For the past several years, the Georgia Department of Transportation, or GDOT, has been studying the possibility for a potential passenger rail service between Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia. And now, they want your input. Keep scrolling to learn more.
A passenger tail between Atlanta and Savannah?
Yep. What if you could get from Atlanta to Savannah without having to sit in endless traffic? Well, GDOT wants to make that fantasy into a reality.
Right now, the project for an Atlanta-Savannah Intercity Passenger Rail is still in its very early stages, but the goal would be a passenger train to connect Atlanta to the coast, with stops throughout the state.
The study area includes the cities of Atlanta, Athens, Statesboro, Milledgeville, Macon, Augusta, Savannah, and more.
The Atlanta-Savannah Intercity Passenger Rail Project
According to the project website, right now, GDOT wants to:
- Evaluate the benefits and costs of a passenger rail service between Atlanta and Savannah
- Identify and narrow the range of service alternatives across the study area
- Focus on financially feasible, practical solutions to implement a passenger rail service
Basically, they want to study the possibility of this passenger railway.
Several steps still need to be evaluated and studied, including:
- Alternative Analysis (underway)
- Transportation Planning (2025-2026)
- Environmental Planning (2026)
- Financial Planning (2026-2027)
- Governance (2026-2027)
- Phased Implementation plan (2028)
- Begin Environmental Impact Statement (2028)
Of course, more steps will pop up in the coming years, and this is just the beginning of the process!
What can I do to let my voice be heard?
GDOT wants to hear from you! First, do your research. Go to the project website and learn all about the Atlanta-Savannah railway project.
Then, take their survey to give your feedback. You can find the survey here. It should take about 10 minutes to complete.
The public comment period runs from July 6th until August 6th, 2026.