ATLANTA (February 6, 2009) – State Senator Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga) is leading the way for Georgia to establish a state-of-the-art, magnetic levitation rail system connecting Chattanooga to Atlanta.
Sen. Mullis offered “Plain Train” legislation this week through Senate Resolution 117 which supports the creation of a magnetic levitating, or maglev, train connecting Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta to the Chattanooga Municipal Airport. If passed, this would be the first maglev of its kind in the United States and second in the World.
“Creating the Plain Train would make Georgia a world-wide leader in transportation innovation,” said Mullis. “This would alleviate many of the mass transportation issues between Chattanooga and Atlanta, while also improving regional and local economies.”
A maglev train is a form of transportation that levitates, guides, and propels vehicles using electromagnetic force. This method of transportation is much faster, safer and cleaner than wheeled mass transit systems, potentially reaching velocities comparable to turboprop and jet aircraft.
China has had its own maglev transit since 2000, called the Shanghai Maglev Train. The Shanghai Transrapid Maglev Line is the world’s first high-speed commercial commuter system, which can reach speeds of up to 300 miles per hour using state-of-the-art electromagnetic levitation technology. Sen. Mullis’ resolution seeks to establish this same state-of-the-art technology in Georgia. The resolution passed with an overwhelming majority in committee this week.
“A Maglev high-speed connection between Chattanooga and Atlanta would be beneficial for both communities as it would increase economic development, bring more people to the underutilized Chattanooga airport and relieve congestion at Atlanta’s busy airport. Regional infrastructure investment is an important component for getting federal support for Maglev,” said U.S. Congressman Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.). “This could be a national model for other cities to help alleviate overcrowding in land-locked areas. An Atlanta-Chattanooga link could ultimately take high-speed rail through Nashville to Chicago and open up a South to Midwest route for an intermodal mass transit system to grow the U.S. economy and help our nation be more competitive.”
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the world’s busiest airport, serving 250,000 passengers daily. It provides Georgia with $53.6 billion in total economic impact a year. While 80 percent of the U.S. population is within a two-hour flight from Atlanta, many residents in north Georgia and visitors to the state say traffic is too congested and that it often delays safe travel to the airport. Sen. Mullis has noted that constructing a high speed train will be much cheaper than building a new airport to serve the state’s northern region.
For more information on Senate Resolution 117, please visit www.senate.ga.gov.
Sen. Jeff Mullis serves as Chairman of the Transportation Committee. He represents the 53rd Senate district which includes Chattanooga, Dade, and Walker counties and portions of Catoosa County. He can be reached at his office in Atlanta at 404.656.0057 or by email at jeff.mullis@senate.ga.gov.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
February 6, 2009
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Director
raegan.weber@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028