As part of his broader vision for mobility, Woodfin has launched the GO BHM Transportation Plan, an initiative aimed at making Birmingham more walkable, bikeable, and transit-friendly by 2026. The plan focuses on improving how residents get around the city, whether they drive, walk, bike, or rely on public transportation.
But the mayor is also thinking bigger, including the possibility of a fast passenger rail connection between Birmingham and Atlanta.
In a recent blog post, Woodfin described the idea as ambitious but achievable.
“I also don’t think it’s crazy to dream about a frequent and fast passenger rail connection from Birmingham to Atlanta,” Woodfin wrote. “We can achieve these things.”
Woodfin said such a rail connection could be transformative.
“It would be a game changer,” Woodfin said. “It would be beneficial.”
Currently, the drive between Birmingham and Atlanta can take more than two hours, and significantly longer during heavy traffic. Supporters say a faster rail option could cut travel time and give residents an alternative to driving.
Rick Harnish, executive director of the High Speed Rail Alliance, said expanded rail service could change not only how people travel, but where they choose to live and work.
“It really gives you a flexibility that you don’t have otherwise — not just how you travel, but where you choose to live and locate your office,” Harnish said.
Advocates also point to improved access to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world, which offers nonstop flights across the country and around the globe.
“It adds a huge and important new option for how to get around,” Harnish said. “A freedom of movement that you can’t get other ways.”
City leaders acknowledge that ideas like high-speed rail come with a high price tag. Woodfin says progress would require significant cooperation across multiple levels of government and the private sector.
“A lot of people — state, federal, public-private partnerships,” Woodfin said.
Officials say public input will be a key component of the GO BHM Transportation Plan as it moves forward, with opportunities for residents to weigh in on how Birmingham’s transportation future should take shape.
