## Birmingham’s High-Speed Rail Future: A Missed Opportunity?
For over forty years, I’ve called the Birmingham metro area home. Like many residents, I frequently travel to Atlanta, whether visiting family, catching flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, or attending sporting events. This necessitates a recurring journey between our cities, typically undertaken by car or shuttle bus. However, the persistent whispers of a high-speed rail connection between Birmingham and Atlanta remain just that – whispers. It’s time we moved beyond this status quo and seriously consider the transformative potential of high-speed rail for our region.
Imagine a 90-minute journey from Birmingham’s doorstep to downtown Atlanta, with convenient access to major stadiums, arenas, and the airport. This isn’t mere fantasy; it’s a tangible opportunity to stimulate growth in Birmingham and create a vital link to other major Southern cities like Charlotte, New Orleans, and Dallas – all at speeds far exceeding those of conventional transportation.
High-speed rail is not a novel concept. While the technology has evolved significantly since the High-Speed Ground Transportation Act of 1965, the underlying principle remains: faster, more efficient travel. Current systems, such as Amtrak’s Acela (reaching speeds of 160 mph), demonstrate the viability and effectiveness of this mode of transport. Furthermore, ongoing high-speed rail projects in California and Florida showcase a growing trend across the Southeast, with ambitious plans stretching from Washington D.C. to Tampa Bay.
The Southeast Regional Rail Plan, completed in December 2023 by the High-Speed Rail Alliance, envisions a network radiating from Atlanta, including lines to Tampa Bay, Nashville, and Washington D.C. Significantly, this plan currently omits Birmingham. This omission is perplexing. The benefits are clear: increased economic activity, job creation, and the establishment of new corporate hubs.
During my tenure as chair of the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA), I witnessed the growing interest in high-speed rail across numerous forward-thinking cities. Now, the BJCTA is actively studying the feasibility of bringing high-speed rail to Birmingham, investigating all aspects from construction to operational implementation. We are no longer simply asking “Why not Birmingham?” We are actively seeking answers and charting a course towards a future that embraces this transformative technology. Failing to capitalize on this opportunity would be a significant oversight, one that could hinder our region’s future economic prosperity. The question isn’t *why*, but *when*.
*Between 2018 and 2024, Ted Smith was chair of the BJCTA Board of Directors. He currently serves as secretary.*