Macon-Bibb County Commissioners vote to formally support intercity passenger rail bid

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) paved the way for the Atlanta-Savannah Corridor proposal, which is currently in the pipeline for more federal funding. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is exploring five different routes for the project, with one including an intermediate stop in Macon. 

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Macon-Bibb County Commission has agreed to formally support a passenger rail service connecting Atlanta to Macon to Savannah.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) paved the way for the Atlanta-Savannah Corridor proposal, which is currently in the pipeline for more federal funding. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is exploring five different routes for the project, with one including an intermediate stop in Macon.

District 3 Commissioner Stanley Stewart introduced a resolution at last night’s meeting which called for the county to get behind the project, which the commission voted to approve unanimously. While the resolution doesn’t appropriate funding for the project, Stewart says it sends a strong message to stakeholders across the state.\

“What it does is it makes sure that those individuals who are coming up with the idea for this project see that Macon-Bibb is on board for it,” Stewart said. “Quite frankly, I think a lot of the funding for this will probably end up coming from the federal government. I don’t know how well the state will get behind it, I’m hoping they will. But I think the federal government will definitely get behind it.”

GDOT is working to create a Service Development Plan to examine potential routes for the Atlanta-Savannah Corridor, and officials hope to have the plan complete in early 2028.