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Today’s guest columnist is Ted Smith.

Imagine a high-speed rail service that whisked us from Birmingham and dropped us off in downtown Atlanta near stadiums and arenas and/or the airport in about 90 minutes.

If we had this capability at our doorstep, it would bring growth to the Birmingham area and eventually connect us to places like Charlotte, New Orleans and Dallas at speeds much faster than a car or shuttle bus.

I’ve lived in metro Birmingham for more than 40 years. Like many here, I make frequent trips to Atlanta, where I have family. Others go to catch flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, shop or attend Hawks, Braves and Falcons games.

There’ve long been whispers here about having a high-speed rail service between BHM and ATL, but we generally have not seen beyond the status quo — beyond simply driving back and forth between the cities or utilizing the shuttle bus service.

Well, it’s long past time we looked beyond what we see now and ask: Why not Birmingham for high-speed rail service? Why not get on board the growing trend of high-speed rail service in the South to not only add another convenient option for travelers between the cities but also spur commerce and economic growth in our region?

High-speed rail isn’t new — just faster. The idea dates back to the High-Speed Ground Transportation Act of 1965. Of course, earlier “high-speed” trains are the horse-and-buggy predecessors of today’s high-speed rails, which generally exceed 110 mph.

Acela, which is part of Amtrak and connects cities in the Northeast, can reach a top speed of 160 mph. In California’s Central Valley, construction is underway for high-speed rail along 119 miles and several cities in the region. The line, which will eventually stretch 171 miles, is slated to roll in 2028. That same year, another route between Los Angeles and Las Vegas is scheduled to begin.

During my tenure as chair of the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority, we saw seeds of high-speed rail being planted in numerous forward-thinking cities throughout the Southeast.

In Florida, high-speed rail travels between Miami and Orlando, with discussions underway to expand to Jacksonville and Tampa. Proposals are incubating from Washington D.C. to Raleigh to Charlotte to Atlanta and beyond.

Why not Birmingham?

In December 2023, the High-Speed Rail Alliance, a non-profit member-supported organization, completed a Southeast Regional Rail Plan that “proposes a vision for a regional passenger-rail network,” according to its website.

“The plan identifies core elements and steadily builds out that core with new segments and upgrades to existing lines,” the site notes. “From the pivot point of Atlanta, three high-speed lines would radiate out and link the region, with lines to Tampa Bay (via Jacksonville and Orlando); to Nashville; and Washington D.C. (via Charlotte and Raleigh).”

Why not Birmingham?

To me, it is a no-brainer. High-speed rail service would create jobs, increase corporate hubs, and jumpstart economic growth in our communities.

The BJCTA has formed a group that is already studying the possibility and feasibility of high-speed rail for our area – from construction to completion. We’re no longer asking, “Why not Birmingham?”

We’re answering the question by looking beyond the status quo forward into the future.

If we do not, who will?

Between 2018 and 2024, Ted Smith was chair of the BJCTA Board of Directors. He currently serves as secretary.

David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. He’s past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).

Invite David to speak for free to your group about how we can have a more prosperous metro Birmingham. [email protected]