Misplaced Pages

#538461

52-568: Traffic includes chemicals, clay, grain, peanuts, plastics, stone, and wood, generating around 13,000 annual carloads. Upon its creation in 1989 as a division of the South Carolina Central Railroad , the Georgia Southwestern railroad operated over two lines making junction at Richland . The first ran 130.7 miles (210.3 km) from Rhine west through Richland and Omaha, Georgia before crossing over

104-460: A RailTex subsidiary upon its start in 1987, the railroad passed to RailAmerica following their acquisition of RailTex in 2000 and passed to the Genesee & Wyoming Railroad upon its acquisition of RailAmerica. Primary commodities include steel, chemicals, trash, and plastics, amounting to about 30,000 carloads in 2008. Interchange is made with CSX at Florence . Both routes that comprise

156-570: A few freeways due to inability to get these roads onto the state highway system. The Freeing the Freeways program is the largest urban expressway reconstruction project of the late 20th century. The program involved widening the all the interstate highways within the beltway of Atlanta . The Federal Highway Act of 1976 allowed states for the first time to use federal highway dollars to widen and build new interchanges on existing highways. This change to federal policy and subsequent similar changes in

208-532: A lane in each direction for 21.3 miles of I-85 to HOV lanes. The first HOV lanes to open were on I-20 from the Connector east to I-285 . In June 1996, in anticipation of the 1996 Summer Olympics , HOV lanes opened on I-75 and I-85 from Aviation Boulevard on I-75 north to the Chattahoochee River and I-85 from the Connector north to I-285. This marked the true end of Freeing the Freeways as all

260-528: A point north of Columbus to Allie (known as the "R" line), along with an additional 12.2 miles (19.6 km) of trackage rights to the GSWR yard in Columbus. The line was abandoned in 2007. GSWR parent company RailTex was sold to RailAmerica effective February 4, 2000. Additional ownership change came in 2002 as RailAmerica passed the railroad to local interests concurrent with the sale of several lines to

312-487: A statewide Airfield Pavement Management Study which evaluates the pavement at 103 airports in the state. Recommendations include a 5-year maintenance work program for each airport and documentation of the needs for state funds to maintain the airport infrastructure. Georgia DOT is governed by a 14-member State Transportation Board that is elected by the Georgia General Assembly for a five-year term and

364-554: Is Atlanta 's perimeter route and I-575 connects with counties in north Georgia on I-75 and I-675 connects to I-285 on the south side of Atlanta. I-475 is a western bypass of Macon , shortening the trip for through I-75 traffic. The Georgia Department of Transportation maintains only 16 percent of the roads in the state. The other 84 percent are the responsibility of the counties and cities; 75 percent of those roads are county roads . GDOT maintains approximately 18,000 miles of state routes and has maintained this mileage cap since

416-609: Is responsible for developing, managing, and administering programs to satisfy these goals. The Georgia Airport Aid Program is designed to provide financial assistance to communities in accomplishing capital improvement, airfield maintenance, and approach aid projects. Capital improvement projects include new, extension or widening of a runway, taxiway , or aircraft parking apron. Maintenance projects include resurfacing or reconstruction of runways, taxiways, and aprons, repair of lighting systems and approach aids, and sealing of joints and cracks on airfield pavements. Approach aid projects include

468-497: The 1996 Summer Olympics . I-75 and I-85 (as well as their Downtown Connector concurrency) were built with provisions for high-occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV lanes) including dedicated exits and on-ramps at Northside Drive, Lindbergh Drive, Williams Street, Piedmont Avenue , Memorial Drive, and Aviation Boulevard. In 1989, the Georgia Department of Transportation estimated it would cost just under $ 430,000 to convert

520-621: The Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad . 1995 brought numerous changes to the Georgia Southwestern network, and the portion of the route from Cusseta to Cuthbert became redundant and was subsequently abandoned in that year, with the rails being removed in September 1997. Rails remained in place from Columbus to Cusseta in order to serve a large pulpwood yard near the latter. In 2002, the Georgia DOT acquired

572-689: The Chattahoochee River and eventually Montgomery to the west. In 1895, the SA&;M was reorganized under the Georgia & Alabama and in 1900, the railroad once again changed hands into the Seaboard Air Line . Through a number of mergers, the line eventually came under the ownership of the Seaboard System in 1983, which abandoned the line between Montgomery and Mahrt on April 20, 1986. The remaining line from Mahrt to Rhine, Georgia

SECTION 10

#1732801438539

624-615: The Chattahoochee River and terminating at Mahrt, Alabama . A second line originated at Columbus , and traveled south through Cusseta and Richland, before ending at Bainbridge, Georgia , 127.9 miles (205.8 km). Both routes were sold by CSX on July 5, 1989. The original network consisted of only two lines (described below) containing 258.6 miles (416.2 km) of track. Commodities included forest products, aggregates, chemicals, fertilizer, peanuts, and paper, generating about 9,000 annual carloads. The railroad maintained its headquarters at Americus. The east–west route from Rhine to Mahrt

676-690: The Columbus Southern Railway when it opened its line to Albany, Georgia in 1890. The railroad was absorbed by the Georgia & Alabama Railway in 1896, and later merged into the Seaboard Air Line in 1902. The second portion of the line was built by the Georgia Pine Railway ( Georgia Florida and Alabama Railroad after 1901) - and made junction with the Seaboard Air Line at Richland in 1910. In January 1928,

728-569: The Georgia Great Southern . The South Carolina Central's parent company RailTex was acquired by RailAmerica in 2000. RailAmerica was itself taken over by Genesee & Wyoming Inc (GWI) in December, 2012. Genesee & Wyoming to Buy RailAmerica for $ 1.4 Billion . In 2012 South Carolina Central filed to abandon its line between Cheraw and Society Hill. For many years, the livery in use on South Carolina Central trains

780-483: The Thoroughbred Shortline Program . This South Carolina Central division crossed the Georgia Southwestern at Cuthbert. In 1995, the Georgia & Alabama was merged into the Georgia Southwestern. In 2006, the Georgia Southwestern purchased from Norfolk Southern, the entire 79 miles (127 km) of track from Smithville to White Oak that had been leased up until that point. The following year

832-432: The rail system are classified as "mainline track". Some Georgia mainlines transport more than 80 million gross tons per year, ranking them among the most heavily used in the country. Aviation Programs is tasked to assure a safe, adequate, and well-maintained system of public-use airports, to promote and encourage the use of aviation facilities, to guide airport development, to promote viable scheduled air service throughout

884-403: The 1978 Surface Transportation Assistance Act and 1981 Federal-Aid Highway Act allowed Georgia to rebuild metro Atlanta interstates with 90/10 federal support. The project cost $ 1.5 billion and doubled Atlanta's freeway lane miles from 900 to 1,851 miles (1,448 to 2,979 km). The project sought to increase lanes from six to eight on I-20 , I-75, I-85 , and I-285 and 10 lanes on

936-658: The Cheraw & Darlington. Both segments were absorbed into the Atlantic Coast Line by 1900. The rest of the line from Hartsville to Bishopville was part of the Seaboard Air Line before being merged with the Atlantic Coast Line in 1967 to form the Seaboard Coast Line . The SCL became the Seaboard System in 1983 and CSX Transportation in 1986. CSX sold both lines to RailTex subsidiary South Carolina Central railroad on December 1, 1987. This gave

988-726: The Downtown Connector opened in November 1988. While not officially part of Freeing the Freeways, over the next few years into the early 1990s, several of the suburban interstates would be widened including I-75 in Cobb County from Windy Hill Road to I-575 and I-85 in Gwinnett County from I-285 to SR 316 . I-285's northern arc would get another lane in each direction. All these projects contributed to Atlanta having world class infrastructure and being selected to host

1040-465: The Downtown Connector. Work on the eight miles (13 km) Connector began in 1984. The project widened the Connector to 10 lanes, which included the design and construction of 55 bridges over the connector. GDOT policy mandated that there were never fewer lanes open during construction as existed before construction which added to the cost and time devoted to the Downtown section. The final segment of

1092-548: The GSWR abandoned the 4.54 miles (7.31 km) from Eufaula to White Oak. Another South Carolina Central division, the Georgia Great Southern Railroad , operated from Dawson, Georgia to Albany, 22 miles (35 km). CSX sold the line to the SCC on December 14, 1990. The GGS ceased operations in 1994. In 1995 trackage rights over Norfolk Southern into Albany made this line excess, as a result part of it

SECTION 20

#1732801438539

1144-838: The Georgia Airport Directory and the Georgia Aeronautical Chart in alternating years. Georgia was designated by the FAA as the 10th participant in the State Block Grant Program beginning October 1, 2008. This mandates the department to accept and administer millions of dollars in federal funding for improvements at federally eligible general aviation airports. Aviation Programs assumes additional responsibility for project oversight, airport planning, compliance, and environmental review at these airports. The Airport Development program

1196-764: The Georgia DOT, with the now independent Georgia Southwestern remaining as operator. Traffic on the GSWR grew from 8,600 carloads in 2002 to 13,000 in 2007. In 2008, the Georgia Southwestern network consisted of the Ochille - Americus line, the Smithville - Eufaula route, and operation on behalf of the Georgia DOT between Dawson - Sasser, Columbus - Cusseta, and Cuthbert - Bainbridge. Additionally trackage rights remained over Norfolk Southern between BV&E Junction near Americus south to Albany and over CSX between Bainbridge and Saffold. Genesse & Wyoming Inc. purchased

1248-617: The Georgia Southwestern outright in December 2008. The GF&A was an important predecessor of GSWR, constructing and operating much of the route from Richland to Bainbridge, Tallahassee, and Carrabelle, Florida, until absorbed by the Seaboard in 1928. South Carolina Central Railroad The South Carolina Central Railroad ( reporting mark SCRF ) is a class III railroad that operates 42 miles (68 km) of former CSX Transportation trackage in South Carolina . Originally

1300-499: The Georgia Southwestern. The Heart of Georgia took over operations of the line from the Georgia Southwestern in 2000 and still operates from Rhine to Preston, with the segment between Preston and Mahrt out of service. A second line out of Columbus to Bainbridge was originally built by two separate railroads. The first began out of Columbus and was constructed by the Chattahoochee Brick Company , and known as

1352-756: The SAL leased the GF&;A, creating a shortcut for trains destined for Florida. The Seaboard Air Line was later merged into the Seaboard Coast Line in 1967, and the SCL became the Seaboard System in 1983. CSX sold the line from Columbus to Lynn to the Georgia Southwestern in 1989, concurrently with the sale of the Rhine - Mahrt route. Initially, the GSWR exercised trackage rights over CSX to reach Bainbridge, including additional rights to Saffold, Georgia to interchange with

1404-491: The SCC two disconnected tracks, one running from Cheraw to Society Hill, 12 miles (19 km), and a second line from Florence to Bishopville, 42.4 miles (68.2 km). Initially the South Carolina Central had four separate divisions independent of the operations in northeast South Carolina. The SCC served as a holding company for the Georgia & Alabama , Georgia Southwestern , Carolina Piedmont , and

1456-592: The South Carolina Central were of Seaboard Air Line and Atlantic Coast Line heritage. The oldest segment originally ran from Cheraw through Society Hill and Floyd before ending at Florence . It was constructed by the Cheraw and Darlington Railroad prior to the Civil War . The segment connecting Hartsville to Floyd was built by the Hartsville Railroad in 1890 for the purpose of connecting with

1508-501: The construction when it took place within the beltway. Construction began on the northern arc of I-285 from Paces Ferry Road just west of I-75 to Chamblee Tucker Road just east of I-85 in 1976, and it was completed by 1978. The radiating expressways were then upgraded. By July of 1985, I-75 and I-85 had both been widened from the Brookwood Split to north to their interchanges with I-285. The only section of major interstates that

1560-412: The department also has a limited role in developing public transportation and general aviation programs. GDOT is headquartered in downtown Atlanta and is part of the executive branch of state government . GDOT has broken up the state of Georgia into seven districts in order to facilitate regional development. Each district is responsible for the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of

1612-511: The downtown connector involved 125 total miles (201 km) and was phased over 13 years between 1976 and 1988. During this time, auxiliary interstates in the Atlanta metropolitan area would be constructed and open including Interstate 575 (construction began in 1979 and was completed in 1985) and Interstate 675 (construction began in 1982 and was completed in 1987). Widening of I-285 took place first, in order to allow drivers to bypass

Georgia Southwestern Railroad - Misplaced Pages Continue

1664-411: The early 1970s. This has led to a significant shift of road responsibility from state responsibility to local governments. This is because the state highway system has not been allowed to grow in proportion to the massive overall road system growth due to rapid population increases statewide over the past 40 years. This has left many urbanized counties forced to maintain many miles of arterial routes and

1716-448: The junction of Interstate 85 and Interstate 285 on the northeast side of Atlanta, began in 1983. The first flyover ramp opened in 1985 and the interchange was completed in 1987. The other intersection of I-285 and I-85 on the southwest corner of Atlanta was originally constructed as a concurrency in the 1960s. When completed in 1989, the newly widened I-285 and I-85 had separate parallel roadways. The final phases of construction were on

1768-442: The new SCCR logo, also aligned with other G&W subsidiaries, which is an emblem type logo with the shape of South Carolina in the central and the initials of the railroad on either side. Georgia Department of Transportation The Georgia Department of Transportation ( GDOT ) is the organization in charge of developing and maintaining all state and federal roadways in the U.S. state of Georgia . In addition to highways ,

1820-459: The previously abandoned Rochelle - Rhine route was acquired for $ 702,500. Georgia Southwestern approached the GDOT about reviving the route. The first stage of repair work was carried out in 1998, and the inaugural train ran on January 9, 1999. The Georgia & Alabama had been operating its route from Smithville, Georgia through Eufaula, Alabama to White Oak, Alabama since June 1, 1989, under

1872-524: The purchase and installation of glide slopes , localizers , visual guidance , and automated weather reporting equipment . The Aviation Planning program participates in individual airport planning projects, and, on a statewide basis, maintain the Georgia Aviation System Plan, which reviews the state system of airports and make recommendations on their development that would benefit statewide development goals. We routinely maintain

1924-417: The railroad to operating conditions NS chose to mothball the line, as the two through freight trains that regularly operated over the line had been re-routed. In August 1995, the Georgia Southwestern purchased the former Central of Georgia line and acquired trackage rights from BV&E Junction (Americus) to Albany in order to access the rest of the GSWR network in Smithville. Only one additional acquisition

1976-567: The remaining disconnected segments of the Columbus - Bainbridge line between Columbus and Cusseta, as well as Cuthbert to Bainbridge. The Georgia Southwestern remained as the operator of the line. In the mid-1990s, the Georgia Southwestern experienced a number of changes. Among these changes were the acquisition of Norfolk Southern tracks between Columbus and Americus (now abandoned), as well as trackage rights over NS to Albany. Additionally, two sister South Carolina Central Railroad divisions operating nearby were merged into Georgia Southwestern during

2028-456: The same period. In 1990, CSX sold the remaining section of its original Savannah - Montgomery route between Savannah and Vidalia to Georgia Central Railway . This left an unused section between Vidalia and the east end of the Georgia Southwestern at Rochelle. In 1994, the GSWR abandoned the segment between Rochelle and Rhine. In 1995, the Georgia DOT purchased the 51 miles (82 km) route from Vidalia to Rhine for $ 1.73 million, and in 1996,

2080-637: The state and federal highways in their region. The State Highway Department was created on August 16, 1916 by an act of the Georgia General Assembly. In 1918 came the creation of the Georgia State Highway Commission , which made surveys and oversaw plans for road projects. Finally, in 1972, came the creation of the Georgia Department of Transportation by Governor Jimmy Carter . The Georgia Department of Transportation plans, constructs, maintains, and improves

2132-798: The state's network of roads and bridges. Proceeds from the state's motor fuel taxes are constitutionally earmarked solely for use on Georgia's roads and bridges. Non-road and bridge construction projects are supported by a combination of state general funds, federal funds, and local funds. The department is responsible for waterways, including the Intracoastal Waterway and the Savannah and Brunswick ports. The state of Georgia has 1,244 miles (2,002 km) of Interstate highways within its state lines. Georgia's major Interstate Highways are I-95 , I-75 , I-16 , I-85 , and I-20 . Other important interstate highways are I-24 and I-59 . I-285

Georgia Southwestern Railroad - Misplaced Pages Continue

2184-738: The state's railroad system is operated by 25 independent or short-line operators. The DOT owns nearly 540 miles of light density rail line. Approximately 90 percent of the 540 miles is leased to a shortline operator. The remaining 10 percent is leased to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for use as a bicycle and pedestrian trail, is inactive, or is not leased. Norfolk Southern has approximately 851 miles of light density lines and CSX has another 242 miles. Georgia's light density lines carry less than 5 million gross tons of freight per year and function as local shortline service operators, primarily in rural agricultural areas. 2,463 miles of

2236-597: The state's road and bridges; provides planning and financial support for other modes of transportation such as mass transit and airports; provides airport and air safety planning; and provides air travel to state departments. The department also provides administrative support to the State Road and Tollway Authority and the Georgia Rail Passenger Authority . A majority of the department's resources are directed toward maintaining and improving

2288-399: The state, and to foster safer operating conditions at these facilities. Aviation Programs is responsible for inspecting and licensing all open-to-the-public general aviation airports in the state. State law requires public-use airports to have a state airport license. Licensing occurs on a biennial basis. Aviation Programs also publishes and distributes to the airports and aviation community

2340-486: The urban and suburban widening projects were complete and the HOV lanes initially built in the late 1980s were finally opened and operating. Georgia boasts one of the most extensive freight rail systems in the U.S., with some 5,000 miles of track that run through almost all of the state's 159 counties. The system primarily consists of two Class 1 railroads— Norfolk Southern and CSX —and 25 shortlines. 29 percent (1,433 miles) of

2392-487: Was abandoned between Albany and Sasser and the remainder was merged into the Georgia Southwestern. The 2002 purchase of the remaining line from Dawson to Sasser by the Georgia DOT was included with the sale of the Cuthbert - Bainbridge as well as the Columbus - Cusseta routes. Norfolk Southern suffered from a pair of large tropic storms in the mid-90s, losing services over the Ochille - Americus "O" line. After restoring

2444-550: Was an original scheme. It was primarily dark blue with white accents and the featured logo was also unique to the SCCR, featuring the outline of the state of South Carolina, the name of the railroad and a red star marking its location in the state. After it passed to the Genesee & Wyoming, the livery was aligned with that of its other subsidiaries. The new livery is primarily orange with black pinstripes and yellow accents. It features

2496-414: Was built in different segments over a period of several years. The Americus, Preston & Lumpkin was started in 1884 and connected its namesake cities by 1887. In 1887, further extension brought the terminus of the railroad further east to Abbeville , and in 1888, the railroad became the Savannah, Americus & Montgomery . The railroad continued to grow in 1890, reaching Lyons in the east, as well as

2548-467: Was made by the Georgia Southwestern, which was the line from a quarry north of Columbus to Allie , purchased from Norfolk Southern in 2005. The GSWR built a new locomotive shop at Dawson, and moved its offices from Smithville to Sasser during the same period. Originally started in 1871 by the North and South Railroad of Georgia , the line was constructed out of Columbus towards Rome . The fledgling railroad

2600-479: Was not rebuilt in the project was I-85 between the Brookwood Split to present-day Georgia 400 . The Georgia Department of Transportation opted to build a new viaduct carrying the new 10-lane I-85 just north of the original I-85 alignment and downgraded the original alignment to Georgia State Route 13 . The construction of the Tom Moreland Interchange , replacing the cloverleaf interchange at

2652-636: Was reorganized as the Columbus and Rome Railroad in 1874, after laying only 20 miles (32 km) of track. Further expansion brought the railroad to Greenville in 1885. A few years later, the railroad was absorbed by the Savannah and Western Railroad , a subsidiary of the Central of Georgia Railroad, and formally merged into the CofG network in 1895. In 2005 the Georgia Southwestern sought to purchase 43 miles (69 km) of track from Norfolk Southern, between

SECTION 50

#1732801438539

2704-532: Was sold to the Georgia Southwestern by CSX Transportation in 1989. After operations on the line from Preston to Mahrt ended in 1999 the state of Georgia acquired the segment and sought a new operator for the line. On May 22, 2000, the state purchased the remaining portion of the line not already under their ownership between Omaha and the end of the line across the river in Mahrt as well as an additional 71.13 miles (114.47 km) between Rochelle and Preston retained by

#538461