It’s Time to Bring Passenger Rail Back to East Tennessee

Today we welcome a guest editorial from Jack Coker, a commercial real estate professional and community advocate who champions walkable cities, passenger rail, and thoughtful urban development. He serves as the President of the Belle Morris Neighbors, and volunteers with other organizations such as YES! Knoxville and the East Tennessee Community Design Center.

The horn blew. The cars lurched. Then, it was gone. 55 years ago on August 12th, 1970, at 3:15 a.m., the last regularly scheduled passenger train bound for Knoxville pulled out of the station on Depot Avenue. It was the Birmingham Special, which once ran from Birmingham to New York City, connecting the Tennessee Valley to vast swaths of the country. Famed Knoxville journalist Carson Brewer covered that historic moment as best he could, though no one he interviewed seemed to grasp the weight of the occasion.

When Brewer asked ticket agent H.W. McRae who bought the last ticket, McRae replied, “I wish I’d gotten his name. He was a young fellow who rode the train every chance he got. He didn’t like buses, and he was afraid to fly.” We may never know who bought the last Knoxville train ticket of the 20th century, but I hope to be among the first to buy one in the 21st. Some may scoff at this dream, but it’s closer to reality than you think.

A recent 133-page report from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Amtrak Long- Distance Service Study: Report to Congress, outlines the potential for expanding passenger rail across the country. Among all the proposals, one route stood out. The suggested line from Houston to New York City received the highest preliminary score of 14 out of 15. That route passes directly through Knoxville.

The proposed corridor would link Houston, New Orleans, Montgomery, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Roanoke, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York. In short, Knoxville would once again be connected to the rest of the country by rail.

We must take this proposal seriously, not only for the convenience of travel but for the long-term economic and strategic value. Amtrak’s existing operations already contribute significantly to Tennessee’s economy, with $26.9 million spent with local vendors and $3 million directed specifically to East Tennessee. These numbers only scratch the surface. According to 1 the American Public Transportation Association, every $1 invested in public transportation yields $5 in economic returns and supports 50,000 jobs per $1 billion spent. Amtrak’s expansion in the Volunteer State would not only spur jobs and investment, but it is also a prudent alternative to highway expansion.

Critics may point to cost, but let’s look closer. Adding a lane to a rural interstate costs about $1.32 million per mile. In urban areas, that figure jumps to $10 million. Meanwhile, startup costs for the Houston to New York passenger rail route average around $2 million per mile. But here’s the kicker: A two-track rail line can move as many people per hour as 16 lanes of highway. Adding a highway lane only marginally increases capacity, and studies show those gains disappear quickly as induced demand fills the new lane, prompting yet another expansion, and more cost. Investment in intercity passenger rail is the fiscally responsible decision for our region.

We also must consider affordability and equity. Not everyone can afford a car. According to AAA, even one of the cheapest new cars, a 2025 Nissan Versa S, costs more than $7,000 a year to own and operate. That’s equivalent to $90,000 in home-buying power. Multiply that by two cars per household, and you’re looking at the cost of a starter home (if you can find one). These expenses continue to increase year after year, and yet our mobility options in Tennessee remain stagnant. Transit can reduce that burden and offer choice, freedom, and opportunity.

The financial costs are only part of the equation. The human toll is staggering. More than 45,000 Americans die every year in automobile crashes, roughly 120 people every day. That’s nearly equal to total U.S. casualties in the entire Vietnam War. To put it another way: In the same 40 days we fought the Gulf War (losing 146 American lives), we lost 4,900 people on our roads. Is this really a price that you are willing to personally subsidize?

Knoxvillians, it is time to act. We must join with the efforts being made in Chattanooga and Bristol to bring this incredible opportunity to fruition. I call upon our City Council and Mayor to create a task force dedicated to bringing Amtrak to our city. I call upon our elected State and Federal officials to fight for the creation of this line. And I call upon the citizens of Knoxville to speak up. We are the demand that will create the supply. Let us work together to create a better Tennessee Valley for the generations after us.

To join the effort, visit the Tennessee Valley Passenger Rail Coalition.