House panel approves expansion of Northeast Tennessee Railroad Authority to add three counties
Loading...
Summary
The House Transportation Committee unanimously approved a bill to add Claiborne, Union and Granger counties to the Northeast Tennessee Railroad Authority, saying the change will give those counties representation and help with funding and regional competitiveness; the measure moves to finance.
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee House Transportation Committee on Feb. 10 approved a bill to expand the Northeast Tennessee Railroad Authority to include Claiborne, Union and Granger counties.
Representative Eldridge, the bill’s sponsor, told the committee the change would give the three counties “a seat at the table in the authority” and help them compete for funding and rail service improvements. “Currently, the RJ Corman, Knoxville and Cumberland Gap rail line serves all six of these counties,” Eldridge said in his presentation to the panel.
Committee members offered no substantive opposition and the committee moved the question without debate. The clerk recorded 19 ayes and 0 nos; the chair announced the bill passed and will be referred to the finance committee.
The bill’s backers said the expansion is intended to improve coordination across counties served by the same rail corridor and to strengthen access to state and federal dollars for rail rehabilitation and service. Committee staff did not present alternative funding details during the session.
The committee adjourned after the vote and proceeded to other calendar items.
