TACIR tentatively approves passenger‑rail and mobility report, urges TDOT to apply for federal corridor funds

Tennessee’s advisory commission voted unanimously to tentatively approve a draft report recommending further study and planning for intercity passenger rail and other mobility options.

Chris Belden, senior research associate, presented the report and told commissioners the study identified five potential intercity routes and grouped them into priority tiers. "In tier 1, we have one route, Nashville to Chattanooga to Atlanta," Belden said, and he described other tiered routes that included Memphis–Nashville and Chattanooga–Knoxville–Bristol.

The report said passenger rail could improve mobility, reduce congestion and spur economic activity but likely would require substantial state capital investment, infrastructure work on freight‑owned tracks and ongoing operating subsidies. It recommends that the Tennessee Department of Transportation determine the engineering and cost requirements for the prioritized corridors and submit supporting documentation to the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor ID program.

Director Cliff Lippert acknowledged the atypical timing of producing this report in a single meeting and asked commissioners to allow staff to make minor edits before publication. "I first of all, I wanna apologize for the way we phrase the caption," he said, explaining the compressed schedule to meet a July 1 deadline.

Commissioners discussed alternatives and barriers, including geography in East Tennessee and the need for positive working relationships with freight rail companies. Several members noted shorter‑term or lower‑cost alternatives such as expanded intercity bus service and first‑/last‑mile improvements.

Chairman Ken Yeager put the motion to approve the report; the commission voted by voice and "I believe it passes unanimously," the chair said. The commission recommended TDOT apply for FRA corridor planning funds and consider creating an Office of Rail and Public Transportation to manage future projects.

Next steps: staff will incorporate minor edits as requested and publish the report to meet the statutory July 1 submission timeline; TDOT was asked to pursue available federal planning funds and provide further engineering and cost analyses.