Norfolk-Southern to state: So about that Macon-Atlanta rail line...

The long-planned commuter rail line connecting Atlanta and Macon just received a boost of support from one of its most important stakeholders: The railroad company that would coexist with the transit project.

Jim Galloway got his hands on a letter Norfolk-Southern Resident Vice-President Joel Harrell recently sent to Todd Long, the state official who will decide what road and transit projects have a chance of getting funded by a one-cent sales tax voters will decide next summer. Here’s a snippet of the letter, which Galloway has uploaded here:

If the Regional Roundtables, organized under the Transportation Investment Act of 2010, determine that this line should be on the project list, and if voters approve the referendum, Norfolk Southern pledges our continuing support to work through the details to allow passenger rail along this corridor.

Clearly if the project is supported by the three regional roundtables, it will be appropriate for state leadership to become involved in making decisions about the service and operations. Please feel free to contact me, at the appropriate time, to facilitate further discussions with the appropriate persons within Norfolk Southern on the issues passenger rail along our “S” line between Atlanta and Macon.

Granted, there are still lots of factors that could derail — pun intended — the progress. But that’s definitely a boost.