ATLANTA - The Georgia Department of Transportation board has decided to seek more than $16 million from the Federal Railroad Administration to plan rail projects, including a passenger line that would loop around the eastern half of the state.
A committee of the board recommended asking for federal grant money on Wednesday, and the full board approved making the request on Thursday.
The DOT says it will seek $4.5 million to plan a rail loop through Atlanta, Athens, Augusta, Savannah and Macon. It also will ask for $7 million to plan an Atlanta-Charlotte line, $3 million for an Atlanta-Macon line, and $2 million to update the state's rail plan.