Right now, if you wanted to get to Atlanta, you’d have two options: drive or fly. But Chattanooga leaders are working to give you a third option: passenger trains.
The Sunbelt-Atlantic Connector would connect us with major cities in the region, including Memphis, Nashville, and Atlanta.
The intended benefits
- Less traffic congestion (we’re looking at you, I-24)
- Increased economic development
- Boosted tourism revenue
Bringing passenger trains to Chattanooga is a huge undertaking, which is why the city has been studying the project since early 2024. The Federal Railroad Administration awarded the city a $500,000 grant to determine the scope, timeline, and cost.
Now that the research phase is coming to a close, city officials told us that Chattanooga is turning its focus to logistics: Where would each station be? What additional tracks are needed? How will crossings stay safe with increased train traffic?
Chattanoogans may not be riding the rails tomorrow, but the city is closer than ever to giving us a third transportation option. We’ll keep following this story as it develops.
