Clayton County commuter rail
| Company type | Planned commuter rail service |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Fate | Replaced by bus rapid transit system in 2022 |
| Headquarters | Clayton County, Georgia , United States |
Area served | Clayton County, Georgia |
| Parent | Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) |
Clayton County commuter rail referred to a planned commuter rail service in Clayton County, Georgia, designed to connect with the MARTA rapid transit network at the East Point station. After Clayton County joined MARTA in 2014, the agency assessed several high-capacity transit solutions. By 2018, commuter rail emerged as the preferred local option. Progress was hindered by stalled discussions with the track owner, Norfolk Southern Railway. Ultimately, in November 2022, due to obstacles such as right-of-way acquisition difficulties, environmental and historic preservation issues, and rising expenses, the Clayton County Board of Commissioners, local municipalities, the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce, and the MARTA Board agreed to replace the initiative with a BRT system.
GDOT Planning
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) initiated studies on potential commuter rail corridors across metropolitan Atlanta starting in 1992. These efforts culminated in the Georgia Rail Passenger Program, which proposed seven radial lines from Five Points, Atlanta, including one passing through Clayton County extending to Macon.
By 2004, GDOT narrowed its focus to two routes ending in Lovejoy—a truncated version of the Macon line—and Athens. The Lovejoy corridor was projected to commence service in 2006, backed by $106 million in federal funding. The Clayton County Board of Commissioners expressed support for advancing this project.
In 2008, Governor Sonny Perdue publicly supported the Lovejoy line amid concerns that delays might jeopardize federal funding. Despite this endorsement, persistent postponements led to the federal government rescinding the allocated funds in July 2014.
MARTA Planning
On July 5, 2014, the Clayton County Board of Commissioners authorized an agreement with MARTA to extend transit services into the county, financed through a 1% sales tax. Leaders from Fulton and DeKalb counties backed this expansion effort. Subsequently, on November 4, 2014, voters in Clayton County approved the sales tax measure to join MARTA. Half of the tax proceeds were designated for rail transit initiatives while the remainder supported local bus operations.
In 2018, commuter rail was chosen as the favored transit mode along this corridor and received approval from MARTA's Board of Directors. On February 11, 2020, all four MARTA jurisdictions ratified the 15th Amendment to the Rapid Transit Contract and Assistance Agreement (RTCAA), authorizing expansion projects within Clayton County. The Clayton County System Implementation Plan outlined high-capacity transit options including commuter rail (CRT) and bus rapid transit (BRT). MARTA committed to developing a 22-mile commuter rail route stretching from East Point Station to Lovejoy. The initial segment—approximately 11 miles between East Point and Morrow/Southlake Mall—was targeted for operation by 2030.
Construction on this first phase was anticipated to begin as early as 2023. Plans for future extensions toward Jonesboro and Lovejoy were scheduled for subsequent phases.
Nevertheless, by 2021 MARTA started considering alternative approaches for establishing a rail connection to Clayton County due to escalating costs and Norfolk Southern’s unwillingness to cooperate.
Route
The proposal involved utilizing the Norfolk Southern Griffin District corridor stretching from East Point station to Lovejoy located in southern Clayton County, covering a distance of . MARTA intended to construct additional tracks parallel to the existing freight rails within Norfolk Southern's designated right of way.
Stations planned along this route comprised stops at Hapeville, Mountain View, Forest Park, Fort Gillem, Clayton State University, Morrow, and Jonesboro. A subsequent expansion phase aimed to extend the line further to a station in Lovejoy.