On Friday, the Biden Administration announced the allocation of $8.2 million for the development of new passenger train corridors across the United States, including funding for the high-speed rail corridor between Charlotte and Atlanta.
This ambitious project, spanning North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, has been just been granted an additional $500,000 for feasibility studies and route planning. The initiative follows the completion of a Tier I Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the signing of a Record of Decision (ROD) in 2021 by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in collaboration with transportation departments from Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
The proposed 274-mile high-speed rail line is set to feature three stops in the Charlotte area (Charlotte Gateway, Charlotte Airport, and South Gastonia), two in South Carolina (Greenville Airport and Anderson), and five in Georgia.
Designed to reach speeds of up to 220 mph, the project is estimated to cost around $8 billion. Once operational, the rail line will reduce travel time between Charlotte and Atlanta to approximately 2 hours, significantly shorter than the current 4-hour highway journey.
This high-speed rail line is envisioned as part of a larger network that will eventually connect Charlotte to major East Coast cities including Washington DC, Richmond, and Atlanta.
What do you think about the project?
