Griffin Board of Commissioners member Dick Morrow will be attending the formal unveiling of a business plan for an Atlanta-Macon passenger rail line Monday.

Morrow said the goal of the plan is to answer questions from Gov. Sonny Perdue and others about costs for construction and maintenance and operations of the line, as well as the recommended route, its stops and the frequency and times of the trains.

The plan will also suggest ways to fund the line and, most importantly, discuss the economic impact it would generate.

“(Perdue) wants to see the jobs created, the development created and therefore the property taxes and the sales taxes,” he said.

Morrow said the plan is necessary for the governor to go before the Georgia General Assembly and ask them to appropriate money for the project. He will need to show lawmakers a rate of return.

Because Perdue’s term as governor ends this year, the new Georgia governor will take up any effort to secure funding for the project.

Morrow will be the only person from the Spalding County branch of Georgians for Passenger Rail to attend — the event is for government officials in cities along the projected rail line.

“The first presentation is (for) a fairly small group,” he said.

He hopes to have an outline if not a full copy of the report to bring home.

The Spalding County branch of Georgians for Passenger Rail had agreed to raise $180,000 to pay for the report. With pledges, the group has gathered $90,000.

He said the plan will show positive economic development from rail. With the plan in hand, it will be easier to raise the remaining $90,000, he said.