement opportunities as we continue to gather feedback from stakeholders and the public.

View Materials & Leave a Comment

 

Public Outreach

A cornerstone of the State Rail Plan is its role as a comprehensive, long-range planning tool, providing invaluable insights into the dynamics of the railroad industry while charting a course for future development. By integrating passenger and freight rail components into Georgia's broader intermodal transportation framework, the plan ensures a cohesive and efficient approach to transportation planning and infrastructure investment. Spanning from the present to 2050, the plan harmonizes seamlessly with the Georgia Statewide Transportation Plan (SWTP) and Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan (SSTP), aligning rail initiatives with broader statewide objectives.

Central to the plan's success is robust public engagement and outreach, inviting stakeholders and communities to contribute feedback and insights on various facets of the plan, including safety measures, community impacts, passenger service enhancements, and freight rail optimization. This all-inclusive approach enables the Department to identify opportunities for safety, administrative, operational, capital, and regulatory enhancements, thereby maximizing the economic development benefits derived from rail infrastructure investments. These opportunities are incorporated as part of Georgia’s Freight Plan helping to provide a strategic assessment on logistic-related infrastructure needs statewide with options for investment and policy considerations to enhance the movement of goods throughout Georgia.

As Georgia continues to evolve as a key player in the global marketplace, the State Rail Plan remains instrumental in unlocking the full potential of the state's rail network, fostering sustainable growth, and ensuring continued prosperity for generations to come.

 

Primary Objectives

Safety

Prioritize the safety of rail operations for both passengers and freight, ensuring adherence to the highest standards of security and reliability.

Efficiency

Enhance the efficiency of rail operations to streamline freight movement and passenger services, optimizing the utilization of Georgia's rail assets.

Accessibility

Expand rail access to underserved communities and industrial centers, fostering equitable transportation opportunities across the state.

Economic Competitiveness

Bolster Georgia's economic competitiveness by leveraging the rail network to catalyze trade, stimulate business growth, and attract investment.

 

‭(Hidden)‬ Goals

The State Rail Plan articulates a vision for rail in Georgia: to provide a safe, efficient, and reliable state rail system that expands access and mobility for people and goods to sustain and strengthen Georgia’s economic competitiveness. The goals of the State Rail Plan are depicted below.

State Rail Plan Goals  


The primary purpose of the State Rail Plan is to serve as a statewide long-range rail planning document and to provide comprehensive railroad industry data. Georgia’s rail system is a vital component of Georgia’s thriving economy by safely connecting industries, ports and people. The plan enables the Department to implement a more efficient and effective approach to integrate passenger and freight rail elements into the state of Georgia's larger multi-modal transportation framework. It covers the time period from the present to the year 2040 for integration with the Georgia Statewide Transportation Plan (SWTP) and Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan (SSTP). Our extensive rail network supports our economy connecting Georgia and a global market. The potential growth for moving goods by rail in the state will be explored as part of the plan because of the ability of rail to carry more tons per route mile.

 

Inbound, Outbound, & Intrastate Freight Carried by Rail

Freight Analysis 

 

 

Contacts

Please send your questions and comments to the following representatives:

Georgia Department of Transportation
600 West Peachtree Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30308

Email

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