Georgia DOT to hold public outreach meetings for state rail plan

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) will hold three public meetings next week to discuss the development of the state rail plan and obtain feedback on the state's rail needs.

During the first round of public outreach meetings scheduled for 2014, GDOT representatives will meet with residents April 15 in Dalton, April 16 in Atlanta and April 17 in Valdosta. A second round of meetings will be held in August.

"GDOT representatives will be present to explain the purpose of the plan and hear what Georgians want and need from the state’s rail system," department officials said in a meeting announcement.

The state rail plan will serve as a long-range planning document and provide comprehensive rail data. The plan will enable GDOT to implement a more efficient and effective approach to integrate freight- and passenger-rail elements into the state's larger multi-modal transportation framework, department officials said. Covering the time period from the present to 2040, the rail plan will be integrated with the Georgia Statewide Transportation Plan and Statewide Strategic Transportation Plan.