“We’ve collected over $80,000,” said committee member Dick Morrow about the effort to collect money for a passenger rail study. “I think we can see $90,000.”
Supporters of the Atlanta-Macon passenger rail line in Griffin have committed to collecting $180,000 to pay the Brookings Institute to create a business plan for the line. Morrow said on Monday, the plan will be unveiled in Atlanta and city mayors and other officials are invited. The Brookings Institute will brief event guests on the economic impact of the passenger rail line and provide information on stops, services and costs.
“After next Monday, hopefully we’ll have a lot more numbers and detail,” Morrow said.
Committee member Michelle Cannon said Chairman of Georgians for Passenger Rail John Izard will give a presentation on passenger rail at the Kiwanis Club of Griffin meeting on June 9, so the information will be available locally.
Committee member Bobby Peurifoy spoke in favor of installing a four-way stop sign at the intersection of Old Macon Road and County Line Road. He said the intersection is dangerous and said there has not been sufficient action taken on the matter.
“Somebody has to get killed before action is done,” he said.
He said the city of Orchard Hill, which had the four-way stop installed by the county removed because it was in the city’s jurisdiction, needs to be more cooperative.
“It’s got to begin in Orchard Hill,” said committee Chairman Eddie Freeman.
Peurifoy said a recommendation from the committee could prompt the city to take action. Morrow said the committee could ask Orchard Hill to reconsider and moved to approve empowering Freeman to write a letter asking the city to do this. Cannon seconded. The measure passed unanimously.
Later in the meeting, Transit Planner Anthony Dukes discussed the current state of the rails with trails project, which involves establishing a trail network alongside the Roosevelt Railroad in the northern part of Spalding County. Dukes said he has met with representatives of both Henry County and Pulte Homes, which controls Sun City Peachtree.
“Pulte seems to be in support,” he said.
Sun City Peachtree grading plans could be amended to accommodate the rails with trails. Dukes said Henry County would like to piggyback on what Spalding County is doing, since Henry County has a rail line running from Heron Bay to McDonough.
The committee voted unanimously to empower Freeman to invite Henry County officials to join the planning process.
More information on the rails with trails program can be found at www.tunspan.com/spaldingcounty.
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