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Committee approves bill to add Claiborne, Union and Granger counties to Northeast Tennessee Railroad Authority
Summary
The House Transportation Committee unanimously approved a bill to expand the Northeast Tennessee Railroad Authority to include Claiborne, Union and Granger counties; sponsor said the move will give those counties representation and improved access to rail funding. The bill now goes to finance (vote 19-0).
The House Transportation Committee voted unanimously to advance a bill that would add Claiborne, Union and Granger counties to the Northeast Tennessee Railroad Authority.
Representative Eldridge, the bill sponsor, told the committee the RJ Corman Knoxville and GAP rail line serves all six counties and that bringing Claiborne, Union and Granger into the authority would "give Claiborne and Granger a seat at the table in the authority and help with funding and being more competitive up in that area." The committee called the previous question and the clerk reported 19 ayes and 0 nos; the chair announced the bill passes and that it will go to the finance committee for further consideration.
Why it matters: supporters said the change would help those counties secure rail-related funding and planning input that they lack as non-members of the authority. The committee recorded no dissent during floor questioning and the item moved forward on a voice/board vote.
