SAVANNAH, Ga. () — If you’re thinking about ditching the car for your next trip from Atlanta to Savannah, that could eventually become a reality. The Georgia Department of Transportation is exploring a plan to connect the two cities by passenger rail, and they want your opinion. A new survey is now live, and it could help shape the future of rail travel across Georgia.

More than 5,500 Georgians have already chimed in and now GDOT wants even more feedback to help keep the momentum going. This new phase will focus on how people travel between Atlanta, Savannah, and other cities that could become future train stops.

The Atlanta–Savannah intercity passenger rail project is still in the study phase. The new online survey asks about how often people travel to cities like Savannah, Augusta, Macon, and Athens. The survey further asks what reasons for travel between cities whether it’d be work, events, or family.

While there’s no timeline yet for construction, the study is funded by $8 million from the Federal government and $2 million from GDOT. The plan is to develop a service development plan by 2028, which will include route options, costs, and potential operators, such as Amtrak.

spoke with GDOT officials about the project, who told us:

“Georgia DOT will use feedback to better direct project goals and range of alternatives studied. These surveys help us understand the market for passenger rail between the two cities… and additional surveys will follow later this year.”

In early 2026, we anticipate holding public meetings to share the early phases of our work and gather feedback. Input from the public, agency stakeholders, railroad stakeholders, and others will be essential,” stated Kyle Collins, the GDOT Communications Program Manager.

Earlier this year, the Mayor of Savannah commented on the necessity of the rail.

“We need to have ways to connect our communities. For us (Savannah) it is also a tourism factor, so people can come here. I think air prices have always been very upsetting – about the cost of air directly from Savannah to Atlanta,” said Mayor Van Johnson.

Survey results show that most people currently drive between Atlanta and Savannah, and few choose to fly due to cost. While public feedback won’t guarantee the rail line will be built, it plays a key role in determining what’s next.

GDOT tells this particular survey will run through the end of August 2025. If you want your voice heard, now’s the time. The survey just takes a few minutes to complete.

To take the survey, click here.