City of Chattanooga pushes for passenger train linking Atlanta and Chicago via Chattanooga

12/21/2001

Chattanooga, TN— Mayor Bob Corker announced today the City of Chattanooga’s proposal for establishing passenger rail service originating in Atlanta and terminating in Chicago via Chattanooga.

Since coming to office, the Mayor has emphasized the need for multiple modes of transportation originating from Chattanooga.  While a focus of his Administration has been on improving the fares and routes from the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, the City is also pursuing all transportation modes that make Chattanooga more accessible.

For several years there has been talk of a high speed train that would connect Chattanooga and Atlanta.  The development of such a route remains a possibility and individuals from the Mayor’s Office and City Council are represented on the Atlanta Regional Commission, the body charged with studying this prospect.  However, in conversations with Congressman Bob Clement and officials from the State of Tennessee, the City has proposed a more expansive train route which would connect Chicago and Atlanta via Chattanooga, Nashville and Louisville.

Mayor Corker explained, “Our administration has focused on developing strategic relationships in our community, our state and country that bring benefits to our City.  When we learned of Congressman Clement’s initiative to bring rail service from Louisville to Nashville, we realized that there was an obvious connection with our ongoing work to develop a rail line between Chattanooga and Atlanta.  We sat down with Councilman Ron Littlefield, Amy Walker Cherry, Dave Crockett and Tom Dugan, who represent Chattanooga on the Atlanta Regional Commission, and determined that it made sense to link the projects together.  We believe that there is tremendous strength in developing connections from the Midwest to the Southeast… and are committed to making sure that Chattanooga is part of that connection.”

In conversations with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the Mayor clarified, “With Louisville’s linkages to Chicago, Congressman Clement’s initiative to connect Louisville and Nashville, and Chattanooga’s work underway with Atlanta, our state could be the “bridge” that could link a powerful coalition of cities stretching from the Midwest to the Southeast.  Given the economic and populations centers that would be represented, the City of Chattanooga believes that a Chicago-Atlanta route could ultimately position Tennessee’s rail strategies for even better likelihood of success.”

This concept, which is still in the developmental phase, is being coordinated with Congressman Clement’s initiative to reopen rail service between Nashville and Louisville.  It is important to note that the development of any such train route would be a long-term process which would involve the participation and support of multiple states and agencies.

 For more information, contact Todd Womack, Communications Director, at 423-757-5168